how can a local become national?
 

my sorority is trying to become national and keeping our letters because we were asked to become a national at my campus in Rochester, New York because the college doesnt want locals any longer. What are the expectations to become a national? What are the requirements to be part of NPC, NHPC or a small national sorority. please let me know.

It depends on what you mean--is your local trying to establish a Beta chapter of your sorority, or does your local want to affiliate with an NPC sorority? If your local wants to affiliate with a national sorority, then it is up to your college administration to decide if your campus is open for expansion. If they decide your campus is open for a new national sorority to establish a chapter, then your sorority would have the option of affiliating with a national. I would check with you college's student affairs or Greek Life office to see if they would consider your campus open for expansion. For more on how the NPC handles adding new chapters/expansion procedures, go to www.npcwomen.org

ok.. my sorority had been around since 1984 at my college and was asked to do either of the following: become a national (keep our sorority letters, and become a national without combining with other sorority); or combine with another national sorority which is the Sigma Sigma Sigma and become part of that sorority; or shut down the chapter entirely.

We, as the first option, want to become national without combining with another national sorority and have the NPC to add us (our sorirty letters) to their other fellow chapters.

any ideas how this works

It's a REALLY big process and the last groups to join the NPC joined in what, the 1950's? You have to have a certain number of established chapters (13? I have no clue of the exact details). A single chapter cannot petition to join the NPC.

The first option is not a viable option for your group in an semi immediate point in time. It would probably take decades for you to achieve what is necessary to become a member of the NPC.

If I'm understanding correctly you don't want to join an existing NPC chapter but instead have your sorority join the NPC, become the 27th member?

This is not an option at this point. To join NPC you have to have X amount of chapters (I believe it's about 12) and your youngest chapter has to be X amount of years old (I can't remember, but it's over 10 I believe). Also, joining NPC with the min. amount of chapters would be ridiculous, for reasons we don't need to get into, seeing as though ya'll only have one chapter.

It looks like your only option is affiliation with an existing NPC. I'm not sure where ya'll decided on Sigma, but they would also have to decide to take you as well. Usually, if you want to become an NPC chapter, you invite several different NPCs to present, and then the sororities choose to accept the invitation to present, and then you choose from those who present, which NPC you would like to affiliate with, upon their approval.

I believe you need to have 15 chapters, and your youngest chapter has to be at least two years old in order to apply for NPC membership.

yes thats what im trying to say

the reason why i mentioned the Sigma is that we are the deaf local sorority on campus. Sigma is also another deaf national there. my college mentioned to join the Sigma

We have 2 other chapters, one at DC and other in California

Umm...I'm a little confused. Are you saying Sigma Sigma Sigma National Sorority that IS part of the NPC is on your campus, and you want your chapter to become a part of them, because they have a deaf chapter??

If you have 2 other chapters, I would consider that at least regional if not national. There are many sororities that are national without being members of the NPC. Does your sorority have some type of national council and (really important to your school) national liability insurance?

Ok, so ya'll only have 3 chapters...still a far cry from the 15 or so needed for NPC. And like I said, entering NPC with the min. amount of chapters would pretty much be suicide for an org. That may be the requirements, but NPC is not structured for a national org that weak.

From what I understand, and I think I know what school the OP is in, since the Tri Sigma chapter at her school is a deaf chapter, and her local is a deaf chapter as well, they would just become a part of the Tri Sigma chapter there.

OK. I think I know what's happening. Your university has decided to have the locals obtain national backing. Even though your sorority has two other chapters and could be considered a small national, steps to create a National Board and all that other stuff were never done. Correct? The university mentioned affiliating with Sigma because the chapter on your campus seems most similar to you. (Sigma may or may not be aware of this.) If you don't obtain national stature/affiliation of some sort, your sorority chapter must disband. Has the university set a deadline?