I don't understand how NPC sororities work

[Aduladi]

I pledged at a school that has BGLO's LGLO's Multi-CulturalGLO's local GLO's and NPC/IFCGLO's, so there were enough organizations to sufficiently distract me from paying close attention to what other Greeks were doing beyond programming. I am now the advisor for my sorority's chapter on a campus where there are ONLY NPC/IFC GLO's and my Multicultural Sorority.

Recently something that I have never seen, happened on my campus and I am at a loss-somewhere between confusion and sadness...

The national board for a sorority on my campus pulled the charter for a sorority without any discussion with the Greek Advisor or the chapter, citing low membership numbers (at 48 members, they had the largest charter and the highest combined GPA of ALL Greeks on campus).

I would like to use this thread to understand these organizations and how they function (rush, and other rules that govern their chapter activity).

Soo... if anyone wants to take some time to teach me that would be great. I think I'd like to start with how the Nat'ls can just walk in at the end of a school year in which a chapter JUST initiated a pledge class and take the charter away without any regard for the great things the chapter might be accomplishing on campus.

Thanks-I look forward to some good info!

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Coming from a now closed chapter, they may not have come in and closed it down like you think. For us, it was a multi year process but not one that was shared with non-Gamma Phi's.

I'm guessing that there were issues going on that had nothing to do with numbers or GPA's......but since I'm not part of the group in question (we don't have any chapters in Vermont) I really have no idea what the thinking was.

The NPC website and/or the Rush forum has a lot of information about how the NPC groups operate.

ETA: This probably belongs in a different forum............you'll get a better response.

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Perhaps you should got to the source and contact that specific NPC, but you might not get the answers that you seek. I think that closing specific chapters might be confidential information. I wouldn't even speculate about this specific situation without knowing the details.

[33girl]

I assume that you are talking about the closure of the Kappa Alpha Theta chapter at UVM. According to their national website the chapter was closed because they violated sorority polices - it has nothing to do with membership numbers nor do they say that it does.

If you think the chapter was closed unfairly or that what's being said on the national site is untrue, write a letter to Theta nationals and let them know your feelings as a fellow Greek.

[bekibug]

There's also this thread over in the Risk Management Forum:

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...threadid=66037

[FSUZeta]

many (maybe all) NPC sororities national officers have the ability to revoke a chapters charter when they deem it necessary, however, the process may vary. they do not need the approval of the school administration, the greek life office, the panhellenic council at the school, the chapters advisors, the chapter alumnae or the chapter. but in the same token, charters are revoked after much examination of the chapter, its "health" and the reasons the national organization is considering closing the chapter. to my knowledge, no chapter of any npc organization would be closed without much attention and assistance from their national organization. as smartblondegphib said ,these things are usually not shared with the rest of the campus, or even with other chapters of the organization, until all avenues have been explored and the decision to close the chapter has been made. no organization wants to close a chapter.

[Tom Earp]

National GLOs dont like to close Chapters.

But, there are many Reasons for closing them:

1. Fees Owed.

2 Numbers.

3. Risk Mamagement=Hazing. That is one of the most serious.

Unless You have further information then, it is a moot question. It can and does Happen. We dont like it, none of us especially the Members of said Chapter.

[AchtungBaby80]

Originally posted by SmartBlondeGPhB
Coming from a now closed chapter, they may not have come in and closed it down like you think.

That's right. From what I've seen and experienced, national headquarters don't just decide one day to swoop in and close down a chapter without notice. It's a longer process than that, and the way I understand it, chapters are given the chance to "save" themselves by raising membership, grades, or whatever the reason for possible closure before the charter is pulled.

[Tom Earp]

Originally posted by AchtungBaby80
That's right. From what I've seen and experienced, national headquarters don't just decide one day to swoop in and close down a chapter without notice. It's a longer process than that, and the way I understand it, chapters are given the chance to "save" themselves by raising membership, grades, or whatever the reason for possible closure before the charter is pulled.

Yes, and being from a Chapter that may be closed down soon I too can speak from experience.

While We are in the process of building a New House, We as Alums have helped keep the Chapter afloat with finances. Had the highest GPA for 3 Semesters.

But Membership is a 0 as have 2 Actives. So trying to work with IHQ to get a recruitment Drive going.

I am frustrated, depressed, and anyother words I cannot think of right now but "Pissed".

Can and does it happen, Yes it does! I have been there for 40 Years, and am crying as I may have to be the one to say, The Party is Over, shut it down.

As another Brother and GC Member said to me, it is like a PC, maybe it just needs to get shut down and rebooted.

[breathesgelatin]

I served as President of my chapter. I will say that there are two possible scenarios for a group's charter to be taken. Of course, there are also cases in which a school takes recognition away, or where groups vote to give up their charter.

A) After many years of hard work and struggle, with lots of special support and advising from the national organziation, the headquarters finally makes a decision to close a chapter that is struggling and cannot compete on a given campus.

B) There is a sudden and drastic risk management situation, which the chapter does not immediately report, or tries to cover up, and the national officers deem that chapter a liability and take away their charter.

[AchtungBaby80]

Originally posted by breathesgelatin
A) After many years of hard work and struggle, with lots of special support and advising from the national organziation, the headquarters finally makes a decision to close a chapter that is struggling and cannot compete on a given campus.

Yes. If the charter was taken because of low numbers, this would be the scenario.

[Aduladi]

This is all really helpful. My heart certainly goes out to those of you who have or are going through this process. I guess it is more prevalent than I originally thought. Wow.

So help me understand... if the reason is something like numbers is there ever a chance of that chapter being able to rebuild on the campus?

[AGDee]

Definitely! I know that AST's Alpha chapter at Eastern Michigan University was re-colonized in the 80's. Alpha Gam hopes to re-colonize at a few schools where they've closed in the last decade, when those campuses are ready for another group again.

[SAEalumnus]

[hijack]

Originally posted by SmartBlondeGPhB
ETA: This probably belongs in a different forum............you'll get a better response.

The original post seems to deal with national policy, local chapter operations, and recruitment, so it seems general enough for the moment that the GL forum is probably still the best place for it.... although if it becomes a discussion specifically related to a different forum (just recruitment, or just chapter ops, for example), then the thread could be moved later.

[/hijack]

[Tom Earp]

SAEalumnus


not nesecerly true SAE.

But I am still trying to understand this thread.

Damn am getting tired!