Question for NPHC members

[33girl]

I was just curious about this.

I am an alumna of Backwater Redneck U. and the BGLO's on our campus were all part of a "citywide" chapter, as were several other small schools in the area. At one point, Delta Sigma Theta joined the college NPC. What I wondered is, do the members at each school make the decision whether or not to become part of a governing body individually or does the whole "citywide" chapter decide to do the same thing on their respective campuses? This is operating on the assumption that there is no college NPHC.

I hope that made sense!

[12dn94dst]

33girl, I'm working on getting an accurate & official response for you.

Kelli

[AKA_Monet]

The NPHC bylaw state that if there are more than 2 NPHC affiliate organiations on a campus, there must be an NPHC chapter.

If I understand your question properly, a city wide chapter would have to form an NPHC chapter if members from 2 different NPHC affiliates were present on that particular campus.

Most large universities are requesting that all on campus GLO's are associated with a National umbrella organization for liability issues. I guess for some kind of "general" standards that can be enforced, such as alcohol, Rush and party issues... But I could be incorrect.

[12dn94dst]

33girl, here's the answer I received. AKA_Monet was rather accurate with her response as well.

Kelli

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All undergraduate chapters and graduate chapters MUST belong to the appropriate local council of NPHC and show evidence yearly to their international office that they are in good standing with their collegiate or graduate council. If there is no council, and two or more NPHC organization chapters exist at that location, then those chapters MUST form a council. The international member affiliate organizations will notify their respective chapters of this official mandate through official publications including their respective official publication organs.

If two or more affiliate chapters are not present on a campus, the university usually places that chapter under the local NPC National Panhellenic Conference) or IFC (Interfraternity Conference) council umbrella, respectively. There is nothing in the NPHC Constitution and Bylaws that addresses this issue. As far as membership in NPC or IFC on a National level, there are affiliate organizations of NPHC who also hold membership in the NIC. To my knowledge, no affiliate sorority of NPHC holds membership in NPC.

At this time, NPHC, Inc. does not support a type of council known as a "city-wide" council. This is a concept, however, that we are looking into. There are several issues of concern, including liability, that must be looked at and addressed in order to establish such a council type. If there are at least two city-wide chapters of NPHC affiliates on a given campus, then a council may be formed. The city-wide chapters must be accepted by the college/university as organizations on that respective campus.

I hope I addressed your questions.

Virginia LeBlanc
Executive Director
National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc.

[This message has been edited by 12dn94dst (edited March 09, 2001).]

[33girl]

12dn94dst and AKA_Monet -

Thanks so much for your replies!! I really appreciate it.

[Senusret I]

I'll bump this since it's related.

Are there any penalties if the more than two organizations in question do NOT form an NPHC?

For example, what if there is a cultural greek council that the organizations have historically been part of that's been getting along just fine, thank you very much?

[KSUViolet06]

I didn't know that 2 or more NPHC groups had to form a council.

My school has 8 of the 9 organizations but no official NPHC. There's a Latino co-ed group on campus (Alpha Psi Lambda) so they have Black & Latino Greek Council together (the 8 NPHCs & 1 Latino group).

I know that a few of the NPHCs have tried to form the NPHC, but (and someone correct me if I'm wrong) I don't believe NPHC councils can have associate members like Panhellenic can.

[12dn94dst]

That's a good question. I think that would depend on someone monitoring the establishment, and closure, at each school or the number of chapters being reported to NPHC HQ by the school.

[12dn94dst]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I didn't know that 2 or more NPHC groups had to form a council.

That's part of the problem too. There are a LOT of folks who don't understand the relationship between the NPHC and the member organizations, so the don't know what do to really.

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by 12dn94dst

That's a good question. I think that would depend on someone monitoring the establishment, and closure, at each school or the number of chapters being reported to NPHC HQ by the school.

And what kind of penalty could the NPHC enact anyway?

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I'll bump this since it's related.

Are there any penalties if the more than two organizations in question do NOT form an NPHC?

For example, what if there is a cultural greek council that the organizations have historically been part of that's been getting along just fine, thank you very much?

My understanding is a minimum of 2 NPHC affliates must form an NPHC council according to the rules and bylaws governed my the president's council for the National.

It is my understanding that if these 2+ affliliates joined or formed another auxiliary, then they violate the National's bylaws because each affilate pays dues to the council. And if anything were to occur with that respective chapter, following the general bylaws of the NPHC and the opportunities afforded by NPHC will be missed.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I don't believe NPHC councils can have associate members like Panhellenic can.

No. There are no associate members because the NPHC national does not cover the liability.

[L.O.C.K.]

School Rules/Law ALWAYS trumps individual organizations or councils. It's part of them allowing us on their campus.

I've argued about this topic SOOOOOO much over the past three years at my campus.

Realistically it doesn't make sense if you have VERY small chapters of NPHC organizations to split off and form NPHC if it can't program effectively (ie the members are stretched too thin).

We have an MGC est here in 2003. In 2005 NPHC split off. But, both councils hit bottom and have both been very unorganized (b/c there is no one to run the councils after running their own orgs). Thus, both have agreed to reform into one MGC again.

Also...lemme see if I can find that piece from the NPHC Handbook...

ok here it goes:

"The establishment of councils assists in maintaining a distinct identity as "service based organizations," as opposed to organizations that may be strictly social in nature; NPHC, Inc. does not (emphasis in original document) advocate a disassociation from NIC, NPC, or NALFO organizations on college campuses."

We've debated this issues a LOT and it gets very heated at times.

I think the most important thing is can chapters with 3 people who all have jobs, internships, school, other orgs, etc. run their chapter AND an NPHC while maintaining good grades? It's highly unlikely especially when you only have 3 or 4 organizations of this size.

While the NPHC is obviously a great organization, it just doesn't make sense on some campuses where the numbers are just too small (regardless of the amount of NPHC organization..I'm talking total number of people in D9 orgs). Cultural Greek Councils, I feel, allow for more "man-power" in situations where you have many orgs who don't have the size to run their own NALFO, NPHC, or NAPA or NMGC...this can strengthen all organizations within it while at the same time providing a force that can compete (visibility-wise) with NPC, NIC organizations.

Visibility is incredibily important, esp. if you want to throw events for philanthropic causes. If no one knows about you or your event, they ain't gonna go. An MGC (or similar council) that has the funding and structure to support member organizations is a huge advantage, just like an NPHC would be a huge advantage as well.

I'm sure there are a bunch of D9 people who are going to disagree w/ me on this topic so let the discussion begin.

[L.O.C.K.]

NPHC's can and do have Associates (I *think* they are called this)...LTA at UMCP is part of the NPHC even though there is a UGC.

Not sure if I am mistaking AKA_Monet though. Affiliate, Associate, etc...all those A words confuse me!!

[jubilance1922]

Originally Posted by L.O.C.K.

NPHC's can and do have Associates (I *think* they are called this)...LTA at UMCP is part of the NPHC even though there is a UGC.

Not sure if I am mistaking AKA_Monet though. Affiliate, Associate, etc...all those A words confuse me!!

I believe that NPHC constitution and by-laws state that there are to be no affiliates on local councils. Now I'm sure that it happens, and I don't know what the national NPHC could do in that type of situation.

<----personally doesn't believe that non-NPHC orgs should sit on an NPHC council.