Local Sorority Looking to Merge with a National Chapter

[PhiRhoSister]

Originally Posted by Jfurr1126

Thanks for all of the posts! Since I've been getting a few PMs about other nationals that arent NPC sororities, I'd just like to mention that if we did affiliate with a national chapter the university specifies that it must be an NPC sorority. My university will no longer be allowing sororities on campus that are not members of NPC due to liability. They've also told us that if we didn't vote to merge we would probably be asked to merge or leave campus in a few years

If the university officials are telling you that you can't afflilate with a non-NPC sorority, then it is because of lack of knowledge about non-NPC sororities or just wanting to make their job as easy as possible!! Believe me, interest groups of my non-NPC sorority are told this all the time by the Greek Life offices and it is simply not true. Sometimes nationals has to talk with the Greek Life or higher ups, but eventually the correct university people are talked to and everything is sorted out.

In terms of full membership vs associate membership in Panhel, that is probably a lack of knowledge of national non-NPC sororities by Panhel members. Where chapters of my sorority want to be full members, it has been a matter of working with the Panhel and sometimes rewriting the Panhel constitution to recognize both NPC and national non-NPC groups. Other chapters rather just stay associate members, because the Panhel dues for full members are so high.

So if you research and actually find a national non-NPC sorority that has similar values and goals of your sorority, then contact them. Most national non-NPC sororities over 5 chapters have at least $1 million coverage as required by a lot of universities. Also, a national non-NPC sorority will most likely not require a house and will have reasonable national dues and fees.

If you have any alumnae, getting them involved in the local-to-national process and talking with the university may also help your position. Sorry for being so long winded -- I just wanted to help you understand that you do not need to limit your options this early in the process! Good luck!!