University of Florida Sorority Expansion

[Griffins&Quills]

I think we'd actually be better off going sooner rather than later. Alpha Xi only has The College of New Jersey for Spring 2015 so far. Fall 2015 is wide open right now. 2016 is when we get into South Carolina and UCLA, and then NC State in 2019.

[Griffins&Quills]

^ agree

[SoCalGirl]

From the publicly posted Panhellenic meeting minutes:

Committee Reports: Exploratory Extension Committee
a. This report will be emailed to you
b. Our total membership is steadily growing
i. Spring 2014: 3,417 members
ii. Average chapter size and Chapter Range is steadily increasing
c. We have ten options of chapters than can potentially join our community
i. In the last 30 years, 3 chapters have closed on our campus and we have only brought 1 on
d. Goal
i. Increase the size of the Panhellenic Community
ii. Allow for more PNMs to be matched to a chapter
e. We have petitioned for three plots of land near Pi Beta Phi
i. Estimated $6 million dollars for a facility
f. Many other SEC campuses are in the extension process
g. Stacked Extension is an option
i. Choose two new chapters at once
ii. Determine which chapter will charter first, wait until it is stabilized then bring one the second chapter
h. The committee recommends that we open for extension
i. We will vote to extend this Spring
ii. You must talk to your national organization before we vote. Every NPC delegate who works with your chapters knows that this is coming. They will help you work through how your chapter needs to vote.
i. Questions and discussion will be during new business


SMH: "Allow for more PNMs to be matched to a chapter" They should know better!

[SigKapSweetie]

Originally Posted by SoCalGirl

From the publicly posted Panhellenic meeting minutes:

e. We have petitioned for three plots of land near Pi Beta Phi

g. Stacked Extension is an option

I think these two options combined would give the best chance of success. Putting two (or three) more chapters over by Pi Phi would let them create sort of an auxiliary Sorority Row, which would help those new chapters have the same neighborhood 'feel' as the ones located on the current, albeit larger, Sorority Row. And if they create another Sorority Row, maybe they'll set aside enough lot space to give this one adequate parking!

[FSUZeta]

Agreed.

[GTAlphaPhi]

Man, oh man, would I love more Alpha Phi in the South and the SEC is the Holy Grail, but the big plans at Ole Miss and UNC might hold us back from pursuing this.

Here's to hoping that our pockets and human resources are deeper than I imagined.

[DubaiSis]

I could see Alpha Xi Delta (and frankly a couple others, like Alpha Phi) asking to be the stacked sorority and not first up, just because we're so heavily booked right now. 2018/19 sounds pretty good about right now for a Florida colony. But who knows? Maybe we could make it work in a year or so. It will be interesting to see who gets it. It's a good big school with what seems to be a really solid Greek system.

[clemsongirl]

I think that (in my unprofessional opinion) the important factor here won't be necessarily how many chapters a group has in Florida but how many of them are at schools with a similar population to UF, both in Florida and at other large state schools in the South.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by clemsongirl

I think that (in my unprofessional opinion) the important factor here won't be necessarily how many chapters a group has in Florida but how many of them are at schools with a similar population to UF, both in Florida and at other large state schools in the South.

Yes. Number of chapters also doesn't say anything about alumnae base, on its own. The size, location, and history of the chapters will dictate how many alumnae are nearby to help out.

[irishpipes]

^bingo

[IndianaSigKap]

I agree with both Clemsongirl and Irishpipes. Just because an organization is successful at a handful of small universities in the same state, doesn't mean it will be successful at a large SEC school where a 6 million dollar house will be needed to be competitive. Six million is quite a sizable investment and not many organizations will be able to make that type of commitment.

[Sciencewoman]

I think (and hope) that we would be very interested in this opportunity. We have a very strong alumnae support base in Florida, with many active alumnae chapters, and a combination of well-established and successful new collegiate chapters.

[APhi4Ever]

I think Gamma Phi Beta has a very good chance.

They are at similar schools with comparable Greek life with Florida. They have a well established chapter at Florida State. They colonized at Central Florida in 2013 but that school is comparable and the chapter is established and installed.

I would imagine Gamma Phi Beta would pursue Florida but that's my 2 cents.

[sigmagirl2000]

I think Clemsongirl is very wise beyond her years considering she is only halfway through college....

[FSUZeta]

It's all about the rep,in Florida at least. It won't matter that ABC sorority has a strong presence at Georgia or Auburn or California or Ohio as much as the rep they have at FSU, USF, UCF, etc., or if there is a chapter there at all. Doesn't mean that a group with a small presence in the state won't be chosen-just that it will be harder for them to climb up the status ladder.