Extension to schools with no dormitories.

[naraht]

I know that Alpha Phi Omega can exist at any accreditted school. However, periodically I see extension efforts or desires to community colleges or other non-dormitoried schools. Given the sheer number of inactive chapters at community colleges that Alpha Phi Omega has, would anyone support a rule that says that the school must have some sort of student housing?

Randy

[aopirose]

Are you including commuter colleges in the mix?

I don't think that a school or university should be discounted because they lack dorms. Kennesaw State just recently built dorms but their student groups had been doing fine without them. However, the addition of the dorms will likely attract more students seeking a residential campus experience and raise the total student population.

Community colleges, on the other hand, is another issue. Some of these programs are only 2-years max. I would think that turnover in the chapter would be high. To help in overcoming that, the chapter would have to greatly rely on advisors for continuity.

[Senusret I]

I would not support a rule that excludes non-residential colleges and universities. I would support additional guidelines and support for such campuses.

I WOULD support a rule that excludes community and junior colleges.

[emb021]

I am not aware of any rule or policy about non-dormitory schools. It can be tough, seeing as how some chapter struggle at schools with a low number of on-campus students. But don't think we would turn it down.

I believe we already have a policy regarding extension efforts at community colleges, and its to not do them. This is due to the difficulty of getting such groups to get established and stay established, with the shorter degree programs. Some larger community colleges are changing into four-year colleges (I know of 2 in my state), and on those we would permit it. But AFAIK, we wouldn't approve an effort at a junior or community college.

[naraht]

Originally Posted by aopirose

Are you including commuter colleges in the mix?

I don't think that a school or university should be discounted because they lack dorms. Kennesaw State just recently built dorms but their student groups had been doing fine without them. However, the addition of the dorms will likely attract more students seeking a residential campus experience and raise the total student population.

Community colleges, on the other hand, is another issue. Some of these programs are only 2-years max. I would think that turnover in the chapter would be high. To help in overcoming that, the chapter would have to greatly rely on advisors for continuity.

As best as I can tell, Kennesaw State University had a fair population of pseudo-residential students long before the current time as it actively helped students find housing. Four year schools involved in massive transition from largely commuter toward an at least partially residential mixes are probably good targets. If there are enough 17-25 year old students looking to spend a good chunk of the 8-5 time period in classes that they want to live very close to campus (without necessarily worrying about a full-time job), then the school is moving toward a residential component...

The schools that are more typical of those without dorms are the Community College and the ones aimed at full time professionals like Strayer and University of Phoenix.


Randy

[naraht]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I would not support a rule that excludes non-residential colleges and universities. I would support additional guidelines and support for such campuses.

I WOULD support a rule that excludes community and junior colleges.

Well, right now we have, I believe, one active chapter at a two year school. That chapter is at Georgia Military College - Milledgeville which is as the name suggests a Military College with Cadets where all students in the cadet program live on campus. As best as I can tell, it is fairly similar, although two year to Maine Maritime Academy and the Citadel which have active chapters.

There are 4 other Military Junior Colleges in the US, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militar...junior_college for the list.

[naraht]

Originally Posted by emb021

I am not aware of any rule or policy about non-dormitory schools. It can be tough, seeing as how some chapter struggle at schools with a low number of on-campus students. But don't think we would turn it down.

I believe we already have a policy regarding extension efforts at community colleges, and its to not do them. This is due to the difficulty of getting such groups to get established and stay established, with the shorter degree programs. Some larger community colleges are changing into four-year colleges (I know of 2 in my state), and on those we would permit it. But AFAIK, we wouldn't approve an effort at a junior or community college.

Well, I don't think we have a policy against community colleges given that we currently have a Petitioning Group at Tarrant County College-Southeast. Tarrant County College-Southeast (and indeed the entire Tarrant County system) only awards Associate Degrees. (http://www.tccd.edu/programs/default.asp)

Note, we currently have inactive chapters at two of the other campuses (also two year) of Tarrant County College

[Senusret I]

I hate to spread incorrect information, but I believe that I once heard that while there isn't a policy on *denying* charters to community colleges and JuCos, that there *may* be a board policy (or strong sentiment?) that we would not actively seek out charters there.

[naraht]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I hate to spread incorrect information, but I believe that I once heard that while there isn't a policy on *denying* charters to community colleges and JuCos, that there *may* be a board policy (or strong sentiment?) that we would not actively seek out charters there.

Well, then there is probably a wide range of views on this on the board. Jim Hahn, the National Marketing Program Director considers them to be a significant part of the future of the fraternity. (from a conversation about 6 months ago)

I happen to think that many JuCos may be doable since they tend to have dormitories, but JuCos have been caught in the middle between the much cheaper community colleges and the 4 year programs at non Junior Colleges. Junior Colleges are pretty rapidly disappearing. See http://chronicle.com/free/v50/i03/03a02301.htm .

[emb021]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I hate to spread incorrect information, but I believe that I once heard that while there isn't a policy on *denying* charters to community colleges and JuCos, that there *may* be a board policy (or strong sentiment?) that we would not actively seek out charters there.

We had a group in my area that wanted to bring back APO at a community college. We were going to turn them down for several reasons, one being the community college matter. However, the school had recently changed from a community college to a four year college, so we allowed the effort. Had they not, I don't think we would have.

[aopirose]

Originally Posted by naraht

As best as I can tell, Kennesaw State University had a fair population of pseudo-residential students long before the current time as it actively helped students find housing. Four year schools involved in massive transition from largely commuter toward an at least partially residential mixes are probably good targets. If there are enough 17-25 year old students looking to spend a good chunk of the 8-5 time period in classes that they want to live very close to campus (without necessarily worrying about a full-time job), then the school is moving toward a residential component...

I completely agree.

[Quala67]

Right now, Regent U (where I work) has no dorms. This fall, however, the University opened student apartments, and for the first time in Regent's history, there are undergrads living on campus. (the school started originally as a graduate-level institution) Many of our on-campus students live in the area off-campus and commute. The undergrad program (my department) is relatively new; and the university is in the process of expanding student life and activities available to students. The university is VERY excited about APO taking the steps to become a chapter.

The undergrad program also has a heavy component of online students from across the country - and even from across the world. I recently got an email from an undergrad student who was interested in APO, but she currently is in the military, serving in Germany. I spoke with Judy yesterday, and as of now - there really is no way to give the 'APO-experience' to an online student, so there's no way that this person could be involved. She even suggested that this was an issue that may need to be addressed at Convention....

[Soulful357]

I know this is my first post...but I have been researching this for a while now..

I was looking membership but I there isn't a chapter at my school. Because my school (Troy University Montgomery) was designed as a non-traditional institution for the working man/woman, there aren't any dorms set up. But I'm really serious about pursuing membership, just don't have one clue where to start now...


Joey

[KAPital PHINUst]

I understand that the extension membership category has been eliminated, but in the case of students at junior and/or community colleges, IMHO it should be reinstated for such students to give them the opportunity to join via a nearby 4-year school. Personally, I don't think we should be spending time to have students petition a charter a chapter at a school where it's survival is inherently unstable at best.

Having been a member of APO at a community college, it is indeed a very difficult task at retaining student membership, and by nature of the school being a two-year school, turnover is high, and its "shelf life" limited.

Case in point: the Alpha Gamma Theta Chapter. I was a member from the fall of '92 to the spring of '94. We only had one "line" during my time there (fall '92), and while the chapter was active the entire time I attended, when I graduated, so did most, if not all the members, or they dis-enrolled by then. I remember that the fall of '95 had one or two "pledges" that never got initiated for whatever reason. Long story short, Alpha Gamma Theta went inactive in 2005, and frankly, I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did (15 years).

I think that future Columbus State students should align with the Ohio State or Capital University chapters if they want the APO experience.

I also think that extension membership should be for students at commuter schools where such organizations as APO would not be likely to maintain long term survival. Case in point: Franklin University. I attended graduate school there, and I know from experience that a school such as Franklin would not be a good fit for an org like APO. Franklin is a commuter school devoted primarily to non-traditional business students. A significant number of students are foreign (China, Africa, India, the Carribean), so fraternities are relatively an unknown concept. That and the fact that most students there are there primarily, if not exclusively, for classes only. A student interested in APO at Franklin would be better served aligning with the OSU and Capital chapters if they are interested. Because they would have a heckuva time getting 12-15 students interested in petitioning a chapter, and if they did, it wouldn't last beyond the initial group.

Yes, ideally APO belongs on every campus. But not every campus is conducive to chartering (AND KEEPING ACTIVE) APO, and that needs to be taken into consideration before paperwork is submitted to the National Office for charter/chapter petitioning. In that case, extension membership would be better served or even a city-wide chapter (a chapter comprised of several schools where it would be too difficult to keep a chapter on a single campus due to low student interest).

[naraht]

Originally Posted by emb021

We had a group in my area that wanted to bring back APO at a community college.

Miami-Dade?