Grad Students in Undergrad Chapters

[Senusret I]

Originally posted by gamma_girl52
In Gamma Sig, if you are a graduate student at a school that already has an established chapter, you can join that chapter (or continue your membership there if you originally pledged at that chapter and you're still there for graduate work).

Because of that, we had to change our chapter designations. Instead of saying "undergraduate" we now say "collegiate".

Most of us who have graduated and want to help out with the collegiates can be Chapter Consultants (I'm the Consultant for the chapter at UGA).

That's the same with Alpha Phi Omega, except in cases where the school itself doesn't allow graduate students in "undergraduate" organizations.

And I don't think it's a bad idea.

[SKEEphistAKAte]

This is an interesting thread. I can relate. I just became a member through a graduate chapter, but I am only 25, probably the youngest person in our chapter. I am about to go away to law school this fall (*fingers crossed*). I think that if I have to choose, I will seek out a graduate chapter in the city that I move to. At the same time, being here in Tampa, I serve on two undergraduate activities committees, so I work closely with our undergrad chapters. I think that initially, I felt the desire to have what I missed out on by not going undergrad, but I don't feel that way now. I love my LS's and my chapter and focus all of my time, energy, and money to our programs i/o the undergrad programs.

[SummerChild]

Interesting question. I pursued my MS straight out of undergrad so I was 23 or so when I started grad school. Even though I was close in age to undergraduates, I think that mentally once I graduated and obtained a college degree, I was mentally more aligned with members that might be in a graduate chapter. I would go out on a limb and say that I think that mentally, upon completing the requirements for the Bachelor's degree, most people are probably much more advanced than undergraduates - in terms of their viewpoint on life, responsibilities in their personal lives, etc. As such, I would err on the side of saying that I would keep the rule the same - that once one graduates, one should have to join a graduate chapter.

Again, interesting question!
SC

[AKA2D '91]

Originally posted by UpPinkies


If there is no graduate chapter where you are and you still want to be active, then ask if you attend meetings, help raise funds, attend events etc, but joining them...NO.

I'm confused. If you do all that aren't you "joining them"? In the current days of risk management, I'd suggest a member in this situation FIND the graduate chapter that sponsors THIS UG chapter and work with the UG chapter via the Grad chapter. If not, then kindly support their events with your presence.

There is a fine line....and one would not want to find herself in a predicament. IMHO...

[lieutenant_dst]

When I became a Delta it was my senior year and then I graduated so my undergraduate experiences were limited. And for some, including myself, joining a graduate chapter especially alone was quite intimidating. Then I started graduate school (still there) and I am at another school with a chapter. I perhaps would have been more inclined to want to participate in my chapter (attend meetings, sit on committees) if I were attending grad school there. I do think there should be something in place for those in limbo betweeen undergrad and grad chapter but I really don't know what and I really don't see how it could be done unless they create a third membership type which I couldn't even imagine.

[AKA2D '91]

Originally posted by AKA2D '91
I'm confused. If you do all that aren't you "joining them"? In the current days of risk management, I'd suggest a member in this situation FIND the graduate chapter that sponsors THIS UG chapter and work with the UG chapter via the Grad chapter. If not, then kindly support their events with your presence.

There is a fine line....and one would not want to find herself in a predicament. IMHO...

If in limbo...

This could be why SOME oppose intake for Graduating Seniors. This is ANOTHER issue/thread all by itself.

[UpPinkies]

Originally posted by AKA2D '91
I'm confused. If you do all that aren't you "joining them"? In the current days of risk management, I'd suggest a member in this situation FIND the graduate chapter that sponsors THIS UG chapter and work with the UG chapter via the Grad chapter. If not, then kindly support their events with your presence.

There is a fine line....and one would not want to find herself in a predicament. IMHO...

To me when you mean joining them, your a financial member of that chapter. So on your financial card instead of a graduate chapter, you have an undergrade chapter's name. If you are invited to a meeting then go (but not all there meetings, just one is fine), but don't sit up in there and vote or give your opinions when they are handling chapter/sorority business. Since they are your sorors, there is nothing wrong with getting to know them on a personal level. If they invite you to a community service event, then go. The more hands the quicker the work. If they have a fundraiser and are short and if they ask, then you probably want to go to that. . But my opinion is wait until the invite you or it is a open community event. Sometimes we grad sorors go to undergrad chapter events to show support and also donate funds. Just being sisterly.

Plus, some sororities graduate chapters are not in the same location as the undergrad chapters. Some graduate chapters are many miles away. There is one sorority on campus that is like that. They have an undergraduate chapter here, but the graduate chapter 2 hours away. So I can see if you don't want to do all that traveling (budget won't support it etc.) why you may want to interact with some of your sorors closer to your location.

Plus, I thought this was just a general question, not pertaining to one sorority

[Iota-girl4life]

This is often a topic of discussion in my sorority because the majority of our chapters are Graduate Chapters (roughly 85% of them). I know that is quite unusual to some, but our founders started things off this way. So, because we are made up of mostly Grad Chapters we do not turn undergrads away, we just require them to have completed enough credits to be classed as a Sophomore at their school (about 48 credits).

However, lately, I have been wondering what is going to happen as our undergrad membership balances out with our Grad membership. Will it be a good idea to give ladies the option to go either Grad or UnderGrad if they come in with over 48 credits but under the maximum amount to have completed their degree. Personally, I agree, with the other members who feel that once a sister graduates she should only be allow to become a member of a grad chapter.

I am just curious; do you all think that this should also apply to City-Wide Undergrad Chapters seeing how they are not on a specific college campus?

[ladygreek]

Originally posted by O_SoPrettyNikki
IMHO, it depends on the person and the situation.

For instance, when I entered into my undergrad chapter I was a GRAD student. How you may ask? It was simple, I am registered in a 5 yr program where I receive my BS & MS within 5 yrs. The University never confers a degreee until you are finished with the entire program.

So thus I have never actually graduated, but all my transcripts and records indicate that I am clearly a GRAD student. I even received a letter from the Dean of the School of Business welcoming me to the Graduate School.

I received all my job offers including my current position based on the fact that I "have" or "have met the requirements for a B.S." .

When I applied, the question asked was do you have a degree, and that answer is NO (technically). Thus, I was admitted into the undergraduate chapter.

Though I am older than my LS's, when it comes to Alpha Kappa Alpha we are on equal footing. My eduational level nor my age interfere with any of our goals as a chapter.

I can see why my Sorors & fellow Greeks feel that Grad and Undergrad should be seperate. However, like I said it depends on the person and the situation.

Are you at FAMU? I know it has a BA/MBA program that takes five years.

[O_SoPrettyNikki]

Nope not at FAMU.

[Senusret I]

Just bumping this thread because it was great.

[G-Kue 1911]

I like the idea of undergrads and grads sharing campus responsibility, I think it helps dissolve the riff between the two and also enforce the business aspect of our orgs (of course these being experiences the older member can offer).

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by gamma_girl52

In Gamma Sig, if you are a graduate student at a school that already has an established chapter, you can join that chapter (or continue your membership there if you originally pledged at that chapter and you're still there for graduate work).

Because of that, we had to change our chapter designations. Instead of saying "undergraduate" we now say "collegiate".

Most of us who have graduated and want to help out with the collegiates can be Chapter Consultants (I'm the Consultant for the chapter at UGA).

This is interesting, because in DST we changed the official designation to collegiate for just the opposite reason. To us collegiate implies someone working toward an initial baccalaureate degree, not someone who is still on campus in grad school. Just as you are officially an alum of the where you got you bac degree, although you coninued in grrad school, we consider you an alumnae in Delta. Our official designation for grad chapters is alumnae and it encompasses anyone NOT working toward an initial degree.

For example someone who pledged their sophomore year, but then had to drop out of school for what ever reason must join an alumnae chapter to continue active status. She is still technically an undergrad but no longer working toward the degree. When she returns to school, she then has the option of rejoining a collegiate chapter or staying in the alumnae chapter.

[jubilance1922]

Interesting topic.

I became a member of Sigma Gamma Rho during my senior year of college, and then immediately went off to grad school in a new state. Interacting with the undergrads on campus allowed me to continue some of the "collegiate" activities that I hadn't experienced fully. Being around and able to support the undergraduate chapter's on-campus activities was very helpful to them. At the same time, being a graduate student, I didn't have the funds or time initially to join a graduate chapter, though I later was able to. Having the opportunity or option to join an undergraduate chapter could have been helpful, if only to keep me active. I know other sorors that have been in the same situation.

[Dionysus]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

That's the same with Alpha Phi Omega, except in cases where the school itself doesn't allow graduate students in "undergraduate" organizations.

And I don't think it's a bad idea.

I stayed active in Alpha Phi Omega during grad school. I have zero regrets doing so. I didn't stand out as a grad student, maybe because there was several members who were the same age or older than me. I did check out the alum chapter, but I didn't fit in at all.

I don't think the question has a simple "yes" or "no" answer. I think it depends on the campus culture, chapter culture, and the individual's lifestyle.