Scary Quota Numbers

[hootyhoo]

I'm wondering how many universities out there this fall are concerned about potential quota numbers. Last year at Arkansas quota was 101 on bid day, with several chapters taking 103-105. Recruitment registration closes this Friday, but as of Monday we were already at 1250 ladies registered to participate. I'm wondering how it is physically possible for us to take a pledge class any bigger than we did last year. Are there any other universities struggling with similar numbers? We have a guaranteed bid system as long as you make it pref and maximize your options. Rush has already expanded to 7 days of rounds (2 for each except pref) spread out over two weeks. I just can't wrap my head around a potential quota of 130-150 :/

[Titchou]

Maybe the University will evenutally get their act together and make it feasible and desirable for new chapters to colonize which would relieve this. Until then, it is what it is.

[carnation]

When I was at Arkansas, quota was 25-30. Of course, that was when it was a bed rush and you had to be a sophomore and move right in. It was worse than big quotas, though, because some years over half the rushees went bidless. One huge result of this was many enemies of the Greek system.

I can't imagine pledge classes of that size!

[AnotherKD]

Holy new members, Batman. Now, my school had a lot of chapters but wasn't horribly huge... I think our entire chapter had about 70 members, and that was the limit. I absolutely cannot imagine having a PLEDGE CLASS twice the size of my entire sorority. Different strokes, I know, but wow!

[naraht]

University of Arkansas, according to its website has only 8 NPC sororities on the school website: ADPi, AOPi, ChiO, Tri-Delta, KD, KKG, PBPhi, and ZTA. With only 8 NPC sororities at an SEC school, there is *definitely* room for expansion. I'd be shocked if this *wasn't* the smallest number of NPC sororities of any SEC schools. Does anyone know if the school has lost any NPC sororities in the last 5 years?

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by naraht

University of Arkansas, according to its website has only 8 NPC sororities on the school website: ADPi, AOPi, ChiO, Tri-Delta, KD, KKG, PBPhi, and ZTA. With only 8 NPC sororities at an SEC school, there is *definitely* room for expansion. I'd be shocked if this *wasn't* the smallest number of NPC sororities of any SEC schools. Does anyone know if the school has lost any NPC sororities in the last 5 years?

Arkansas' NPC culture is very similar to Ole Miss, which is also very greek but only has 9 NPC groups.

You reap what you sow

[carnation]

You know what has played into the large pledge classes we're seeing in the NPC? The fairly recent difficulty of getting into UGa as a freshman or UT because of the 10% rule. A lot of kids who would've easily gotten into either back in the day still want the huge university experience so they leave their home states for Arkansas, Auburn, Bama, and Ole Miss. I write most of my recs for those 4 schools.

[arrowlady]

Originally Posted by carnation

You know what has played into the large pledge classes we're seeing in the NPC? The fairly recent difficulty of getting into UGa as a freshman or UT because of the 10% rule. A lot of kids who would've easily gotten into either back in the day still want the huge university experience so they leave their home states for Arkansas, Auburn, Bama, and Ole Miss. I write most of my recs for those 4 schools.

I think the out of state tuition waver that Arkansas has for gpa, is really growing the numbers of kids attending there as well. Great school and reasonable tuition is pulling lots of kids from Texas for sure.

[Smile_Awhile]

Originally Posted by carnation

You know what has played into the large pledge classes we're seeing in the NPC? The fairly recent difficulty of getting into UGa as a freshman or UT because of the 10% rule. A lot of kids who would've easily gotten into either back in the day still want the huge university experience so they leave their home states for Arkansas, Auburn, Bama, and Ole Miss. I write most of my recs for those 4 schools.

I'd also say this for most Oklahoma schools- the number of Texas kids at OU and OSU is ASTOUNDING.

And probably why Greek life is booming at each, and OSU is open to expansion (if I remember correctly).

[OleMissGlitter]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

Arkansas' NPC culture is very similar to Ole Miss, which is also very greek but only has 9 NPC groups.

You reap what you sow

Very true and Ole Miss is expecting quota to be high again too. I think the chapters were told to plan for quota in the high 90s-100s. Which just boggles my mind because quota was just in the 50s when I was in college at Ole Miss, of course that was in 1996 and we did have 10 sororities then!!!!

ETA: I think if expansion isn't happening (like at Ole Miss and Arkansas) then it just comes down to each sorority to "figure it out!" I know some chapters at Ole Miss have figured it out. And yes they do eat in shifts (from what I've heard at some chapters at Ole Miss). AOII does not eat in shifts but our addition to our house a few years ago allows for just about everyone to eat! And I think in the beginning of the year events/meetings/meals are attended more and then it does subside. Does this mean those members who aren't coming to everything aren't getting a good experience? Nahh! I think for some women they are looking for a different experience than others. So, it's about offering all aspects of sorority life to all members. (Academic, Sisterhood, Social, Philanthropy, etc). Do I think having a new member class of 100 members or more is insane?!?! I do think it is but I think all of our chapters have women who are willing to adjust and “figure it out” to be successful and compete on their college campuses. So, that’s just my two cents.

[AUAZD2001]

I was wondering in this situation if Panhellenic would hold 2 formal recruitments. Maybe the first at the begining of fall semester and the second just afer mid-terms, or at the begining of spring semseter. Set a limit for the numer of PNMs for the first recruitment at 600. First-come, first-serve basis. If a PNM misses the first recruitment she must wait for the second. It would keep the NM classes smaller and give the NMs a chance to bond with each other and the chapter. And any women who miss the first recruitment would have an opportunity to explore other campus activities they might not have otherwise been involved in.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by AUAZD2001

I was wondering in this situation if Panhellenic would hold 2 formal recruitments. Maybe the first at the begining of fall semester and the second just afer mid-terms, or at the begining of spring semseter. Set a limit for the numer of PNMs for the first recruitment at 600. First-come, first-serve basis. If a PNM misses the first recruitment she must wait for the second. It would keep the NM classes smaller and give the NMs a chance to bond with each other and the chapter. And any women who miss the first recruitment would have an opportunity to explore other campus activities they might not have otherwise been involved in.

Someone previously mentioned a school that set a limit on the number of PNMs who could sign up, and my view was that it could become a freedom of association issue - interfering with member selection. What happens if your ISP goes screwy the day registration opens and you end up as #602? Also...I don't see what difference a NM class of 60 in the fall and 60 in the spring is going to make as far as bonding with the WHOLE sorority.

What was the old joke about overpopulation - "when we get to standing room only, the situation will resolve itself." When the sororities get large enough that the women are no longer enjoying themselves or feel like what they get for their money is just not worth it, Greek life will become less popular and the pledge class sizes will go down. Either that, or a group of girls will take the bull by the horns and start an interest group and bring a chapter to the school. At this point, an NPC might gamble on that before gambling on a ground up colonization.

[carnation]

Originally Posted by AUAZD2001

I was wondering in this situation if Panhellenic would hold 2 formal recruitments. Maybe the first at the begining of fall semester and the second just afer mid-terms, or at the begining of spring semseter. Set a limit for the numer of PNMs for the first recruitment at 600. First-come, first-serve basis. If a PNM misses the first recruitment she must wait for the second. It would keep the NM classes smaller and give the NMs a chance to bond with each other and the chapter. And any women who miss the first recruitment would have an opportunity to explore other campus activities they might not have otherwise been involved in.

AUAZD, it would go over at Arkansas about as well as it would at AU. Which means all hell would break loose! Can you imagine hundreds of unpledged girls looking at the new sorority members having all that fun during fall semester--going to pep rallies and being in parades, etc.? Whoever said that they could join ___ Club or "whichever sport darlings" would likely be killed on the spot. Just imagine it!

[wavycutchip]

naraht - No, Arkansas has not lost any NPC sororities in the last 5 years (the last one to leave campus was Phi Mu in the mid 1990s), and as Titchou alluded to they were open to expansion last year, but they did not had any NPC groups interested in colonizing for various reasons.

hooty hoo - I know that it will be crazy, but also know that all you Greek Razorbacks will do the best that you can do! At KD convention I spoke to the Advisor for the new members quite a bit about this (we were pledge sisters at Arkansas a few moons ago). One thing that she and the Member Educator did last year was speak to some of the larger chapters of KD across the country with largest pledge classes and saw how they handled the large numbers. Logistically, I am sure that the executive councils of all groups (I know at least KD has this at the top of their minds) are thinking of ways to handle this influx again (lots of possibilities are on the table - multiple chapter/new member meetings, putting an importance on new member group leaders and having them make sure that all of the members of her group (we call them SETs) are getting acclimated to the chapter, etc) . Maybe (hopefully) this is something that was brought up during Presidents meetings and Panhellenic meetings last spring and the groups were able to springboard ideas off each other on how to keep new members and members active and involved in such large chapters.

[arrowlady]

I had a feeling the number at Arkansas would be large. Just spent the last few days with my Alumnae club writing RIF's for local girls. So many great girls going thru recruitment.

Why are there no chapters willing to go to Arkansas? Such a beautiful campus, I understand the cost is high. However there is expansion going on all over the country. Why not at Arkansas???