colonies
 

does anyone know the panhellenic rules for starting a colony when the existing sororities are not quite at total?

For NPC orgs, the school's Panhellenic would have to vote to allow expansion. A vote like that probably wouldn't pass if all the sororities are well below total, because that's a sign that the demand for a new sorority isn't there. If only a few sororities are below total and they're not very far below, an expansion vote might pass. It also depends on how recruitment has been going.

If the idea of expansion is being considered because there's an interest group of women, Panhel may invite the women to form a local sorority and try again in a few years.

For non-NPC orgs, the process is different and would probably involve going through the Greek Life office.

It would help if we had more details...

(edited for clarity)

NPC groups have to be "invited" by the college panhellenic to start a colony (whether it's to absorb an existing local or through an open colonization).

Yeah...what AEPhi Alum said!!! (I was a minute later with my response.) :)

However, there are non-NPC groups that from what I've seen on here will consider colonies on such campuses.

See the thread in Rush titled "Rush at UCSC" (I hope that's not mistitled).

The thread's a long read, but could provide you with some good info.

Here's a link:

http://forums.greekchat.com/gcforums...threadid=10264

There are six sororities on campus- 2 are at total, and I heard 2 are close to making total. Locals aren't allowed on campus. We wanted to start a chapter that isn't already here. The advisor of greek life told me that all the sororities HAD to be above total for another group to come on campus but someone told me that it only took a majority vote for the panhellenic council to decide.

You need an administration to want expansion of the sorority system, along with the nod from panhellenic to get the ok to INVITE groups to present for expansion. Once the presents are done, the panhellenic will vote for the group that they think will best fit with campus, etc. That group is invited to colonize.

Panhellenic has been in contact with our greek life advisor but she says the only thing stopping us from is exapnsion is numbers. But~ it seems to me that if numbers are low, obviously the needs of the PNM's are not being met. Don't get me wrong- I rushed and all the houses were so welcoming, but I didn't find a sisterhood where I felt comfortable. So the thing I'm wondering is- does every house absolutely have to be at total for expansion?

And vice versa - just because not all the groups aren't at total, doesn't mean they WONT vote for expansion....

Bittebear, I'm not sure exactly how your panhel works, but there should be a way to contact the representatives from each chapter. Rather than going through the greek advisor, maybe you could contact the individual chapter representatives and get some feedback from them. I know for a fact campuses have voted to expand even when there are chapters below total.

I would say if the Greek advisor seems to be a dead end, reach out to the members for help.

pirepresent~ thanks so much!

The greek life advisor might also be hearing from her higher ups that they don't want another sorority on campus until the exisiting ones are all at total, so that could be why she said that.

...OR it might be in the bylaws of the college panhellenic.

I would respectfully disagree. It would be more appropriate to contact the Panhellenic officers, not each sorority's Panhellenic representative. Plus, I can't imagine that the Greek Life advisor wouldn't be in close contact with the Panhellenic council. She's probably basing her response on a combination of her own views, administrative views, and (primarily) the feeling of Panhellenic. I think chapters would definately look askance at being contacted individually about expansion. That's not their job--it's Panhellenic's and the Greek life advisor.

Also: why didn't the groups at your school appeal to you? That matters a lot in this. If it's just a matter of reputation, that's probably not going to get you far. If there is a genuine niche (like, you want to found a traditionally Jewish sorority, mainly girls get released from every sorority every year (not that they withdraw from rush), or some groups haze) you have more of a valid position in the eyes of Panhellenic. You don't have to respond to that but keep that in mind--you will get asked that as you pursue your search. Your answer can't just be "I'm too cool for groups XYZ and ABC".

What about the other two? If they're far from total, chances are a vote for expansion would not pass. You need a majority of the sororities to approve expansion, and my guess is that at least those two would vote no.

A quick clarification on what shadokat said: If there's a local sorority or interest group that wants to go national, and Panhel knows of its existence before voting for expansion, then the local group, not Panhel, gets to pick the national. So you wouldn't be forced into becoming a colony of XYZ if you really want ABC (provided, of course, that ABC is interested in expansion).

bittebear, I agree with BG, talk to the Panhel officers rather than the representatives.

Why aren't locals allowed? Is it the school administration's decision, or is it that locals can't join Panhel? (The latter is typical - locals usually can't get full voting rights in Panhel, but there is a category called associate membership that's often granted to locals and new colonies.) In any case, you may not be allowed to organize as a local, but hopefully you could still be recognized as an interest group.

Good luck! :)

Sorry guys, the message was garbled - I meant Panhel in general, not specific chapter reps, or whatever. I just was saying it as a suggestion for her to try and get a better feel for why the Greek advisor is so adamant about all chapters being at total. My bad.

I know sometimes Greek advisors do not support recognizing locals because, with no national organization and standards to answer to, the greek office would then have more liability if there is a hazing issue. Not to knock all greek advisors or anything - I'm just saying that sometimes that can happen, and maybe getting another perspective might be helpful.

The greek advisor said that it was a panhellenic rule that all sororities had to be at total. She said if the council on campus decided to lower the number for total here, then expansion might be an opportunity, but she said lowering the number was next to never happening, so expanding was pretty much out of the picture.

Which school are you at? You don't have to say if you don't want to, I'm just curious.

Other than that, seriously look at the bylaws, why can't you have a local? I understand many school's reasoning behind this, but it really just may be that you can't be part of panhell.. good luck!

This is the prime reason, myself and many Members of the Mens Fraternal Orgaizations disagree with The NPC!:(

At my old school of @ 6700 there are 3 Soroitys and 6 Fraternitys, the only reason is that the Soroitys are not meeting Numbers!

To me and others, it is BS!

Maybe the reason they are not making Numbers is the people in Those selected few are not the ones some possible new members are not interested in! As far as I know, ALL of the National Soroitys are good in their own right!

NPC does hold down the many women who may want to join saying join one of these or begone!:(

The small mentallity of that is underwhelming!

Why be forced to take women who do not want to join or want to find something different?:(

Building something New is an awesome thing to do! Speaking from experience!

If a Group cannot hold their own, then why force others to not be able to join something that they would rather do?

"For a lack of a Horse, the War was lost and we lose troops!"

Tom, we'll probably have to agree to disagree on this one. But let me say this: Because NPC sororities use the system of total and quota, and because of our national agreements, it's not practical or beneficial to us to allow new colonies to start up all the time. Formal rush, quota, and reputation combine to create a cycling of groups on campuses--one group is "uncool", loses numbers, leaves campus, another group comes, doesn't make a strong start, loses numbers, leaves campus.... and on and on. The reason most Panhellenic are reluctant to authorize expansion when not every group is at total--it leads to a needless cycling and wasted money of members and national NPCs. Most Panhellenics prefer to work on developing and strengthening all groups until expansion can be considered.

Now, if formal rush, quota, and the unanimous agreements were eliminated, everything would change. But there's no way in hell that's happening.

I really agree with breathesgelatin and tom earpe. you both have really valid points. I do think it is narrowminded for this campus not to expand, but i can see the concern panhellenic would have with a weak starting group. however, i really have to say, this campus needs more sororities because nearly half of the girls dropped formal rush this fall. i think a new group with "fresh" girls would make a great addition to greek life.

sometimes bigger sororities won't vote for expansion because it might hurt their own numbers (even though numbers aren't everything and let's not start on numbers again!)

NPC seems to have a different take on things than NIC groups. That's fine.

I can't speak for NPC groups, but I really think the NIC groups' "Survival of the fittest" attitude is the best for overall greek life. If your organization has been on campus for 100 years and can only keep 13 members at a time, yes, it deserves to be replaced by another organization that can operate with 100. That's what's good for Greek Life overall.

I'm glad the NIC system works for you guys, but I don't think anyone's perspective on the good or bad of the Panhellenic system will help bittebear work within the system, which she really has no choice but to do at this point.

There are always options, especially if you are at a public university.

If you are not already set on a NPC soroity, there are many non-NPC sororities to consider, please see thread -
http://forums.greekchat.com/gcforums...threadid=32212
There are also several christian focused social sororities that are not listed, but can be found by doing a search on the web.

Good luck in starting your dream. Remember it can be done!!