For NPC sororitiy women
 

As far as I know all NPC sororities have a policy that if you are a member of sorority at your school, and you if wish to transfer to a school that has that same sorority, you are free to affiliate and be become a member of that chapter without having to rush/get a bid.

First off, I would like to know (if you can tell me?) if that is an actual policy of ALL NPC sororities.

And I would also like to get your opinion about how you would feel if you were a sister of Alpha Beta Kappa sorority (Alpha Beta Chapter) and a woman from the Beta Sigma chapter transferred to your school and chose to affiliate with your chapter.

Do you think that you would welcome her with open arms? Do you think that you would judge her on not being loyal to the chapter that she joined by affiliating with another chapter? And since each chapter of any GLO attracts different types of women and has a different reputation, would you fear that she would not fit in, because after all she never rush your chapter and you know nothing about her? Or would you think she is an ABK and all ABKs are great and she's already my sister and if the beta sigma chapter thinks shes wonderful then she must be? And if you have ever had a sister transfer and join another college's chapter or you yourself did so or if you transfered to a school that had your org but your chose not to affiliate, I would love to hear your experience...

I'm sorry, but I am really wondering all of this. If it is inappropriate and something please let me know. And if you can answer this please do!!!!! I dont know anyone personally who has transfered schools and joined an other chapter of their GLO, but i do know a few people who have transfered and chosen not to join the chapter of their GLO at their new school.

(sorry for all the run on sentences...lol)

I don't know other NPC sororities' policy except for my own, and Alpha Gamma Delta allows this.

I had a chapter sister transfer to our Gamma Beta chapter (Florida State) about a year after she was initiated. Her father was re-stationed in SC, and she decided to go to FSU to be closer to her family. I was serving as an advisor on Executive Council at that time, and I remember reading her letter explaining her situation and her desire to transfer and affiliate. We knew she'd make a stellar member of Gamma Beta, and we let them know that!

I know there's an affiliation fee involved as well as a vote taken by the new chapter (their EC had to approve it as well, IIRC). She transferred, affiliated, and within a small amount of time I heard she was their VP-Recruitment!

On the other end of the spectrum, we've had sisters transfer to campuses with Alpha Gam chapters, only to find out that they didn't really 'mesh' well with the girls there, so for reasons only known to them, they decided not to pursue collegiate affiliation and did not participate in any collegian activity. They became active members of their alum groups, though.

To the best of my knowledge, Gamma Phi Beta's policy allow women to affiliate with the new school's chapter with the approval of the chapter. (If I stated that incorrectly, please let me know, sisters)
One of our sisters at Gamma Chi had transferred from another school - she was great! When my big sister transferred to UT, she chose not to affiliate with the chapter there - she transferred with only a little while to go, and didn't feel she had the time to commit to being an active.

I personally have not experienced this, but I do know a girl that transferred to our college and is a DZ. She met with the DZ's from Cal to see if she would feel like she fit in and so they could meet her, get to know her, etc. I don't know any of their policies or if there were fees or anything, but I do know she affiliated and was very active with the chapter. So it was a happy ending!

As far as I know Theta allows affiliation with an affirmative vote by the chapter the member wishes to affiliate with.

I went to a private college that literally pulled students from every corner of the country, and IIRC 40% were out of state. It was common every year to loose a few members to transfer because of being home-sick. There were several members in my pledge class that did affiliate with their new school upon moving closer to home. We enthusiastically endorsed them, as they had been good members. I believe that extrapolating that the member "is not loyal" to the original chapter is a bit of a stretch. There are many, many legitimate reasons to transfer, and this should not be held against a member.

We also had several individuals who affilated with our chapter while I was there. They were wonderful additions and one even served as an officer.

All that being said, there was a girl on our campus who went through recruitment both as a Freshman and a Sophomore (we didn't have COB) with the *sole* intention of being an XYZ... the other 9 houses were all beneath her in her mind. She was cut from XYZ both years. So... before school even started sophomore year she transferred back home and went through recruitment at the local commuter college and got a bid to their XYZ chapter.

Would you believe she showed back up on our campus junior year and tried to affiliate with our XYZs? They voted to not affiliate her.

My roommate transfered into my chapter. Only recently she told me that she hadn't thought much about affiliating with us at the time, but she wore her jacket one day that looked quite different than ours, and our then-president approached her not knowing who she was. She was invited to hang out with us and come to some events so that we could get a feel for her. She expressed interest in affiliating with us, and we accepted her. =)

She was such a breath of fresh air, as she came from a chapter that was more well-versed in areas that we were not. She gave such wonderful insight and really helped to improve us as a chapter. She, as well as the rest of the chapter, know that had she gone through recruitment at my school, she would have gone somewhere else, but I'm so glad it has happened the way it did. She loves both of her chapters, and we all love her!

For AOII, any member in good standing may join any other collegiate chapter. We have no specific rules that state that the affiliation must be approved by the new chapter. Some chapters may have rules stating such in their bylaws that I don't know about, but once a sister, you are eligible for membership anywhere.

This statement made me remember something I read here a few months ago.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it was the Delta Gamma chapter at UF that doesn't do affiliation from members who have transferred from other schools. I can't remember the reason why, but I think it was something to do with maintaining the chapter's integrity?

Are there other chapters who have similar policies?

Alpha Delta Pi allows affiliates with the approval of the chapter after one semester so the new chapter can see grades at the new campus.

My advice to anyone who wants to transfer with expectations of affiliation is first do your homework on that campus' chapter. I've heard stories of women who were determined to be an XYZ at Somewhere State University. Instead of risking not getting a bid there they purposely enrolled at a small greek life college, or a not very competitive recruitment college, or one where XYZ was struggling. They became an XYZ then proceeded to transfer to Somewhere State U. They were shocked to discover they were not welcomed with open arms and ended up spending their remaining college years designated as an alum member.

Yes, I remember reading that too. Perhaps baci can shed some light.

I am sure that "integrity of the chapter" had something to do with it. But, seems like there was also a post that said that tons and tons of girls in Florida were pledging DG at smaller non-competitive schools, each with the intention of transferring to UF. The number of transfers was just overwhelming the UF chapter, and it was also hurting the original chapters.

But then again, maybe I just dreamed that last part.

For Phi Mu it says you should seek to affiliate at your transfer school if it has a Phi Mu chapter. But that is only the paper work for transfering or becoming an alumna.

I'm assuming that some chapters have bylaws and require votes, etc. I'm not sure if mine chapter does to be honest, I've never ever witnessed a bylaw on the subject. I do know that women have transfered to my school and not affiliated. Now that is what makes me mad. You should at least try unless your transferred due to awful circumstances (ex. sick parent/sibling, finances, etc.)

I'm pretty positive that DG at FSU is the same way.

Our chapters may establish a policy of not affiliating transfer members. It's just as Blondie93 stated - some chapters simply can't affiliate all the transfers on their campus, so they choose to affiliate none. All chapters are encouraged to welcome and be friendly with transfer DGs.

This is not just a DG policy. During my senior year, Small State College on one end of the state added a Greek system with 3 NPC sororities. A particular chapter across the street from us at Big State U. was inundated with members pledging at Small State College and transferring in order to affiliate with the chapter at Big State U. After a year, they had to establish a no-affiliation policy.

Deepher4Life, a member who transfers to another school may choose whether or not to affiliate with a chapter. Often a student who transfers picks up a heavier load, and is glad not to have chapter meetings and required events added to increased studies. My own chapter was lucky enough to affiliate a couple of members. We occasionally heard of another DG on campus who didn't approach us to affiliate - we didn't take offense, it was their choice. Nobody really thinks about disloyalty to a chapter. Loyalty to the Fraternity is the main thing.

For Kappa, the member does not have to affiliate if she does not choose to, but she is welcome to if the chapter agrees.

I've seen where transfers are great fits for their new chapter and do wonderfully and I've also seen members who either chose not to affiliate because they don't feel they fit with the chapter, or they resign after a year because they feel they no longer fit with the chapter (which could really happen with any member, transfer or not).

What happens if the chapter at Big State U is at total - would they still be able to have people affiliate (if the Small State College people were even allowed to), or would those people have to wait until a spot opened up at Big State U? I haven't ever dealt with this and I wonder if it's an NPC guideline or a local Panhellenic guideline.

As for the original question, I believe AXiD is similar to many others in that the chapter has discretion whether to let someone from another school's chapter affiliate.

I believe you're right - if the chapter is at total, they can't affiliate. But it's been a l-o-n-g :p time since I encountered that particular policy, so offhand I don't remember the exact guidelines.

NPC allows women that have transfered to affiliate even if the chapter is at or above total. Of course that woman must comply with any guidelines from her national organization (in good standing) or any guidelines (affirmative vote) that the local chapter has put in place.

I have the updated MOI :)

I don't agree with that. Certainly there are reasons that you stated why someone wouldn't seek affiliation. But maybe you just feel you don't mesh with the women in the chapter at your new school and don't want to bother. As ISUKappa pointed out, it's better not to affiliate and have a lifetime of membership than to affiliate and then resign your membership because you're unhappy.

In Pi Phi, we have an official transfer introduction form that the old chapter is supposed to send to the new chapter at the time of the member's transfer. That is to get the ball rolling in case the member wants to pursue affiliation. If she doesn't, that's fine, and like other groups mentioned, the Pi Phi chapter at the new school gets the opportunity to approve the affiliation (or disapprove it). The idea behind the transfer introduction form though is that there are 1-2 events per year (like Founders' Day, etc) that the new chapter might want to invite the transfer member to even if either party decides not to pursue affiliation - just as a courtesy.

I don't mean mad like I would be offended. I just meant mad in the sense that it would occur to me "why wouldn't they?". I didn't mean it so literal. I'm not the kind to sit around and take offense and obviously if they have other issues going on (as I previously stated) then that's their business. Also note that I said that they should try- as in try to get to know the members before deciding. At my school we never had a single affiliation in the time I was there and as far as I know if I didn't run into them on coincidence I would have never known, just so you see a bit more of my perspective.

When I was a collegiate, two women transferred from two separate schools and then affiliated with our chapter. However, this was the semester before I initiated, so I do not know the exact circumstances or procedures. Both were fantastic additions to our group. One even became my pledge sister’s big!

Well, for that matter, my sophomore year roommate flunked out of school and then came back 2 years later. She didn't formally affiliate because being active in the sorority was part of the reason she flunked out of school. Everyone understood that and respected it and welcomed her presence when she had time - i.e. cheering the chapter on at Greek Week and things like that.

A transfer member should never be asked to rush - she's an initiated member of an NPC sorority, she can't get a bid anywhere else.

Our bylaws state that a member who transfers shall be given "full consideration" to affiliate, and that she can request that the first chapter send a recommendation and her records to the new chapter.

So, are you "free to affiliate"? Yes, the sorority lets you - but the plain fact of the matter is that the girls in the chapter may be people that you have nothing in common with or vice versa, and it may be better for all concerned for affiliation not to take place. We had one of our sisters transfer to Slippery Rock (which was basically our twin chapter) and apparently there were sisters from my chapter upset that she got a new member number, etc - but I think it depends on the kind of relationship you maintain with the first chapter. I think they wouldn't have been as PO'ed if she didn't blow them off.

It really is a case by case basis.

Interesting...I believe our policy in that case is that the returning member is not an affiliate candidate because she is ALREADY a member of that chapter. She would HAVE to return as an active member or resign entirely.
Now...let's say she left school before graduating...never married...and 20 years later returned to the same school to continue her students. Would she be required to rejoin her chapter? Strictly speaking, yes. Can you imagine a 40-year-old woman participating in rush? Probably not...interesting situation...and I'm sure it's happened somewhere sometime!

I guess rather than "affiliate" the term I should have used was "reactivate." When you leave school for any reason you're an alum, so she just stayed an alum. I doubt if national even knew she was back at school.

That's ADPi's policy too. If a member takes a semester/year of school off regardless of the reason, they are expected to return to active status if/when they re-enroll on the same campus. It's never been an issue because they all wanted to return anyways. I guess I never thought about how we'd handle it if someone didn't want to.

As you said though, I can't imagine chasing down a woman who re-enrolled 20 years later and forcing her to be an active. That visual is rather funny!

My U. had a high transfer rate as homesick students transfered to schools closer to home. A couple of my pledge sisters affiliated with other chapters, eg MS St and American U. My little affiliated with one of the AR chapters. I do not know of any who were not welcomed by their new chapters.

I HATE when I hear stuff like this. I think if you are a member of a sorority at one school, and you transfer to another school with that sorority, and long as the chapter and that member "mesh," she should affiliate. WHat a cop out excuse - no time for being active....what, does that mean if she had stayed at her previous school she would have dropped out due to time commitments? I just dont buy it. I think if you're a collegiate, and your sorority is available at your new school, you should affiliate. I think it's lazy and disrespectful to your national organization to transfer schools, and not affiliate.

Blast away.

This is correct (as one who did).

OP, you are assuming that there weren't outside circumstances that casued the person to transfer schools. I would have loved to remain at mine (and my loyalty to my chapter of initiation has not changed) but I was unable to.

Unfortunately, my chapter of initiation is now closed.

possible reasons why...
 

1) You have to put your education first. If you were barely scraping by at your old school and being involved in a sorority was a big part of why you were doing so badly, you do no one any favors by affiliating and barely participating.

2) If with the transfer you change your major from something super easy to something super hard and time consuming, again, you do no one any favors by affiliating and barely participating.

3) Dues are different at every school, often with housing or lack of same being a factor. Just because you could afford them at Small Private College doesn't mean you will be able to at Big State School.

I would rather have someone who knows how much she can take on not affiliate, than be active and half-ass it or end up owing tons of $$ she didn't have to begin with.

My chapter had a transfer affiliate the fall of her junior year. She actually came to visit us the spring before on her spring break and she seemed to mesh well with members her year, and she even had a friend from high school in our chapter. But, soon after she affiliated, she was MIA. I have no idea if she decided she didn't like US or the general Greek experience at our school or what.

She ended up not going to anything, just paying dues and all the fines she racked up for missing mandatory events. She would avoid us like the plague; she would usually just give her dues and fines to a sister she had class with, not even stopping by the house. While I commend her dedication to the National organization by not withdrawing her membership, it would have been a better situation for her to have not affiliated in the first place because she poured about $4000 down the drain (though, she COULD have gotten her money's worth had she chose to).

I know of other chapters at Maryland that have had transfer affiliates mesh marvelously. I think it is important to have an extended "get to know you" period before the member decides to affiliate and the chapter votes on her to make sure both parties would be happy.

My chapter welcomed an ASA from another school when she transferred, but it didn't quite work out. We were only a few years old at the time, and didn't know to check with her "home chapter" about her membership status. Come to find out, she owed them huge fees, and ended up racking up a bill of her own with us. She also ended up not being a very good sister in other ways...