As I've said before, I'm not really keen on the idea of reduced requirements for seniors organization-wide...it can snowball into an attitude of being involved senior year isn't cool, and as stated above can really be a hot mess for small chapters. Plus for some majors, senior year isn't the toughest one and therefore the academic angle really isn't an excuse. It should definitely be a school-by-school basis.

It's been a while so I'm fuzzy on the details. However, we had 2 different statuses, both required dues to be paid . The difference was just how much you had to attend. And some other requirements.

Also you could ask for this status at anytime (exp: internship Jr yr) but you can only do it once.

If you dropped to part-time then you were eligible for early alum. Or if you left school.

Not an NPC org obviously, but our national bylaws allow a collegiate member to transfer to alumni membership if the member has paid eight semesters of per capita tax (national dues) or if the member "leaves campus for one or more professional semesters (e.g. student teaching, internship, study abroad)." In the latter instance, the brother is returned to collegiate status upon return to campus. Alumni status means no dues to pay, but it also means reduced ability to participate in the chapter.

FWIW (which I know may not be much).

I completely agree. We had "Senior Status" for a few years. It was a disaster. Practically every Senior would request status for their last semester. The budget tanked and chapters complained. We no longer have Senior Status.

We have a senior agreement in place with our actives that outlines mandatory events as well as provides some additional senior programming. The actives still have to pay dues. I find that it's a good thing. I could also see where it could be a problem in a smaller chapter.

Right, and this is my point about "early alum" status -- your chapter still needs you!

I think that individual chapters can get creative, but budgets and attendance requirements vary so much that I don't see how an org-wide "senior status" can work. I think you could get creative with the money, but it's tough. Maybe you pay a live-out fee that includes meals at the house (we did!) and you could pay less by opting out of meals your final semester. Maybe your chapter's philanthropy happens in April, and you don't have to buy this year's t-shirt. These things are chipping away at very small dollars, though.

Obviously, we're not an NPC organization but OPA has both a "Leave of Absence" status and an early alumna status. The early alum status is automatically granted when requested in the member's final academic semester. LOA status is only given one semester at a time, and the member must petition the chapter standards board to get it. It's routinely given for semesters when you are still an enrolled student but away from campus, like a study abroad or internship. Or it might be granted in unusually stressful circumstances like the member is recovering from a serious illness and making up a great deal of missed classwork in a short time. It depends.

We don't have a flood of people who opt for the early alum status, but it's a welcome option when people are frantically finishing up graduation requirements, interviewing for a job, applying for grad schools, and just figuring out their future life plans. And since our chapters don't have the financial obligations that many NPC groups do (read: no chapter house) the implications to the chapter are really just about missing those sisters' company a little earlier than we would have otherwise.

I'll echo the other comments about sticking it out. I won't ask whether your school's formal recruitment is in the fall or spring, but to give yourself a sense of purpose until you graduate, try to bond with the newest members, whether you already have them, or if they are coming next semester. They aren't necessarily jaded or apathetic yet, and inspiring them is probably the best way to attempt to energize the chapter.