Want to start a Zeta Tau Alpha Chapter
 

Hello,

I will be attending FIU in the fall, and REALLY wanted to rush. The problem is we have no ZTA chapter. I have looked on the website, and although the information was plentiful I am still a bit confused on just where to start. Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

hi alina, the first thing that has to happen is that FIU panhellenic feels that they need another sorority. when that happens they then contact the NPC(the organization over the 26 NPC sororities) and tell them that FIU is open for expansion. Who knows when that will happen.

The sororities that are interested in starting a colony there would send information packets to FIU panhellenic, which they would look at, and then they would vote on the sororities they would like to make a presentation on campus. those sororities would either accept or decline and then at the appointed time, they would come.

After all the sororities give their presentations(usually on different days) the panhellenic would vote and the sorority with the most votes would receive an invitation to start a colony, and the sorority will either accept or decline.

I love ZTA and am glad that you are interested in ZTA too, but FIU has great sororities that are already there. I hope that you will check them out.

How is that a problem?

And ditto everything FSUZeta said.

I knew just by your user name that you were going to FIU.

If you would like to rush at a school with a ZTA chapter, the closest ones are at UMiami and FGCU. Please feel free to try to apply their last minute if that is the only reason you want to go to school.

Why do I feel like you have friends that are Zeta's and that's what is swaying your opinion so hard?

They just added Sigma Kappa and are not currently expanding. Last time they did (2007) ZTA did not submit a packet for candidacy in the presentation process (not to say that they would or wouldn't now, I wouldn't know).

As an alumna of FIU, along with BabyPink's comments, I hope you're choosing to attend FIU because of its stellar academics and potential opportunities for success. If you're just looking to join Zeta, you probably should have done a little more research.

If you do decide to go through recruitment at FIU, the 7 NPC chapters on campus are all wonderful and provide great opportunities for involvement for all types of women. It would do you well to try to see if any of them are a strong fit before you get disappointed about not being able to join Zeta. The whole point of college is to expand horizons.

Are you thinking that you'd like to - at some point - transfer to another school where there IS a ZTA chapter and just want to be able to affiliate at the new school if that happens?

I think it is a bad idea to transfer just to try and get into a chapter. Just because there is a chapter at that campus does not mean she will get in.

Sorry guys, didn't realize how bad I may have sounded. My god mother was a zeta and always spoke so well about it, always showing me pictures, etc. She died of cancer last year and so I was hoping to join just because of all the fond memories. That along with the fact I love the ZTA ideals. (Mother is a breast cancer survivor, but pretty much all of what they strive for made me want to join.) Guess I was being biased, I am looking into other chapters now, and have been. Thank you for all your comments, it's really appreciated!

** I will be attending FIU or FAU because of their proximity to where I currently reside.

You should probably avoid stating your preference for ANY sorority. It's fine to think it to a small degree, but writing it is sort of like posting on your facebook how much you like so and so boy or dislike so and so girl.

You honestly need to keep a very open mind - feeling an affinity for the ideals or colors is fine, but when it comes down to it, you will or won't get a bid because of how the active sisters feel about you, and vice versa.

Yep. It's best to keep an open mind, consider them all equally. It's fine to research on their local and national websites, but don't.... do what you're doing now.

okay, I will keep that in mind. Thanks again for all the great advice.

Err, shouldn't she keep an open mind?

You might want to go back and edit your previous post.

Done. Thanks.

Um....I don't know if you noticed but that was mostly sarcasm. Getting into UM or FGCU would be a lil difficult right now.

luc - brain fart/typo.

Alina Lee, if you have not rushed yet and wish to form a ZTA chapter at FIU I am willing to do it with you. I currently transferred to FIU from UF (Gamma Iota). I had a family emergency, which is why I had to leave UF. I would love to start a ZTA chapter at FIU. Just let me know.

Oh, dear.

I want a chapter of X...
 

I was sort of in my head going through the various groups and types of Greek Letter Organizations for how much a student can actually attempt to bring in a chapter of a *specific* organization.

From most to least difficult.
1) Phi Beta Kappa- Students aren't even involved in bringing Phi Beta Kappa to a school, it is an application from the administration (and a *lot* of money).
2) Some Honoraries- Some honoraries take applications from the appropriate College/Department within a University.
3) NPC - fairly unlikely, first you need the NPC to want to expand and then a single student who isn't a sister isn't going to have much influence as to who gets picked
4) IFC - Some schools have IFCs that will encourage/discourage expansion significantly, but certainly not at the same level as the NPC.
5) NPHC - I've seen schools where NPHC groups tried to keep others from coming on, but that seems more tied to conflict between specific groups.
6) Some professional/service groups outside the IFC. For example, Alpha Zeta or Alpha Phi Omega.