Open for Expansion
 

I know that the first step of bringing a new sorority to campus is that the campus has to be open for expansion. The campus I am referring to is currently NOT open for expansion. The decision of whether it will become open to expansion, is that up to the director of Greek Life/Student Life, the Dean of the entire school, both, someone entirely different, a committee/board/group of people, or does it depend entirely on the school? Thank you.

The first place to ask IS the director of Greek Life. Did you ask them this actual question?

May I ask why you are asking? Aren't you already a DZ?

I am awaiting a call/e-mail back from the Dean/Director of Greek Life/Student Life on that question. I might just call again tomorrow, though.

I am a Delta Zeta, but I transferred schools.

Is the Campus Panhellenic not run by the Director of Greek Life? I honestly don't know. Or again, is it dependent on the campus?

From the panhellenic green book, extension is campus dependent only in the sense if a campus panhellenic exists or not.

V. Agreement on Extension
1. National Panhellenic Conference believes that it is unethical for an NPC
fraternity to contact an institution and/or its students concerning the
establishment of a chapter where the institution fails to meet the NPC
requirements for a host institution, i.e., the institution must be a senior
college or university that is authorized to confer a bachelor’s degree
and that has received a satisfactory rating by the pertinent recognized
regional association of colleges and secondary schools.

2. The Proper Authority shall be defined as follows:
A. Where there are two or more NPC fraternities present on
campus, then a vote of those NPC fraternities as evidenced in
written minutes of the College Panhellenic Council (if organized)
shall constitute the Proper Authority or if there is no College
Panhellenic Council, then a separate vote of the NPC chapters
present on campus shall constitute the Proper Authority.

B. On campuses where there is one or no NPC fraternity and where
the administration is willing to recognize women’s fraternities,
letter from a senior level student affairs administrator shall
constitute the Proper Authority.

C. The NPC Extension Committee is the Proper Authority on campuses
where there is one or no NPC fraternity and the college administration
does not grant recognition to women’s fraternities but does not
discipline students for joining.

Wonderful. Thank you.

If Panhellenic membership trends are increasing, the Panhellenic Association may put together an Extension committee to research the possibility of adding another sorority (or perhaps raising total). The committee will be comprised of women from several chapters. They will present a recommendation at a Panhellenic meeting. Each delegate will discuss it with their NPC delegation, advisors, chapter, etc. 2/3 of the chapters need to vote in favor of Extension for the campus to be open.

Begging and pleading with the Panhellenic advisor or Dean of Students to open the campus for Extension will get you nowhere.

What is the source of that information and is it true for every campus? Thank you.

Sorry, to clarify, I was asking violetpretty about her info. Thanks for the links though, I have some reading to do.

I was a member of my school's extension committee. It basically was a summary of the part A of the NPC MOI defining "proper authority". That is how it works for every campus with 2 or more sororities.

I get it. You want to bring DZ to your new campus. However, the health of the existing sororities comes before what you want. If it were that easy, there'd be a chapter of every NPC at every university. The membership trends have to warrant extension.

Understood. Thank you for your information.

Would my Campus Panhellenic/Director of Greek Life be the source to get the information pertaining to membership trends? Examples being number of PNM's registered for recruitment, yearly quotas, totals of chapter sizes, etc.

A campus is not going to open for expansion just because you transferred there and there's no DZ chapter. Even if the greek life adviser did slap himself on the forehead and said "OMG why didn't I think of this before? Of course we have to open for expansion! Thank you so much Denverfriend for showing me the light!" the chances that DZ would be the chapter chosen to colonize, particularly in the timeframe you are still there, would be unlikely.

Another thing to consider...

Let's say the campus opens for expansion. DZ may or may not be interested in your campus. Serious consideration goes into a sorority's Extension -- # of alums nearby, $$$, having enough people to present, housing, etc.

Not only that, but the campus Panhellenic makes that vote to decide to bring on campus.

I applaud your dream, but it's an uphill battle ahead for you.

One other question. Say I jump through all the hoops and DZ gets chartered or becomes a colony or whatever the exact terminology is before I graduate. Since I am now an alum, would I only be allowed to assist the chapter and not be an active member or can you become un-alum in situations like this? I apologize as I know this question sounds very scattered, but can you tell what I mean? :)

I know what you are trying to say, but that is a specific question for DZ I would think.

^^Thank you.

Ok, thank you. Of course this is sorority specific, silly me. I will get in contact with the appropriate DZ sources.

Are there any notable threads that come to mind about transferring, becoming an alum, and then becoming involved with the nearest alumnae chapter? I think this might be something to look into, for my situation.

Thanks for all the helpful advice, ladies.

As a woman who has been a member of 3 VERY different Alumnae Associations, I highly recommend it. Frankly, it's the first thing I do upon moving. I even went searching to see if there were any Alpha Xis in Dubai. Sadly, none I've found so far...

Your national website should be able to direct you to alum chapters around the country.