Early Alumane Status

[TxGirl]

Do any of your chapters actually have early alumnae status? As an advisor I had many women as for this - but Alpha Xi Delta does not offer early alumnae status. I was wondering if this was an actual status for some GLO's or if it was another urban myth!

[AnonAlumna]

We had members take early alumnae status...or 'fifth year'. It was mostly done under extenuating circumstances. I took it my last semester, because I got VERY ill and had to be hospitalized. The fifth year allowed me to catch up with school so I could graduate on time!

We also had other instances when it was granted. Now this might be illegal, but this is what we'd do. If we had LOTS of upcoming spring graduates, they would get the early alumnae status. That way, they were not 'technically' on our roles, and we were allowed to COB during the Spring, bring our numbers up, and go into Fall formal recruitment with a fuller room. This of course was also awhile back!

I had friends in the other NPC's on my campus, and they all (except one) had fifth year status. It was always something that you had to apply for.

[PhoenixAzul]

We allow girls to go early alum if their sr. schedule gets too hectic or family tragedy or what have you. Usually they will request "inactive" status for a semester, and then participate in alum initiation with the rest of the girls at the end of the year. We gave 2 girls alum status in their Soph. year when they transfered. One went on to become a member of a national, don't know which one, think it might be AXiD, but she still recieves our newsletter, addressed to her new sorority house! Hehe.

[TxGirl]

Both of these actually sound like our inactive status. Inactive status must be applied for and voted on by the chapter, except in extreme circumstances. This can be taken at any time but only for two semesters.

So, if you got sick your jr year instead of your senior year then you could take it, but after you come back to the chapter.

I think a lot of times it gets given the title "early alum" because the women that are given it are graduating seniors. That was usually the case with the women I worked with, they were student teaching, interning etc.

Just FYI, NPC frowns on the idea of given women in their last semester inactive or "alum" status without valid reason expressly for the reason that chapters will do it so they can COB when they shouldn't. Of course I think it has just recently come to be something noticed by NPC (last couple of years).

[AGDee]

It is used in Alpha Gamma Delta for women who are in their 5th year of school, who are permanently removed from the campus before graduation (student teaching, internships, etc when they won't be back to campus afterward), and in extreme special circumstances. We have a separate inactive status. You're expected to return from inactive status. Our criteria are spelled out carefully for how and when both can occur and require Executive Council approval and a ton of paperwork.

Dee

[gpb1874]

we have the 5th year senior thing too. 5th years must be voted on by the chapter as to wether they can stay active. we have an excused status that is used very infrequently and, like others have said, in extreme circumstances. it is only good for one semester. our exec can also make different merit point plans for women if they are student teaching or something so that they don't have to go to EVERYTHING. we also have senior priviliges, where seniors are just required to attend weekly meetings, ritual and philanthropy.

[dukedg]

In DG we have a 5th year alumnae status and an early alumnae status.

5th year alumnae status is relatively easy to obtain. If you've been a member for at least two years and are staying at school for a 5th year you can become an alum. The officers vote on it and the Advisory Team Chairman approves it.

Early alumnae status is for extreme situations. If, for example, you have a serious illness and trying to continue with both school and DG would be too much. For this status the chapter submits an application to our Council (President of DG etc) and they vote to approve it. Approval of this is extremely rare. In my four years of college and five years of advising I have yet to see it!

[TxGirl]

Fifth year status is completly different than inactive for us. You are only considered a fifth year if you have actually been in the chapter for 8 semesters (4 years). If the chapter does not have a provision that fifth years must remain active in the chapter then they are automatically considered alumnae - even if it takes them 10 years to graduate. This is on a chapter by chapter basis - some may require fifth years to be active members of the chapter with full or reduced merit - it's up to them.

Only 5% of the chapter can be inactive and there is no other "early alum" status that can be taken.

[littlebritches]

you can also go alum if you transfer colleges and chose not to reaffiliate - alpha gamma delta

Originally posted by littlebritches
you can also go alum if you transfer colleges and chose not to reaffiliate - alpha gamma delta

Early alumnae status also includes sisters who transfer to campuses that do not have an Alpha Gamma Delta chapter.

If a sister gets married during her collegiate years, she has the option of a) staying collegian or b) becoming an alumna.

I remember serving on EC as an officer and for a while we thought she had to be a senior in order to use that 5th year option. Turns out that she just had to be in her 5th year of study.

[flirt5721]

Originally posted by TxGirl
Do any of your chapters actually have early alumnae status? As an advisor I had many women as for this - but Alpha Xi Delta does not offer early alumnae status. I was wondering if this was an actual status for some GLO's or if it was another urban myth!

I know that this past year one of our girls was granted early alum status. She was not a 5th senior but a regular senior that was doing her student teaching in other town. I don't know what you are considering early alumnae status, but AXiD does offer 5th year senior alum status if they choose to.

[TxGirl]

Originally posted by flirt5721
I know that this past year one of our girls was granted early alum status. She was not a 5th senior but a regular senior that was doing her student teaching in other town. I don't know what you are considering early alumnae status, but AXiD does offer 5th year senior alum status if they choose to.

No, actually we don't. We only offer inactive status or if you are actually in your fifth year you don't have to be a member of the chapter unless you chapter bylaws require you to.

I would imagine that you Exec or Chapter Advisor just let her go b/c she was in another town doing her student teaching. They weren't supposed to unless they gave her inactive status. The only other way I could figure they justified it was that she was not a student "in residence" and there for it was almost as if she had left school - therefore she didn't have to be a member. But, technically, she should have been counted as inactive - of which the chapter is only allowed to give to 5% of the membership.

I have worked with you chapter on and off since it's colonization - it's been off for the last 2-3 years - but I still keep in touch with many of your alumnae. Paige and I spent many days and night during recruitment!

[AchtungBaby80]

A lot of girls from my chapter (well, I wouldn't say tons, but a few) went early alum as upperclassmen when their course load got out of control or when they started pharmacy/physical therapy/some other professional school. I'm not sure about the details, though, but I know you have to apply for it. We also have the fifth-year thing, too.

[KSUViolet06]

We have 5th year alumna, and alumna status if you transfer, but I honestly am not sure of any other alumna status we have.