Extension to schools with no dormitories.

[naraht]

Originally Posted by Quala67

Right now, Regent U (where I work) has no dorms. This fall, however, the University opened student apartments, and for the first time in Regent's history, there are undergrads living on campus. (the school started originally as a graduate-level institution) Many of our on-campus students live in the area off-campus and commute. The undergrad program (my department) is relatively new; and the university is in the process of expanding student life and activities available to students. The university is VERY excited about APO taking the steps to become a chapter.

The undergrad program also has a heavy component of online students from across the country - and even from across the world. I recently got an email from an undergrad student who was interested in APO, but she currently is in the military, serving in Germany. I spoke with Judy yesterday, and as of now - there really is no way to give the 'APO-experience' to an online student, so there's no way that this person could be involved. She even suggested that this was an issue that may need to be addressed at Convention....

I think it may boild down to how many students would be on/near campus between 4-9 PM each night *not* attending classes. (For chapter meetings, pledge meetings, some service projects, etc.) With over 1,000 undergraduates, the school appears to be a reasonably albeit somewhat odd target.

Too bad the German student can't come to the main campus for a semester. I haven't even got a clue for what solution I'd like, much less what is doable.

[naraht]

Originally Posted by KAPital PHINUst

I understand that the extension membership category has been eliminated, but in the case of students at junior and/or community colleges, IMHO it should be reinstated for such students to give them the opportunity to join via a nearby 4-year school. Personally, I don't think we should be spending time to have students petition a charter a chapter at a school where it's survival is inherently unstable at best.

As best as I can tell, this is something relatively routinely done by NPHC fraternities and sororities and not done by NIC fraternities and NPC sororities. (I'm not saying specifically that we should or shouldn't based on that, I'm just making sure I've got the concept). If this is true, I'd want to understand *much* better how the NPHC groups make it work.

Oddly enough, I think Phi chapter at Syracuse is sort of like this with both brothers from Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF, but as best as I can tell the institutions expect student groups to admit from both.

Randy

[naraht]

Originally Posted by Soulful357

I know this is my first post...but I have been researching this for a while now..

I was looking membership but I there isn't a chapter at my school. Because my school (Troy University Montgomery) was designed as a non-traditional institution for the working man/woman, there aren't any dorms set up. But I'm really serious about pursuing membership, just don't have one clue where to start now...


Joey

Welcome!

I'd suggest that you go to the Alpha Phi Omega website and look at How to Start a Chapter page. That also includes a contact link for the Director of Chapter Services.

[KAPital PHINUst]

Originally Posted by naraht

As best as I can tell, this is something relatively routinely done by NPHC fraternities and sororities and not done by NIC fraternities and NPC sororities. (I'm not saying specifically that we should or shouldn't based on that, I'm just making sure I've got the concept). If this is true, I'd want to understand *much* better how the NPHC groups make it work.

Oddly enough, I think Phi chapter at Syracuse is sort of like this with both brothers from Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF, but as best as I can tell the institutions expect student groups to admit from both.

Randy

Essentially, "swing" chapters are extension chapters that allow students attending schools that would not be conducive for a chapter of its own to exist or survive independently, for whatever reason, to affiliate with a school that does have a chapter, and join and be active with that chapter. The extended chapter would in effect be considered a "swing" chapter. Some swing chapters can and sometimes do become its own independent chapter over time. The key thing is it allows students to join the org through another chapter when forming a chapter is not possible or likely to survive due to campus climate/political issues beyond a student's control.

Citywide chapters are made up of members from several campuses forming one chapter when forming its own individual chapters is not possible for reasons mentioned above. Here in Columbus, a citywide chapter could be made up of students from DeVry, Columbus College of Art & Design, Franklin University, and Columbus State Community College. None of these schools are really conducive to keeping an APO chapter on its own campus, so students from all these schools could form its own citywide chapter (though realistically, these schools would be better served as swing chapters to OSU or Capital Universities).

[GMUAPhiOAdvisor]

I can tell you, from experience, that A Phi O no longer allows students to pledge if they do not attend the school where the chapter is. I know this because 12 years ago, I WAS an extention brother, attending Dekalb College (a 2-year school with no chapter) and became a pledge at Oglethorpe University. Shortly after, I was told that my membership was invalid because National no longer recognized "extention" brothers.

At the time, that wasn't true, but after talking to my current Region Director, I know it is true now and that my membership is/was valid but I would not be allowed to do the same thing today.

While I don't whole-heartedly agree with the decision of National, I understand why they chose to eliminate extention membership in the fraternity. I'm just thankful they chose to eliminate it AFTER I pledged!

[KAPital PHINUst]

Originally Posted by GMUAPhiOAdvisor

I can tell you, from experience, that A Phi O no longer allows students to pledge if they do not attend the school where the chapter is. I know this because 12 years ago, I WAS an extention brother, attending Dekalb College (a 2-year school with no chapter) and became a pledge at Oglethorpe University. Shortly after, I was told that my membership was invalid because National no longer recognized "extention" brothers.

At the time, that wasn't true, but after talking to my current Region Director, I know it is true now and that my membership is/was valid but I would not be allowed to do the same thing today.

While I don't whole-heartedly agree with the decision of National, I understand why they chose to eliminate extention membership in the fraternity. I'm just thankful they chose to eliminate it AFTER I pledged!

Well, IMHO Alpha Phi Omega needs to do a better job at deciding what schools can be allowed to charter a chapter. I think the extension membership was a good thing, although it deviated from its original intent (to allow existing members who pledged through another school to serve as a catalyst to starting their own chapter). While it did not work the way they intended, perhaps the school's culture and climate was the reason. Furthermore, if any given school has few Greek letter student organizations, or if student orgs tend to have a short life span or suffers from "9-Lives syndrome" (dies out, get reactivated a few years later, rinse, repeat), then perhaps that school really isn't conducive to have an Alpha Phi Omega chapter there.

If extension membership is not an option (and I accept the brotherhood doing away with it), then at a minimum, APO should no longer allow chapters at community colleges and 2-year schools; it's track record of longevity (or rather lack thereof) speaks for itself. Other non-traditional 4 year colleges and universities (like commuter schools), should be researched and scrutinized to assure chapter survival beyond the charter group (campus culture).

For an organization to issue close to 750 charters and have less than half of them active is rather embarrasing. I think we issue charters just a little too freely. Treat 'em like Harvard degrees over business cards and they will retain a higher value in the public eye. I'd rather have 300 charters issued with 285 of them still active than 800 charters issued and only 300 active.

But I'm rambling. Lemme off the soapbox.

[GMUAPhiOAdvisor]

Originally Posted by KAPital PHINUst

If extension membership is not an option (and I accept the brotherhood doing away with it), then at a minimum, APO should no longer allow chapters at community colleges and 2-year schools; it's track record of longevity (or rather lack thereof) speaks for itself. Other non-traditional 4 year colleges and universities (like commuter schools), should be researched and scrutinized to assure chapter survival beyond the charter group (campus culture).

I'm not disagreeing with you (about the elimination of extension membership), but that being said, I would hope there are more stories of extension brothers who, like myself, were assets to the Fraternity and continue to live by the cardinal principals to this day, years after pledging.

And I wholeheartedly agree with you about researching the less tradtional schools to assure success. Most of those schools are turning to corner to become more "traditional" by adding dorms (I attended Kennesaw State when it had no dorms) and schools that are still largely commuter (George Mason, where I am a chapter advisor) still have a wonderful campus culture and support their A Phi O chapters beautifully. We had a very successful Rush (14 new pledges, though we've lost a couple due to scheduling) in September and had several associate brothers come back to active status. In this vein, I don't think ALL "communter" schools should be rejected the opportunity to earn a charter....but I think they should have to EARN it.....give it a couple of years as an interest group. Show National that the chapter could survive.
Just my .02.

[Senusret I]

UDC = Official Interest Group

[naraht]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

UDC = Official Interest Group

Rock on! If you would like to arrange to have something suitable to have me eat my words at Chartering, I'll do so.

[Senusret I]

LOL.... that won't be necessary.

It hasn't been easy by any stretch of the imagination... I'll PM you some of the more pertinent details, but all in all, it takes a lot of advanced planning on the part of the UDC students/sponsor(s)/staff, etc.... strong advisors.... cooperation from the Greeks (without it, I wouldn't have even tried).... and flexibility from any actives from other schools who wish to participate.

These students are not young. All work full-time. Most activities (as I see it) may have to be planned for weekends, in the spirit of two-for-one deals: service project/chapter meeting or service project/fellowship. Most of the working adult students work all day and have classes at night; the 19-22 year old set seems to have classes in the day.

It's fun. I like the students.