2023/2024 New Chapters/Expansions/Charters/Closures

[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.

[shadokat]

I don't disagree with you here. There is smaller, and then there is not viable anymore. I'm guessing 14 women wasn't enough to be viable.

Originally Posted by 33girl

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.