Lowering total: Thoughts?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Amy Kates

If one chapter continuously meets or exceeds total by making quota annually, you need to consider that a lower total may create a total gap where the largest sorority will continue to grow while the others are held smaller by a low total.

I don't quite get this statement. The other groups are allowed to open bid up to quota within the designated period after formal rush and up to total any time they want - it would be more of a question of the smaller groups rushing in the off semester (whenever that may be) and they'll get up to total, while the big chapter does nothing because it's already full. Eventually, the largest chapter will graduate out its "excess" of members and everything will be on an even keel.

It's not just about the numbers, it's about taking the pressure off of the smaller groups that they get from their HQs to be at total. HQ does not always understand that total isn't a realistic number for the campus climate at current - they just see the group is not meeting it and don't bother to investigate further. Constant harangues about your "failure" in this area are not good for the group's self esteem and go a long way towards making the members hate rush (and ergo, doing even worse at it).

[Amy Kates]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I don't quite get this statement. The other groups are allowed to open bid up to quota within the designated period after formal rush and up to total any time they want - it would be more of a question of the smaller groups rushing in the off semester (whenever that may be) and they'll get up to total, while the big chapter does nothing because it's already full. Eventually, the largest chapter will graduate out its "excess" of members and everything will be on an even keel.

It's not just about the numbers, it's about taking the pressure off of the smaller groups that they get from their HQs to be at total. HQ does not always understand that total isn't a realistic number for the campus climate at current - they just see the group is not meeting it and don't bother to investigate further. Constant harangues about your "failure" in this area are not good for the group's self esteem and go a long way towards making the members hate rush (and ergo, doing even worse at it).

It depends on quota vis a vis total and yes, total gaps are a very real concern on many campuses. I can't speak for every HQ, so I can't comment on that part. An example would be where total is 50. Quota is 25, everyone makes quota, but one group has 75 members after recruitment. No one can catch up. They may graduate 20, but so will everyone else.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Amy Kates

It depends on quota vis a vis total and yes, total gaps are a very real concern on many campuses. I can't speak for every HQ, so I can't comment on that part. An example would be where total is 50. Quota is 25, everyone makes quota, but one group has 75 members after recruitment. No one can catch up. They may graduate 20, but so will everyone else.

This is only pertinent if you have a situation in which the majority (as in 99%) of the rushees are freshmen. Absolutely not the case at many campuses. Not only that, 4 years and graduated is far from set in stone these days - it hasn't been that way for a long time.

Also, it's very very rare that there is one bigger than everyone group and the rest are lagging behind - it's usually the other way around.

[Amy Kates]

Originally Posted by 33girl

This is only pertinent if you have a situation in which the majority (as in 99%) of the rushees are freshmen. Absolutely not the case at many campuses. Not only that, 4 years and graduated is far from set in stone these days - it hasn't been that way for a long time.

Also, it's very very rare that there is one bigger than everyone group and the rest are lagging behind - it's usually the other way around.

You probably know more than I do, because I'm only familiar with the campuses where we have chapters and there are over 500 campuses with an NPC recognized Panhellenic. We're only on about 1/5 of those campuses, so I should not pretend to be the expert here. I'll say that I've seen a total gap as I've described on a couple of our campuses, and also a few (maybe 4) where housing makes it impossible to lower total. Also, I'll say that for our International Fraternity, Kappa Alpha Theta works with our chapters to set a recruitment goal if a chapter is below total so that once they reach that goal (even if they're still below total), they stop recruiting. You're right that recruiting all of the time is a drag and really can set chapter morale back. However, I will also say that for us, it is rare to find a campus where being the smallest or a small chapter is not a stigma. But, we are on mostly large campuses with traditional Greek systems. Again, not the norm, and only a small percentage of the real life Greek world.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Amy Kates

Also, I'll say that for our International Fraternity, Kappa Alpha Theta works with our chapters to set a recruitment goal if a chapter is below total so that once they reach that goal (even if they're still below total), they stop recruiting. You're right that recruiting all of the time is a drag and really can set chapter morale back.

I think most groups have finally gotten a clue and do something like this, rather than "go from 15 to total/60 in two semesters - just do it." Umm, if they could do that, they'd be flying around on a unicorn with Oprah. I'm not saying that doesn't happen sometimes, but there are usually extenuating circumstances (merger with a local group, block rushing, etc.).

And yeah, there are definitely some places where housing is a determining factor and total is what it is.