Quote:
Originally Posted by Sciencewoman
I'm not sure this is a strong consideration for most PNMs, but I have heard it discussed during recent extension openings on the campus where I teach...and the comments have run both ways ("We want to bring in a group that is well-known/strong nationally" but also "We feel threatened by any group that is larger/stronger nationally...this might hurt us during future recruitments if this group is too strong" -- and regional name recognition/perceived strength has also been heavily discussed).
If a PNM has personally witnessed family/community alumnae involvement, she might think about this more during recruitment. Are there more alumnae chapters, is there higher potential for networking due to more alumnae, etc. -- we've certainly heard PNMs say they aren't as interested in locals for these perceived limitations. I felt that way during my recruitment (I was not interested in the local, which eventually closed due to low numbers).
|
PNMs definitely consider whether they know older girls in chapters at other campuses, so if they're heard of XYZ before because girls from cheer/pageants/school/sports have joined that chapter at a different school they might be more interested in that chapter before recruitment starts. It's not a good reason, necessarily, but I know that it happens. Same thing for alumni-we've had women come on here and say they had a bunch of recs for XYZ and had alumni sing the songs and talk about it to them so they were more interested in that chapter despite not knowing anyone there.
Regional strength is important on some campuses (we want ABC to come on because they're so good at these other schools), but other schools with less emphasis on Greek life in the area may not care who's at the school down the road. I know that in a state like South Carolina there's many schools with strong Greek communities who frequently interact with each other both as individuals and groups, so students who see that a group is at many other campuses in the area may already know that group's name and be more likely to want them to colonize.