Sorority Expansion!

[Tom Earp]

This may start a Hot bed of discussion, BUT, Why Dont They Start more expansions?

I am sitting on a Campus that has Three Sororitys with Six Fraternitys and maybe expanding to Seven.

So, The Sororoties, SSS, ASA, and AGD are not making Numbers. They are Great Young Women and know some of them as Many Of My Members have either Married them, , Have Kids in them, or in one instencence is Married toi A District Mgr.

My Question is why not.

It is because that The Women are not Happy with The Selection?

Is The NPC holding this up? Yes they are.!!!

With the abnormial balance it is very hard to have Greek Relationships.

XO went onto A State College in Kansas and became strong and brought up the Stature of The Total Greek Womens System!

Where are You PNC Ladys?

The Expansion is Ripe. Why Not explore it?

Every NPC has their own criteria for extension -- alumnae support, money, numbers on campus... it can be for whatever reason. Being that that info is rarely even made known to existing members within the organization, I don't think it's appropriate to disclose that info with non-members.

If you want an official answer, you can go talk to my International Vice President-Extension.

[NutBrnHair]

Tom, Tom, Tom........I think you're asking a question of which you already know the answer. I recall this being discussed previously.

You know the NPC expansion philosophy is different from the men's. It's not a perfect system, but the spirit of cooperation has worked for us. Let it be.

[Xylochick216]

If the sororities aren't making numbers, it would be ignorant to bring on another group. If the interest isn't there to fill the three current sororities, why bring on a fourth one that will ultimately struggle? People probably aren't unhappy with the national groups there, it may just be a campus where Greek life isn't that popular right now. Those three groups need to work hard to promote Greek life. Once they are thriving, another can be added to the mix. It would be a waste of time, money, and effort to bring another chapter to a school with little interest.

And PS, Tom, it's PHC, not PNC.

Originally posted by Xylochick216
If the sororities aren't making numbers, it would be ignorant to bring on another group.

Another thing, unofficially speaking, of course...I know some sororities prefer putting more time and effort in chapters currently struggling in hopes of making them stronger rather than starting new ones on different campuses.

[Xylochick216]

Originally posted by OTW
Another thing, unofficially speaking, of course...I know some sororities prefer putting more time and effort in chapters currently struggling in hopes of making them stronger rather than starting new ones on different campuses.

Precisely. I personally would feel betrayed if I was from a struggling chapter and HQ decided to put the effort into a new chapter rather than helping one that already exists.

Tom, use the search feature. I know this has been discussed numerous times.

[Tom Earp]

Originally posted by Xylochick216
Precisely. I personally would feel betrayed if I was from a struggling chapter and HQ decided to put the effort into a new chapter rather than helping one that already exists.

Tom, use the search feature. I know this has been discussed numerous times.

Absolutely. it has been brought up. I just feel it should be brought up again!

Granted, as OTW said, We all are Looking to renew Chapters such as Mine. But, there has to be balance of expansion and revitializing! I give LXA Kuddos as We are tryiung to do this.

So, if there is a Fertile ground, then why not look into it?

I am far from trying to Hurt The Existing Soroities, but to try to Build the Whole Greek System.

[honeychile]

Originally posted by Xylochick216
Precisely. I personally would feel betrayed if I was from a struggling chapter and HQ decided to put the effort into a new chapter rather than helping one that already exists.

Tom, use the search feature. I know this has been discussed numerous times.

And yet, I've heard from upper-echelon (sp?) women in at least four very, very strong sororities (on a national basis) that this is the wave of the future - close a chapter with a promise to recolonize in X amount of years, then do it. Supposedly, costs are factored into the reasoning. I'm sure you'll all understand that I don't know all the ins & outs of other sororities (and nor should I)!

[kddani]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
So, if there is a Fertile ground, then why not look into it?

3 sororities not making numbers and a history of several sororities leaving in the past decade is not "fertile ground" for expansion in ANY sense.

[aopirose]

It doesn’t sound like fertile ground and nothing has really changed since the last time this issue was raised. A campus Panhellenic or the administration where there is no CPH must decide to open for expansion and act on it. We, as NPC members, cannot set up shop where expansion is not wanted.

Just last month, six campuses opened for expansion and for one, it will be the very first time. Add those to the ones from fall 2005, there is opportunity for more than 25 new chapters and the academic year is not over yet!

Tom, I understand that you are frustrated with your Alma Mater. It sounds as if the CPH, their national organizations and the university need to step up to the plate. They need to make the existing system appealing. I know that it is easier said than done, but adding a new chapter would only exacerbate the problems. It is not fair to the system and it is certainly not fair to the new chapter.

ETA: For all we know, the current sororities maybe working on it, but we just don't know.

[exlurker]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
. . . Why Dont They Start more expansions?
. . .
XO went onto A State College in Kansas and became strong and brought up the Stature of The Total Greek Womens System! . . .

Tom, while you're right that Chi Omega "became strong" when it colonized at Emporia State, we probably need to remember that was three or four decades ago. Also, Emporia State has fewer NPC sororities now than it did when the Chi O colonization occurred. Different times, different degree of interest in NPC sorority life among the student body.

As for Pittsburg State, besides the national and local Panhellenic policies and practices that others have mentionbed, OTW sure made sense when she said, "Every NPC has their own criteria for extension -- alumnae support, money, numbers on campus... it can be for whatever reason."

Of the NPC sororities that aren't at Pittsburg State, I can think of several -- probably close to a dozen -- that would not be likely to colonize (in my opinion), even if the campus were open to expansion. Not to name names, but:

-- four or five NPC nationals probably have relatively few alumnae in the area (and an alumnae base would be needed to get the ball rolling, especially since "competitive housing" would be needed) ;

-- at least five other NPC nationals probably would feel that Pittsburg State and the kind of student body it has would not be a very good fit with the majority of the colleges / universities where they have chapters;

-- a couple of sororities whose chapters there closed might be cautious about going back to campus -- you know, the old "once burned, twice shy" principle;

--a couple of other sororities that have had to close chapters or colonies at other Kansas colleges in the last 5 or 10 years might also be cautious -- the regional reputation issue, like it or not.

Then, of course, there's the whole question of the future of colleges in Kansas, given some of the trends in the state's economy and population.

I wish PSU's Greeks the best, and I hope they'll flourish. For right now, though, working on strenghtening the existing NPC groups seems more likely than expansion there.

[breathesgelatin]

Tom... you're not going to suddenly convert any of the National Panhellenic women to your point of view by posting this thread. Nor are you going to convert our national organizations.

THE END!

[Tom Earp]

exlurker

your knowledge does amaze and astound Me. It is all true.


breathesgelatin. true but it is frustrating non the less!



Granted the Sororitys that left were some time ago.

With a 6,500 + school, there is fertile ground. If this wasnt the case then why would there be 6 Fraternitys and 1 who is looking?

It is a State Un. not a Private Male School.


Adding is growing, I think. Maybe My out look is wrong!

[TSteven]

One other perspective. On many campuses, the number of IFC/NIC chapters is often more than the number of NPC chapters. And on some of these campuses - not all mind you - the number of IFC/NIC chapters may be near double the number of NPC chapters. *However*, the total number of IFC/NIC members and total number of NPC members is often close. And from my observation, it seems that there are often more NPC members total than the total IFC/NIC members.

An example how this works out. There may be three NPC sororities with total membership of 300. Each NPC chapter with approximately 100 members. And there may be six IFC/NIC chapters with a total membership of 300. Each IFC/NIC chapter with approximately 50 members.

By the way, here are some stats from Kansas colleges.

Emporia State: IFC/NIC 3 - NPC 2
Fort Hayes State: IFC/NIC 6 - NPC 3
Kansas: IFC/NIC 19 - NPC - 13
Kansas State: IFC/NIC 25 - NPC 11
Wichita State: IFC/NIC 6 - NPC 4

Again, from my observation, the above chapter numbers seem to be similar to most colleges/states around the country. The exception seems to be with "small" private colleges. Where there is a more likely chance that there might be the same - or close to - number of IFC/NIC and NPC chapters on the campus.

edited for spelling

[PhoenixAzul]

Sorry, side note:

Kansas State: IFC/NIC 25 - NPC 11

25 fraternities?! WOW!