The idea with the whole new process or RFM - Release Figure Method, is to help more chapters make quota while also placing more women in their chapter of preference.
They are hoping that chapters that have not been making quota, but that are close (say within 5) will now make quota and chapters that are no where near will do better.
Of course the entire thing will not work by only using part of the system. By only using the quota range, you are not necessarily going to help more PNM's be placed. Maybe more of those left in recuitment, but not more overall. Which of course is ultimately the goal, for more women that start the process to receive and accept a bid from a chapter.
Roqueemae asked if it is possible for all to make quota but one who way below. Yes, this is possible and exactly what happened at my school last year.
Of six groups, four have made quota consistanly for the last 4 years, one has been within 5-8 and the other has gotten only about 25% of whatever quota was that year.
Last year we used RFM, we raised our return rates (even though our recruitment numbers were down) and five of the six made quota and quota additions during bid match - the sixth chapter got their 25%.
This may not sound like a big difference until you hear that in the last four years there have typically been 20-25 women that drop out of recruitment just prior to pref - which in the old method 2 version of setting quota means that they are included in quota. One year this was an entire new member class. Additionally, we have had anywhere from 10-20 no bids. With approximately 300 women going through recruitment, this was a big number for both things. There was no way everyone could make quota because the women just weren't there. The no bids were after quota additions.
Using the RFM, we had only a handful drop out prior to pref and had only 2 no bids. Those women weren't eligible for quota addition b/c of intentional single preference on their cards. If I recall correctly, we only had about 19 that didn't get their first pref. Quota was 34.
Overall the system worked. Mainly, it worked for the PNM's because more of them stayed in recruitment and became sorority women.
So, I don't know that we will be saying goodbye to quota additions anytime soon. But, by continuly using the new RFM to the letter, it should cut down on the number of women that are no bids and therefore in the quota addition pool.
