University of Florida Sorority Expansion
 

UF Panhellenic has announced that the campus is open for expansion. Who do you think will throw their hats into the ring, GC gurus? And more importantly, where are they going to put the house? I believe DZ took the last bit of land anywhere near sorority row. Maybe over by Pi Phi?

I'm not sure if Alpha Xi will, but I hope we do. Though we do have some big colonies on the docket with OSU, Wisconsin, and South Carolina upcoming

It looks like UF does not have the following chapters: Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Phi, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Alpha Sigma Tau, Alpha Xi Delta, Gamma Phi Beta, Phi Sigma Sigma, Sigma Delta Tau, Sigma Sigma Sigma, and Theta Phi Alpha.

Of which, Alpha Xi (1981-2001), Phi Sig (1967-?) and SDT (1975-1983) had chapters at UF at one point.

I would say AGD and Alpha Phi would be the most likely suspects with AZD and Gamma Phi as the next ones.

We've been doing well in Florida - would love to see us there!

I agree with my sister! :)

Yep that good ole DZ got a nice spot! Hard to believe my dd is a Senior and will be her 3rd year in the house!

Depending on the timeline for extension, if the colony would come on Fall 2015 (I'm totally guessing) UNC and Ole Miss are both slated for Alpha Phi for that fall and I wonder if they would be willing to take on another big expense colony at the same time.

And I'm not sure if we would pursue because I know there was an issue with that chapter in the past and while it's been over a decade since the chapter closed, not sure if we're willing to go back in

AGD and Alpha Phi have 3 chapters in Florida, ASA doesn't have any chapters in Florida, AST has 1, Alpha Xi, Phi Sig and SDT have 5, Gamma Phi has 6, and Tri Sig & Theta Phi have 4

I think AGD and Gamma Phi are likely to be two contenders.

There is no room on Sorority row for a new house. Though I do find it interesting that Kappa Sigma built a great house right behind DPhiE and not on Fraternity row. It is my understanding that they are opening up lots on Fraternity row for new houses across from SAE. They hope to have the new house on campus in 2015.

Alpha Sigma Alpha came to mind first, and I hope they have the resources to accomplish it should it be their goal.

A Sigma Delta Tau recolonization would mean every Florida Chapter they've ever had would be open.

I think at UF the most viable new chapter will be one from a sorority that already has a strong presence in the state.

^ agree

From the publicly posted Panhellenic meeting minutes:

Committee Reports: Exploratory Extension Committee
a. This report will be emailed to you
b. Our total membership is steadily growing
i. Spring 2014: 3,417 members
ii. Average chapter size and Chapter Range is steadily increasing
c. We have ten options of chapters than can potentially join our community
i. In the last 30 years, 3 chapters have closed on our campus and we have only brought 1 on
d. Goal
i. Increase the size of the Panhellenic Community
ii. Allow for more PNMs to be matched to a chapter
e. We have petitioned for three plots of land near Pi Beta Phi
i. Estimated $6 million dollars for a facility
f. Many other SEC campuses are in the extension process
g. Stacked Extension is an option
i. Choose two new chapters at once
ii. Determine which chapter will charter first, wait until it is stabilized then bring one the second chapter
h. The committee recommends that we open for extension
i. We will vote to extend this Spring
ii. You must talk to your national organization before we vote. Every NPC delegate who works with your chapters knows that this is coming. They will help you work through how your chapter needs to vote.
i. Questions and discussion will be during new business


SMH: "Allow for more PNMs to be matched to a chapter" They should know better!

That would be nice but considering we have zero collegiate presence in Florida I don't see it happening.

I think these two options combined would give the best chance of success. Putting two (or three) more chapters over by Pi Phi would let them create sort of an auxiliary Sorority Row, which would help those new chapters have the same neighborhood 'feel' as the ones located on the current, albeit larger, Sorority Row. And if they create another Sorority Row, maybe they'll set aside enough lot space to give this one adequate parking! :rolleyes:

Agreed.

I could see Alpha Xi Delta (and frankly a couple others, like Alpha Phi) asking to be the stacked sorority and not first up, just because we're so heavily booked right now. 2018/19 sounds pretty good about right now for a Florida colony. But who knows? Maybe we could make it work in a year or so. It will be interesting to see who gets it. It's a good big school with what seems to be a really solid Greek system.

Here are the NPC sororities that are not at the University of Florida and their presence in Florida at other schools.

Alpha Phi:
Open Chapters: 3 (Barry, Florida Tech, Florida State)
Closed Chapters: 1 (Rollins)

Alpha Gamma Delta
Open Chapters: 3 (Florida State, Tampa, West Florida)
Closed Chapters: 2 (Barry and Florida Southern)

Gamma Phi Beta
Open Chapters: 6 (Florida Tech, Florida Southern, Florida State, Jacksonville, Central Florida, South Florida)
Closed Chapters: 2 (Rollins and Miami)

Sigma Delta Tau
Open Chapters: 5 (Florida State, Nova Southeastern, Miami, South Florida, Tampa)
Closed Chapters: 1 (Florida)

Alpha Xi Delta
Open Chapters: 5 (Embry Riddle Aeronautical, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Stetson, Central Florida)
Closed Chapters: 3 (Florida State, Jacksonville, Florida)

Alpha Sigma Alpha
Open Chapters: None
Closed Chapters: 1 (Tampa)

Theta Phi Alpha
Open Chapters: 4 (Embry Riddle Aeronautical, Florida Atlantic, Lynn, St. Leo)
Closed Chapters: None

Phi Sigma Sigma
Open Chapters: 6 (Barry, Florida Atlantic, Florida Tech, Florida International, Nova Southeastern, West Florida)
Closed Chapters: 3 (Florida Southern, Florida, Miami)

Alpha Sigma Tau
Open Chapters: 2 (Johnson and Wales, St. Leo)
Closed Chapters: None

Sigma Sigma Sigma
Open Chapters: 5 (Embry Riddle Aeronautical, Florida International, Lynn, Ringling School of Art & Design, St. Leo)
Closed Chapters: 3 (Florida Southern, Florida State, Tampa)

Tri-Sigma's chapter at Ringling closed in 2009.

I think we'd actually be better off going sooner rather than later. Alpha Xi only has The College of New Jersey for Spring 2015 so far. Fall 2015 is wide open right now. 2016 is when we get into South Carolina and UCLA, and then NC State in 2019.

Your chapter at UCF is seriously wonderful. I bet it would be just as wonderful at UF.

I think that (in my unprofessional opinion) the important factor here won't be necessarily how many chapters a group has in Florida but how many of them are at schools with a similar population to UF, both in Florida and at other large state schools in the South.

^bingo

I agree with both Clemsongirl and Irishpipes. Just because an organization is successful at a handful of small universities in the same state, doesn't mean it will be successful at a large SEC school where a 6 million dollar house will be needed to be competitive. Six million is quite a sizable investment and not many organizations will be able to make that type of commitment.

I think (and hope) that we would be very interested in this opportunity. We have a very strong alumnae support base in Florida, with many active alumnae chapters, and a combination of well-established and successful new collegiate chapters.

I think Gamma Phi Beta has a very good chance.

They are at similar schools with comparable Greek life with Florida. They have a well established chapter at Florida State. They colonized at Central Florida in 2013 but that school is comparable and the chapter is established and installed.

I would imagine Gamma Phi Beta would pursue Florida but that's my 2 cents.

I think Clemsongirl is very wise beyond her years considering she is only halfway through college....

Yes. Number of chapters also doesn't say anything about alumnae base, on its own. The size, location, and history of the chapters will dictate how many alumnae are nearby to help out.

It's all about the rep,in Florida at least. It won't matter that ABC sorority has a strong presence at Georgia or Auburn or California or Ohio as much as the rep they have at FSU, USF, UCF, etc., or if there is a chapter there at all. Doesn't mean that a group with a small presence in the state won't be chosen-just that it will be harder for them to climb up the status ladder.

Can you send me a link? I thought it was archived.

I remember that a lot of posters deleted their posts.

I just googled this, and I actually think it's funny as hell.

Thank you

THank you. Just because it happened doesn't mean we have to keep living it over and over again.