What is the Definition of Alumni verses Inactive?

Deke4life · #1 05-18-2005, 10:06 AM

How do you distinguish alumni from inactives?

Do members need to apply to the alumni society (at the chapter level) or is their admission automatic?

What status is given to those who do not graduate?

I am not so much interested in the answers to these questions in terms of the fraternity as a whole, but rather as it involves the local chapter.

adpiucf · #2 05-18-2005, 11:51 AM

For ADPi

Alumna: A member who has graduated or left the university in good financial standing. (A member who transfers to another university with an ADPi chapter does not have to affiliate with the chapter, and in the case she doesn't affiliate with that chapter takes alumna status. A member who transfers to a universtiy without an ADPi chapter takes immediate alumna status.) Oftentimes, if a member becomes pregnant or marries during her collegiate membership, she is given the option to take alumna status in recognition of the change in her life and her new priorities.

Inactive: A collegiate member who has successfully petitioned for inactive status, which removesher from the obligation to pay dues for the remainder of that school year. Inactivity can only be granted once in collegiate membership, and only due to extenuating circumstances-- such as an unanticipated financial hardship (where all other options have been exhausted: part time job, financial aid, budgeting) or medical emergency (personal or family).

Those who leave the chapter but remain at the university are no longer members of the organization and may not claim any of the membership benefits or privileges. In order to voluntarily cancel membership, dues must be paid up at the time the request is formally initiated through a letter. A process with the chapter's executive board commences, and pending approval, the member is granted inactivity.

Membership in an alumnae association is a voluntary activity. Members who have taken alumnae status are not obligated to participate in any sorority activities.

There is a special ceremony called the Jewel Degree to mark the passage from collegiate to alumnae membership. Members are not required to participate in this ceremony to be considered alumnae-- so long as they are paid up and graduated/have left the unversity, they are alum.

Kevin · #3 05-18-2005, 12:28 PM

We don't have inactives. If you are still enrolled at the same school that our chapter is at, you're either a member, or you're no longer a member.

Non-matriculates are referred to as alums, so yes, that includes non-graduates.

We do have members/non-members of our alumni chapter. Members pay dues (between $100/yr. and $200/yr. depending on how long ago you graduated). Members of the alumni chapter are invited to all alumni events, as well as having the privilege to run for or vote for alumni officers.

Tom Earp · #4 05-30-2005, 04:35 PM

Actives are Undergrads who are still going to school.

Alums are those that Graduate and become Alum Status.

Inactives are those that for some reason have been suspended for not paying dues, grades, or other reasons.

In LXA if you have spent 4 years in College, you can apply for Alum Status.

Funny, but it seems like @ 99 % dont Graduate in 4 Years.

Did 7 myself. Long story!

slayerzbt · #5 06-12-2005, 04:39 PM

We dont have an inactive status either. I dont know what our nationals define as "alumni". I have heard that you have to be in a certain amount of time. We have a lot of brothers that join later(sometimes as a senior even) and some people transfer and we just refer to them as alumni either way.

AXO Alum · #6 07-06-2005, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ktsnake
We don't have inactives. If you are still enrolled at the same school that our chapter is at, you're either a member, or you're no longer a member.

Non-matriculates are referred to as alums, so yes, that includes non-graduates.

This is how AXO is also but dang if you can get the girls to understand that!!! Every semester I get 3 or 4 calls "I am going to be inactive this semester" -- as if a) that is something automatically given out, and b) we had an "inactive" status.

But I do like to catch their attention - here is the usual convo:

Member: "I am going to be inactive this semester. What do I need to do?"

Me: "Come into standards board and sign your resignation papers."

Member: "WHAT??!! No - I don't want to resign - I am going to be inactive."

Me: "There is no inactive status - you either are or you aren't - if you are, then we'll see you at the meeting... if you aren't, then we'll see you at standards to sign your paperwork."

This, of course, is usually followed soon after by a response from our consultant who will say "Suzy Sue just called and wanted to know why she can't be inactive so I explained it to her" - gotta love when they think that you don't know what you're talking about and go to HQ to hear the same thing!!

AGDLynn · #7 07-06-2005, 09:08 PM

This, of course, is usually followed soon after by a response from our consultant who will say "Suzy Sue just called and wanted to know why she can't be inactive so I explained it to her" - gotta love when they think that you don't know what you're talking about and go to HQ to hear the same thing!!

Advisors can fill in the blank with any subject ..same outcome, lol.

Thank goodness AGD is putting collegiate manuals on the Member Services site so the collegiates can read for themselves. ((Cause it would be too much trouble to ask someone in your chapter.

Not all are there yet but hopefully soon.

TxGirl · #8 07-06-2005, 10:53 PM

This would assume that actually read what it says - not what they want it to say. I had a women tell me that our national bylaws forbid us from wearing our drop (in places other than Texas that means lavalier) or anything other type of fraternity jewelry above our fraternity badge. I told her that wasn't correct - she didn't believe me so I told her to go get her bylaws and show me where it said that.

What it basically says is that you shouldn't wear another fraternity badge or pin (ex. your boyfriends fraternity pin or a pin from a service fraternity etc.) above you Alpha Xi Delta Quill.

Talk about a stretch. Even though I explained what it actually said, she wouldn't believe me until we actually found the exact words in the bylaws!

doves95 · #9 07-08-2005, 12:24 AM

Sigma Kappa:

YOu are active until you A)graduate or B) leave the university.
You are considered an alum in good standing (unless the chapter tells our NHQ otherwise) if you graduate or leave college.

You may either be active or withdraw, there is no such thing as "deactivating" or inactive status with us either.

Members can take a leave of absense for 1 semester for an internship/student teaching (out of chapter area) or for severe personal, financial , or academic issues. After that they must return or they are withdrawn.

I explain the whole you are not inactive or deactivating to at least 3 collegiate in a year and look at me like Im from Mars... READ the BYLAWS!

lifesaver · #10 08-11-2005, 02:20 PM

LXA dosent have inactive status.

You can be an alum by one of several was:
1) Transfer univerisites. If you dotn affilliate at the new school, you are alum.
2) Transfer universites, afilliate, but then decide to go alum. (guess this is there in case it 'just dosent work out' at the new chapter.
3) Get married or have a child (I think the child part is in there, the married part is for sure)
4) Graduate
5) Do eight semesters in good standing.

Theres nothing he really has to do to take alum once he qualifies, except let the chapter know and they are to report it to our HQ. Rarely, if ever, does this happen in an effective manner. I think LXA could improve operations in this area - to what, I am not sure, but the alums need to take a larger role in their alum status.

LXA did create a alum ritual 2 or 4 years ago. Its practiced by only a handful of chapters and I havent seen it yet.

One can petiton our HQ directly for financial hardship status which lets them go inactive, but its only for a semster at a time and has to be approved on a case by case basis by the international board of directors.

I too have had a few undergrads ask me about going inactive. I've had to give the speech too. Theres the other side, were there have been financial issues and the undergrads have asked me to let them go inactive. I tell them of the proceedure to go (petition HQ) and have yet to have a single member do so. So the exec board expells them. As an advisor, I have no problem with that. They know the steps to take and just get lazy.

gpb1874 · #11 08-11-2005, 03:01 PM

hmmm....that makes me curious b/c i have a LXA chapter and i hear the guys say that so and so is inactive or we're going to have a lot of inactives this semester. i'm sure some are due to finances given this area, but i was lead to believe that some are due to grades. interesting......

KSUViolet06 · #12 08-14-2005, 11:15 AM

You become an alumna:

*If you leave school or transfer and are in GOOD STANDING.
*If you graduate.
*If you are going into your 5th year of school, and choose to take 5th yr alumna status.

We do have an inactive status, but you can only be inactive for ONE semester. We generally allow this to those who may be student teaching, doing an internship, or something like that. Occasionally, a girl will experience a serious illness, accident, or financial hardship, and she'll request inactive status, but you must petition Exec. Board for those cases and they will decide if status will be granted. It's something we ask girls to seriously think about since you can only do it once. Also, inactive members can't attend events since they don't pay dues, so that's something to consider.

flirt5721 · #13 08-14-2005, 04:58 PM

In Alpha Xi Delta becoming Alum is automatic if you graduate, transfer to school where there is no AXiD chapter, and in good standing with the chapter.

Inactive status is granted to a member on the chapter for only certain reason and has to be voted on by the chapter; e.g. Internship, financial, or family situations. When a member is inactive the member only has to pay national dues and not local.

doves95 · #14 08-14-2005, 05:25 PM

I think the "problem" is many members (in general of greek organ.) use the term 'inactive' to really mean the member is on a leave of absence, withdrawing, etc.... instead of the correct term.

Some of the collegiates I advise say so and so is going to inactivate..... like we are a machine?!

I think I replied or someone did but with Sigma Kappa you are
1) active collegiate
2) alumna (good standing, graduate or leave the school. You are not required to affiliate with a chapter if you transfer.)

when you are a collegiate you may either 1) Withdraw 2) be suspended 3) (very extreme) be expelled or 4) take a Leave of Absence for 1 semester for: financial reasons, academic, serious issues, internship/student teaching

emb021 · #15 08-15-2005, 05:48 PM

For APO, these are the terms & their meaning

Alumni- Brother who has left school (for whatever reason) and was still in good standing with their chapter (didn't owe fees, didn't get kicked out, etc)

Association- Brother who is still a student, but for some reason is unable to maintain active status (usually time constrants), but still wants to be involved with the Chapter. Some chapters expect a Brother to specifically ask to go associate, others its automatic if you don't maintain active status.

Inactive- Brother who is still a student, but for whatever reason has left the chapter.