No, that is not how it works.

If there were women who were dropped by all the sororities, most likely they were not a good fit for Greek life in general and would be a worse fit for a new colony in particular.

If there were women who had sororities inviting them back to parties but who decided to drop out of rush rather than give the sororities a chance, that is their own fault and not a reason for a new sorority.

But, if what you are trying to say is "the chapters are getting too large for our campus culture and women are wanting to leave Greek life because they don't like being in such large chapters" - then that is what you say, and that is a good reason for expansion.

It would be a good idea to actually be a sorority member before you come onto a public web site and tell us the supposed state of affairs of your campus.

As others above me have already said, this is not how things work. Additionally, from what I understand about TSU, all the chapters participate in COR and/or spring recruitment at some point during the academic year. That is not a situation where membership opportunities do not exist when young women keep an open mind.

Ah I see. Found the first post. That explains.

Thank you to all the posters above for responding to PurpleBobcat. I saw it this morning and my response would have not been as nice as yours. I wrote one and then deleted it. I would love to see more growth at TSU but for the right reasons

And wanting to reduce chapter sizes IS a valid reason for growth. They may be having trouble with retention because of a lack of cohesion. While these chapter sizes absolutely work at some schools I can imagine it is not quite so successful at others.

But I am wondering if they are using RFM correctly, or if it can be modified to suit their needs? For instance, if they do have a serious retention problem across the board (AND don't want such large chapters), then maybe total should be figured based on 2nd semester numbers, not right after fall pledging. As I see it, COB should really only be used to support significantly smaller chapters. If every chapter is participating, then there is something wrong with their numbers. Since not all the numbers were posted, I can't see if there's a weakest chapter, but since the others are very large, they are not helping by doing COB if there is a weak chapter. The entire system is helped by supporting the weak chapter in its efforts at growth. That's the whole basis of RFM, and it has been wildly successful everywhere it is used.

But none of this answers if TSU actually wants to expand. Do we know that? Maybe they want Bama sized chapters?

Texas State University
 

* Please, please, do not refer to Texas State as TSU. When the name change was rammed down our throats, we (alumni) expressed concern that we would be referred to as TSU, which is already used by Texas Southern University and Tarleton State. We were assured it would not happen - and yet, when I delivered my daughter to her dorm as a freshman, what was on the door? A paw with TSU. I may have ranted a bit to a bewildered RA. I realize it may be a bit of a sisyphean fight, but as a member of a three generation Bobcat family, it is one I will continue. TX State, please.

ETA - My money is on expansion.

My apologies. I don't know the school and went with the logical acronym. But as an Iowan (75% vowels, 100% awesome), I appreciate the frustration in mangling of the schools in my area. Everyone from Iowa (the state) knows the University of Northern Iowa as UNI but for some reason the media always calls it Northern Iowa. Maybe that's for the benefit of those outside the region. But still. Get it right!

As the mom of four Tarleton grads, they agree with you wholeheartedly!! Tarleton is TSU. And while they are not happy do is Texas Southern!!

I should have known better! Texas State it is!

As we talked about in a different thread, I think that all campuses should be using two tier total (calculated at the end of each semester) so as not to have a falsely inflated total and thereby forcing chapters to participate in COB when they don't really need to, but that's just my opinion, I'm not sure if it would actually work at all campuses and I'm unlikely to ever see that happen, but mehhh.

I think you mean calculated at the beginning of each semester.

I guess the beginning would work too, but I was thinking at the end to account for girls who graduate, drop out and transfer.

Like I said though, I wouldn't expect it to happen. And I could be wrong, but from my understanding of RFM, it's just what makes sense to me.

From the list:
Chi Omega confirmed to be returning to Georgia Southern Fall 2016

Mississippi State
Cal State - Los Angeles (honorable mention)

Well, no one is going to do COB at the end of a semester. And the beginning is when they'll be at their fullest - so it makes more sense to do it then and have a chance to hit total and be done.

I was talking about adjusting total. But apparently this is a thing now that total is being adjusted each semester.

I know you were. That's what I was saying - adjust at the beginning because that's when they'll do COB...and that is what they are doing.

Either works, a matter of timing I think, whether the end of December or the beginning of January (assuming fall primary recruitment), I just meant instead of the once, within 72 hours following formal. I'm happy that total is now being adjusted each semester, it makes more sense (to me at least).

They are opening for extension. Not sure of the timeframe, possibly Fall 2016. They are taking packets now.

Clemson's also come off the list, even though I know it can't be edited now.

Curious if anyone has any thoughts or information on University of Central Florida? Personally, I'd love if they were open to a new colony/sorority but I'm not sure what their totals are or if they need it

Why?

The last thing UCF needs is another sorority. There are chapters not making quota, and there are some not at total. Plus, the housing situation makes it difficult for any new chapter to be on an equal playing field.

I was just curious honestly haha. I'm set to transfer in the spring and my sorority isn't on campus, though it use to be. I realize colonization of a new chapter is a long shot, and you have to be invited by Pan first, but if other chapters aren't reaching total like ZETAngel says... then I guess there's nothing to discuss. The sororities already on campus should receive first priority, of course.

bump for '17-'18

Any thoughts about schools that need to expand?

Colorado, Florida State, Loyola (Chicago), Missouri. I am very glad that Alabama will be gaining Sigma Kappa in the fall of 18.

Baylor.

Besides the scandals the athletics department/university have been involved in, is there any other factor that would preclude extension at Baylor? Is housing a factor, or hostile administration, or a toxic tier culture?

Other schools:
University of North Alabama-4 chapters, quota was 45 last year and looks to be over 50 this year
Colorado State
Kennesaw State
Belmont strictly by numbers but they have bigger fish to fry
Tulane
Columbia
Appalachian State
Elon
High Point
Cincinnati
Oklahoma
Temple
Furman
South Dakota State
Tarleton State
Texas-I think the numbers are finally back high enough that it could be talked about
Utah
Marquette

Of course Alabama- 2400 are already registered for recruitment.

The biggest problem with opening up Texas - which is long overdue - is real estate. You simply cannot get a house near enough to campus, and you will not be able to compete without a house. It's very frustrating.

Hopefully Sigma Kappa will have a fantastic return to Alabama and Alpha Xi will be next!

I see the culture at Texas as a bigger issue.

We would love to have Alpha Xi back!!!!! RTR!

I would hold off on Temple until the state figures out who is getting what funding (Temple is not state owned, but is state related, and not cheap).

There are others on this board with more knowledge about Baylor than I have, as I haven't lived in the area in about 15 years. I'll answer as best I can.

Baylor did not have any space for sororities until maybe 10-15 years ago. Time flies and honestly I can't remember when things changed. That is when they built a Panhellenic Building that has a large chapter room for each sorority. No one lives in. There are currently 8 sororities, but if memory serves, they built the building with either additional space for future organizations or the ability to expand.

Somehow the scandal(s) have not hurt female enrollment, but that is an opinion piece and thread for another day. Quota + additions has been >100/110 with just 8 chapters on campus. Given that there is no housing to pay for or beds to fill, adding in several more chapters could get pledge classes to a manageable number.

There is certainly quite the competitiveness between chapters so campus culture would have to change to genuinely embrace and support new chapter(s), as well as genuinely embrace and support the sororities that are currently on campus. One chapter missed quota by 10 this past year, but there were almost 100 QAs. Tent talk all first semester (January Recruitment) is a huge player. Historically there has been a strong competitiveness between organizations that extends beyond friendly rivalry. It's not just dissing on the perceived "bottom chapter." The shade thrown extends up and down to include all chapters. Everyone jockeying for position.

I don't recall a hostile administration to adding groups but that is where others would know Baylor better than me. It's certainly not a Belmont situation. Up until the 1990s no dancing was allowed, and it might be that official greek events are still dry. Not sure. That comes from the admin, but more based on their Biblical beliefs than anti-Greek. Baylor has a large Baptist/Southern Baptist student body, so their students wouldn't be as up in arms about those restrictions as elsewhere.

^Do students live on campus all 4 years or are there off-campus unofficial Greek living spaces?

Culture at Texas is right behind real estate, but the chapters which haven't been regarded as "top tier" seem to be doing better, and the impact of THAT Texas Monthly article is, perhaps, lessening somewhat. SOMEWHAT. I certainly hope so, and hope that the stars align so Texas can open up.

Adding to the list, I would say Washington State is ready. Back in 2003, it was standard to have the executive board, the sophomore class, and the junior classes living in the chapter house. If I recall correctly, the chapter houses hold between 38 and 65. The pledge classes seem to be 50-55, at this point between executive boards, only one pledge class can live in the chapter houses. If pledge classes continue to increase like they have been (slowly but surely!) in another couple of years, the pledge class will be larger than the amount of spots available. Unless the culture at WSU has changed a LOT, I would think they are ready to expand. Land is some what of an issue, but not a huge issue, it could be figured out.

=)

Temple numbers definitely increased rapidly.

That's good to hear about Texas. Some of the things I've read about that panhellenic system have just been downright mean. Hopefully the improvement is slow but sure.

I am not positive but I think most just live on campus 1-2 years. The fraternities certainly have unofficial houses. I am not sure about the sororities. With 300-400 members it would seem difficult to consolidate into blocks of living spaces.

I figured that the culture at Texas was improving if more chapters were making quota and quota overall was higher, because it meant that women were at least accepting bids that before they may not have. Hopefully retention numbers are good for those chapters too.

Honestly, at most SEC schools you could plop in a new chapter and the system would easily accommodate it, numbers-wise. If only it were that simple to start a competitive chapter!

Gonna rise this thread back up. One school I've always wondered about why they haven't opened up is SMU. There are enough chapters that could recolonize and the last time they opened up was 1994 with AXO.