For NPC sororitiy women

[AlphaXi_Husky]

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

During my senior year, Small State College on one end of the state added a Greek system with 3 NPC sororities. A particular chapter across the street from us at Big State U. was inundated with members pledging at Small State College and transferring in order to affiliate with the chapter at Big State U. After a year, they had to establish a no-affiliation policy.

What happens if the chapter at Big State U is at total - would they still be able to have people affiliate (if the Small State College people were even allowed to), or would those people have to wait until a spot opened up at Big State U? I haven't ever dealt with this and I wonder if it's an NPC guideline or a local Panhellenic guideline.

As for the original question, I believe AXiD is similar to many others in that the chapter has discretion whether to let someone from another school's chapter affiliate.

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by AlphaXi_Husky

What happens if the chapter at Big State U is at total - would they still be able to have people affiliate (if the Small State College people were even allowed to), or would those people have to wait until a spot opened up at Big State U? I haven't ever dealt with this and I wonder if it's an NPC guideline or a local Panhellenic guideline.

As for the original question, I believe AXiD is similar to many others in that the chapter has discretion whether to let someone from another school's chapter affiliate.

I believe you're right - if the chapter is at total, they can't affiliate. But it's been a l-o-n-g time since I encountered that particular policy, so offhand I don't remember the exact guidelines.

[gatordeltapgh]

NPC allows women that have transfered to affiliate even if the chapter is at or above total. Of course that woman must comply with any guidelines from her national organization (in good standing) or any guidelines (affirmative vote) that the local chapter has put in place.

I have the updated MOI

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

I do know that women have transfered to my school and not affiliated. Now that is what makes me mad. You should at least try unless your transferred due to awful circumstances (ex. sick parent/sibling, finances, etc.)

I don't agree with that. Certainly there are reasons that you stated why someone wouldn't seek affiliation. But maybe you just feel you don't mesh with the women in the chapter at your new school and don't want to bother. As ISUKappa pointed out, it's better not to affiliate and have a lifetime of membership than to affiliate and then resign your membership because you're unhappy.

In Pi Phi, we have an official transfer introduction form that the old chapter is supposed to send to the new chapter at the time of the member's transfer. That is to get the ball rolling in case the member wants to pursue affiliation. If she doesn't, that's fine, and like other groups mentioned, the Pi Phi chapter at the new school gets the opportunity to approve the affiliation (or disapprove it). The idea behind the transfer introduction form though is that there are 1-2 events per year (like Founders' Day, etc) that the new chapter might want to invite the transfer member to even if either party decides not to pursue affiliation - just as a courtesy.

[BabyPiNK_FL]

I don't mean mad like I would be offended. I just meant mad in the sense that it would occur to me "why wouldn't they?". I didn't mean it so literal. I'm not the kind to sit around and take offense and obviously if they have other issues going on (as I previously stated) then that's their business. Also note that I said that they should try- as in try to get to know the members before deciding. At my school we never had a single affiliation in the time I was there and as far as I know if I didn't run into them on coincidence I would have never known, just so you see a bit more of my perspective.

[Scully]

When I was a collegiate, two women transferred from two separate schools and then affiliated with our chapter. However, this was the semester before I initiated, so I do not know the exact circumstances or procedures. Both were fantastic additions to our group. One even became my pledge sister’s big!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

I just meant mad in the sense that it would occur to me "why wouldn't they?".

Well, for that matter, my sophomore year roommate flunked out of school and then came back 2 years later. She didn't formally affiliate because being active in the sorority was part of the reason she flunked out of school. Everyone understood that and respected it and welcomed her presence when she had time - i.e. cheering the chapter on at Greek Week and things like that.

A transfer member should never be asked to rush - she's an initiated member of an NPC sorority, she can't get a bid anywhere else.

Our bylaws state that a member who transfers shall be given "full consideration" to affiliate, and that she can request that the first chapter send a recommendation and her records to the new chapter.

So, are you "free to affiliate"? Yes, the sorority lets you - but the plain fact of the matter is that the girls in the chapter may be people that you have nothing in common with or vice versa, and it may be better for all concerned for affiliation not to take place. We had one of our sisters transfer to Slippery Rock (which was basically our twin chapter) and apparently there were sisters from my chapter upset that she got a new member number, etc - but I think it depends on the kind of relationship you maintain with the first chapter. I think they wouldn't have been as PO'ed if she didn't blow them off.

It really is a case by case basis.

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Well, for that matter, my sophomore year roommate flunked out of school and then came back 2 years later. She didn't formally affiliate because being active in the sorority was part of the reason she flunked out of school. Everyone understood that and respected it and welcomed her presence when she had time - i.e. cheering the chapter on at Greek Week and things like that...

Interesting...I believe our policy in that case is that the returning member is not an affiliate candidate because she is ALREADY a member of that chapter. She would HAVE to return as an active member or resign entirely.
Now...let's say she left school before graduating...never married...and 20 years later returned to the same school to continue her students. Would she be required to rejoin her chapter? Strictly speaking, yes. Can you imagine a 40-year-old woman participating in rush? Probably not...interesting situation...and I'm sure it's happened somewhere sometime!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

Interesting...I believe our policy in that case is that the returning member is not an affiliate candidate because she is ALREADY a member of that chapter. She would HAVE to return as an active member or resign entirely.

I guess rather than "affiliate" the term I should have used was "reactivate." When you leave school for any reason you're an alum, so she just stayed an alum. I doubt if national even knew she was back at school.

[Zillini]

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

Interesting...I believe our policy in that case is that the returning member is not an affiliate candidate because she is ALREADY a member of that chapter. She would HAVE to return as an active member or resign entirely.
Now...let's say she left school before graduating...never married...and 20 years later returned to the same school to continue her students. Would she be required to rejoin her chapter? Strictly speaking, yes. Can you imagine a 40-year-old woman participating in rush? Probably not...interesting situation...and I'm sure it's happened somewhere sometime!

That's ADPi's policy too. If a member takes a semester/year of school off regardless of the reason, they are expected to return to active status if/when they re-enroll on the same campus. It's never been an issue because they all wanted to return anyways. I guess I never thought about how we'd handle it if someone didn't want to.

As you said though, I can't imagine chasing down a woman who re-enrolled 20 years later and forcing her to be an active. That visual is rather funny!

[libelle]

My U. had a high transfer rate as homesick students transfered to schools closer to home. A couple of my pledge sisters affiliated with other chapters, eg MS St and American U. My little affiliated with one of the AR chapters. I do not know of any who were not welcomed by their new chapters.

[amanda6035]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

and didn't feel she had the time to commit to being an active.

I HATE when I hear stuff like this. I think if you are a member of a sorority at one school, and you transfer to another school with that sorority, and long as the chapter and that member "mesh," she should affiliate. WHat a cop out excuse - no time for being active....what, does that mean if she had stayed at her previous school she would have dropped out due to time commitments? I just dont buy it. I think if you're a collegiate, and your sorority is available at your new school, you should affiliate. I think it's lazy and disrespectful to your national organization to transfer schools, and not affiliate.

Blast away.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

To the best of my knowledge, Gamma Phi Beta's policy allow women to affiliate with the new school's chapter with the approval of the chapter. (If I stated that incorrectly, please let me know, sisters)

This is correct (as one who did).

OP, you are assuming that there weren't outside circumstances that casued the person to transfer schools. I would have loved to remain at mine (and my loyalty to my chapter of initiation has not changed) but I was unable to.

Unfortunately, my chapter of initiation is now closed.

[33girl]

1) You have to put your education first. If you were barely scraping by at your old school and being involved in a sorority was a big part of why you were doing so badly, you do no one any favors by affiliating and barely participating.

2) If with the transfer you change your major from something super easy to something super hard and time consuming, again, you do no one any favors by affiliating and barely participating.

3) Dues are different at every school, often with housing or lack of same being a factor. Just because you could afford them at Small Private College doesn't mean you will be able to at Big State School.

I would rather have someone who knows how much she can take on not affiliate, than be active and half-ass it or end up owing tons of $$ she didn't have to begin with.

[violetpretty]

My chapter had a transfer affiliate the fall of her junior year. She actually came to visit us the spring before on her spring break and she seemed to mesh well with members her year, and she even had a friend from high school in our chapter. But, soon after she affiliated, she was MIA. I have no idea if she decided she didn't like US or the general Greek experience at our school or what.

She ended up not going to anything, just paying dues and all the fines she racked up for missing mandatory events. She would avoid us like the plague; she would usually just give her dues and fines to a sister she had class with, not even stopping by the house. While I commend her dedication to the National organization by not withdrawing her membership, it would have been a better situation for her to have not affiliated in the first place because she poured about $4000 down the drain (though, she COULD have gotten her money's worth had she chose to).

I know of other chapters at Maryland that have had transfer affiliates mesh marvelously. I think it is important to have an extended "get to know you" period before the member decides to affiliate and the chapter votes on her to make sure both parties would be happy.