NPC and All Greek Councils

[Little E]

Because there are so many NPC experts on here I hope that someone can help me out.

Beloit College is a small lib arts school, we have AST, and two locals, one (Theta) dating back to the 1880s, the other (Kappa) is about year old and intending on affiliating with an NPC. They are right now, from what I understand, trying to begin the process and are leaning toward presentations. Because AST is the only NPC, the proper authority is in the administration. However, there are are a bunch of misconceptions that I don't really understand.

1- The older local, has been told that they will be required to join CPC, and if they don't, NPC won't come to campus. They say they are reading this in the NPC Expansion packet, which all the groups have recieved to understand the process. I was under the impression that Theta could choose to join if they wanted, but were not obliged, nor were we obliged to extend membership to them (though we undoubtably would).

2- We currently have IFPC, the Interfraternal Panhellenic Council. Pretty much an All Greek Council. We have worked under a mixed system for probably close to the last 30 years or so. I am under the impression that other schools have Greek Councils, and I am wondering how NPC works with those types of Councils. There is an impression that NPC will try to control and dictate formal rush etc.

Theta and Kappa seem to be going towards a show down and Theta is beginning to feel attacked, like they are being negatively targeted, and Kappa will be mad when they hear that Theta is threatening to do everything possible to prevent NPC from changing them. We are experiencing a general lack of communication and the sororities are have been doing great in terms of communication for the first time in about 5 years. AST is trying to do its job and support bringing NPC to campus, but as the rumor mill starts to go around, it gets harder, we support both Kappa and Theta.

Sorry to ramble, hope I explained it ok. But please help me! The expansion packet didn't answer all our questions. Maybe some of the other Beloiters can help.

**edit for clarity...well a little, still hard to explain.

[33girl]

You are required to have a Panhellenic council if there are 2 NPC groups on campus. It is not the other way around. If Kappa affiliates with a NPC group, you will have to start an NPC; if they don't, you won't. What Theta does or doesn't do has no bearing on it. They don't have to affiliate with an NPC unless the school says they do - NPC cannot "make" them do that, it doesn't have the authority.

If Kappa gets a national (thereby creating a CPC), and Theta decides to join the CPC, then they will have to follow NPC rules. If they don't, they won't.

Check out some of the SUNY Greek sites - they have lots of mixed systems with locals/regionals and nationals, that might give you some ideas.

[aephi alum]

My understanding is this:

As soon as there's more than one NPC sorority at a school, they must form a campus Panhellenic. Members of whichever sorority was there first (AST in this case) should take the lead in setting it up. Panhel oversees formal recruitment among other things.

Locals are under no obligation to join Panhel or participate in formal recruitment. In fact, locals cannot be full members of Panhel. Instead, they can have associate membership, which entitles them to hold minor offices and to vote on certain issues.

Panhel can coexist with the existing IFPC. The NPC sororities would be members of both IFPC and Panhel.

So probably the best solution, assuming Kappa becomes a chapter of an NPC sorority, is to form a Panhel with AST and Kappa, and offer associate membership to Theta. Theta can then join Panhel and participate in formal rush, or not, as they choose.

[AZ-AlphaXi]

Not sure if this well help but here's what the NPC "green book" has to say... BTW if your chapter doesn't have a copy it should and can be ordered from the npc web site (http://www.npcwomen.org)

Establishment of a College Panhellenic

When the first NPC fraternity is installed on a campus the fraternity shall notify the NPC Area Advisor, ...

When a second group is installed on campus, the first group shall notify the NPC Advisor to New College Panhellenics so that preparations can begin for establishing a college panhellenic association.

The first group has the responsibility to iitiate the organization of a college panhellenic.

--------

ok so this sounds to me like if/when a new NPC is installed, your chapter is required to initiate the formation of a college panhellenic. You and the new NPC chapter would be required to belong. The local might or might not be a full member depending on the bylaws written and their choice. I've seen cases where locals did belong and participated in formal recruitment and cases where they didn't.

My suggestion is to find out who your NPC area advisor is - here's the link to the npc advisors list.
http://www.npcwomen.org/college/c_advisors.php

or your national headquarters can tell you who.

on the recruitment question

again I think this would depend on if the local joins the college panhellenic or not. If they join, they would be bound to any recruitment rules setup by the college panhellenic. If they don't join then they wouldn't.

BTW .. .my understanding is that the only requirements for recruitment by NPC is 1) the use of the preferential bidding system, 2) that no chapter offer bids during a college recess (except for a formal recruitment period just prior to the start of a term) and 3) no men and no alcohol during recruitment.

The college panhellenic determines the other rules and regulations for recruitment.

Hope this help...

[GeekyPenguin]

Back in the days of a Panhell at Platteville, we (or the school?) pretty much forced the locals to affiliate with Panhell and do formal recruitment, etc. Beloit may or may not do the same.

[33girl]

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
we (or the school?) pretty much forced the locals to affiliate with Panhell and do formal recruitment, etc. Beloit may or may not do the same.

ah, there's the rub.

I don't know what your relationship is like w/ your school admin, but make sure that the school isn't the one wanting the local affiliation for Theta and blaming it on NPC, or not correcting that perception.

[Little E]

Ok I think I need to clarify more, esp after my convo this afternoon.

AST has been in contact w/NPC and our National is aware of the expansion. So that is all being done through our Pres, and we have started a committee that is beginning to look at what will happen when NPC does indeed come to campus. Greek Life is at about 20%, though not totally stable, but we are expecting that some national group will pick up Kappa.

We are clear on Theta not being required to join, that miscommunication is being cleared up. There is no way that the school will force Theta to do anything they don't want to.

How does NPC work with an all greek council, like our IFPC? Are they willing? Will NPC need to meet in addition to IFPC? Can we remain members of IFPC? How much control will NPC want to really have? We are not on a campus where formal rush could be effective.

[sugar and spice]

Originally posted by Little E
How does NPC work with an all greek council, like our IFPC? Are they willing? Will NPC need to meet in addition to IFPC? Can we remain members of IFPC? How much control will NPC want to really have? We are not on a campus where formal rush could be effective.

My understanding is that you can be members of Panhel and IFPC if you want, but you will have to have a Panhel.

Formal rush would be mandatory, but you could have a fairly laid back, short formal rush and still use informal/COB rush as your main form of rushing.

[AEPhiSierra]

I am from a campus with a mixed greek system: 3 NPC, 3 local sororities, 1 regional/NALGO, 2 new NPHC sorority chapters. With this experience here is my feedback.

Originally posted by Little E

2- I am under the impression that other schools have Greek Councils, and I am wondering how NPC works with those types of Councils. There is an impression that NPC will try to control and dictate formal rush etc.

My school has a mixed system with an Inter-Greek Council being the dominant council. There is no IFC and Panhel only really meets for planning Formal Recruitment. Our locals are modelled after NPC sororities (as opposed the MGLO & BGLO's which recruit a little differently) but they each recruit individually and separately from CPC. There is a some fear that NPC will try to take over recruitment and it comes out during IGC elections when some GLO's are like we don't want an NPC Prez or an all NPC E-Board. But on the same note the fraternities won't vote a local sorority Prez either. The national sororities have problems with the locals because we feel they don't really understand the importance of risk management and having a good reputation (I am not saying this applies to locals at all schools - just mine) and there is a lot of passive agressive anger resulting from this. I feel if the IGC was all local sororities or all national sororities there would be a lot less drama.

We are experiencing a general lack of communication and the sororities are have been doing great in terms of communication for the first time in about 5 years. AST is trying to do its job and support bringing NPC to campus, but as the rumor mill starts to go around, it gets harder, we support both Kappa and Theta.

The best thing to do is have the three of you sit down first with the adminstration to see what they want, then explain explain how NPC works and finally figure out what all the parties involved want. You just have to make sure everyone is on the same wavelength

Hope I was helpful

[Little E]

So apparently, we will be having a visit from the Extension people at NPC to talk about the changes that would occur if/when Kappa is allowed to go National. This is such a pain cause our campus is so small and drama is big. Thanks for the help!
Lil E

[fire1977]

I don't know if you HAVE to have a panhellenic....I have a chapter where DPhiE and TPA are along with a local organization and they have an all greek council (only one fraternity that I am aware of) and they do not have a panhellenic.

Oh and they are no where near following green book policy for recruitment!