2023/2024 New Chapters/Expansions/Charters/Closures

[shadokat]

Sigma Delta Tau is closing their chapter at Purdue due to low membership numbers.

[shadokat]

Phi Mu is closing their chapter at Georgia Southern, Armstrong campus.

[LaneSig]

Sigma Kappa at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte has closed due to low membership numbers.


Quite frankly, I think we are going to see a trend this year and next year of many closings due to low membership numbers for both women's and men's organizations.


In other news, Alpha Gamma Rho at Clemson University(SC) has been closed due to RMF.

[shadokat]

Completely agree. This is going to become the trend I think where nationals are going to start cutting their losses on chapters. It's sad, but they have to be smart with where their resources go.

Originally Posted by LaneSig

Sigma Kappa at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte has closed due to low membership numbers.


Quite frankly, I think we are going to see a trend this year and next year of many closings due to low membership numbers for both women's and men's organizations.


In other news, Alpha Gamma Rho at Clemson University(SC) has been closed due to RMF.

[Cookiez17]

Someone brought this up in the NPC #'s thread, but the bigger chapters might be the ones to survive all of this. Because of the sheer sizes of the chapters (for example an Ole Miss PC of 200 women.) vs a small university that has a pledge class of 10 women could affect the greek landscape in the future.

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by Cookiez17

Someone brought this up in the NPC #'s thread, but the bigger chapters might be the ones to survive all of this. Because of the sheer sizes of the chhapters (for example an Ole Miss PC of 200 women.) vs a small university that has a pledge class of 10 women could affect the greek landscape in the future.

I will grant it is estimated more than a few smaller universities will merge/close during the next decade, which will result in the continued loss of (mainly smaller) sorority chapters.

But wouldn't a prudent NPC sorority still want their more viable smaller chapters to thrive? They might best remember there are plenty of alumnae from these small chapters, too. Each type of chapter ought to be allowed. Variety in chapter membership numbers exists because variety in the size and type of campuses allowing Greek Groups exists.

It may be that International Sorority dues, chapter fees and Chapter Exec Board requirements (IE number of chapter officers & responsibilities required from same) could be manipulated into several size categories for seperate use by both large and small chapters.

If housing finances for a smaller chapter became an issue they may be encouraged to (temporarily) change the scope of, or discontinue, their housing.

Which NPC group currently has chapters strictly on campuses with a chapter total of 100 or more, and/or quota of 35 or more? And how would an NPC group even want that to be The Standard for each of their chapters?

[carnation]

We've talked a lot here about how many NPCs have deservedly sustained major financial losses due to their getting involved in politics, making major controversial decisions, and so forth. Something's got to give and it may be that they decide to close several chapters.

[shadokat]

The truth is that NPC has lived high on the hog for the last decade or so, opening new chapters and building new facilities, etc. Those good times are gone, and each organization, no matter how large, will have to decide how to fiscally manage this new stage. Membership is cyclical, and we are entering another low point.

I think many of these closures may not have happened five years ago, as the groups would continue to support the struggling chapters in hopes of a turnaround because money wasn't as tight. Now, they're just not financially able to do it.

If you look at the example of SDT closing Purdue, that chapter had been WAY below any semblance of campus average for years. This past spring, they had 14 members where the average sorority has chapter has 124 members. The chapter had struggled for at least 5 years to get close to average chapter size and wasn't successful. When it gets to that point, you have to decide when to cut your losses and move on.

@Cheerio, I do think that sororities want their smaller chapters to thrive. Every NPC organization has chapters of varying sizes. If your chapter remains competitive and viable on a campus, there would be no reason to close it. I don't think that is what is leading to more closures. It's the situations that have been left to fester for years in hopes of a miracle.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by shadokat

The truth is that NPC has lived high on the hog for the last decade or so, opening new chapters and building new facilities, etc. Those good times are gone, and each organization, no matter how large, will have to decide how to fiscally manage this new stage. Membership is cyclical, and we are entering another low point.
......
If your chapter remains competitive and viable on a campus, there would be no reason to close it. I don't think that is what is leading to more closures. It's the situations that have been left to fester for years in hopes of a miracle.

It's exactly this. Organizations are having to make tough decisions, largely because of the fallout of the pandemic, the anti-Greek movement, the political climate, and inflation over the last few years. We've all been losing members and money, and our orgs are giving up on struggling chapters due to both internal and external circumstances. When the org struggles as a whole, it's easiest to cut the weakest link.

I've seen some major moves and initiatives being implemented by NPCs in particular over the last couple months. I know my own org is pushing a major campaign to increase collegiate member numbers and retention.

Others are pushing heavily for alumnae initiates. I believe I read recently (and someone can correct me if I'm wrong) that Kappa Delta has a goal to add a couple thousand more alumnae initiates before their next convention, and Alpha Phi posted this on their Facebook page today:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...00064617766814

Meanwhile, other orgs are selling or moving their national headquarters. We've had posts about that recently here on GC, and Tri Sigma just announced this today:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...00064377296115

There are major changes coming.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by shadokat

If you look at the example of SDT closing Purdue, that chapter had been WAY below any semblance of campus average for years. This past spring, they had 14 members where the average sorority has chapter has 124 members. The chapter had struggled for at least 5 years to get close to average chapter size and wasn't successful. When it gets to that point, you have to decide when to cut your losses and move on.

For years (and we’ve talked about it on here, this is not me pulling this out of my nether region) SDT was ok with having this sort of setup on quite a few campuses because they were providing their members with a Jewish centered sorority experience. The women knew they weren’t joining a chapter that would “compete” with the larger groups. Why they’ve decided this model is no longer feasible I do not know.

[Pinkmagnolia921]

Originally Posted by carnation

We've talked a lot here about how many NPCs have deservedly sustained major financial losses due to their getting involved in politics, making major controversial decisions, and so forth. Something's got to give and it may be that they decide to close several chapters.

Which NPCs have become involved in politics?

[Cookiez17]

Originally Posted by Pinkmagnolia921

Which NPCs have become involved in politics?

Well during 2020 when... things were going on, organizations were trying to put statements out regarding certain issues, which caused members to become angry if the statement wasn't saying exactly what they wanted or if they disagreed with it. It also came into play when Roe v. Wade was overturned. It got very messy.

[*winter*]

I would think, at the branch campuses, cost would be a factor for a lot of students. The cost of attendance keeps going up- along with, well, the cost of everything else in 2023. It’s probably just not feasible for many students to afford one more expense- even if it’s something they’d really like to do.

[Cookiez17]

I wills say though, as smaller campuses close and people transfer to new colleges, there could be a bump in small/medium sized campus enrollment if the student a) wants a similar sized campus and b) can afford it or will get a similar price of their closed institution. So maybe the "small" chapters will survive in that sense.

[Cookiez17]

Zeta Phi Beta will be colonizing at Sacred Heart University. SHU had actually opened for D9 expansion, but it appears that a fraternity hasn't been selected to join yet.

On another note, the greek system will survive and adapt. Many of the organizations have been around for over 100 years and have survived many struggles, including the 60's, where membership dropped off before rebounding again in the 80's.