If every single group is COBing in the spring, its a retention issue, not a total issue. Total is set to ACS. Total isn't being set "too high" when it is the average chapter size.

Okay, fine, if it's a retention issue with every single group, then the system needs to grow and strengthen for a few years before bringing another group.

Can't total be determined in a few ways? Perhaps average chapter size -5% would be a better option for them. I don't know.

I think they could be a good contender, just not now, in a few years. After the dust settles, after DZ has had more time to establish themselves, after retention settles and growth is more than +6NMs on quota (at the largest in the last 5 years). I just think it's a situation where it would be more beneficial to let it ride and see what happens, before bringing another group just because one closed, and watching them struggle.

Though again, that's just my opinion.

Man, you leave for a few minutes and everyone clamors for you! Yes, Clemson is forming an exploratory committee and eventually an extension committee to look at bringing a new sorority on campus after fall formal recruitment in 2016. This is what I was told by our now-former Panhellenic Delegate. We just installed chapter officers and Panhellenic officers so I imagine that we'll hear more about this from me and from Clemson next semester.

I can't wait for Texas State to finally expand for a new colony! There were over 800 ladies that participated in recruitment last year and because our sororities are so selective about who they want not all the girls got matched to a sorority that they fit into! We need another sorority on campus to balance out the amount of girls that want to join. Texas State University is a rapidly growing campus that needs to accommodate to it's rapidly growing community!

That's not really how it works.

But has Texas State officially opened? I know they voted to form an exploratory committee in October

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.