2008/2009 Colonies and Expansions

[BetteDavisEyes]

Originally Posted by DaffyKD

If I am not training poll workers for the up coming election on the 29th, I will be there! Really excited for someone (you can guess for whom I am rooting) .

DaffyKD

LOL! I made sure I rescheduled some meetings so I can be there. I wouldn't miss it for the world.

[LaneSig]

Delta Chi and Sigma Tau Gamma both seeking recognition at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

http://media.www.royalpurplenews.com...-3475124.shtml

[NutBrnHair]

Originally Posted by LaneSig

Texas A&M-Kingsville has 2 NPCs, Delta Phi Epsilon and Theta Phi Alpha; 1 NPHC, Alpha Kappa Alpha; 1 MCGLO, Kappa Delta Chi;and 1 local, Psi Theta Upsilon.

According to irishpipes' recruitment thread, TAMUK previously had Chi Omega (1964-1985), Alpha Delta Pi (1965-1986), Alpha Chi Omega (1965-1978), and Zeta Tau Alpha (1965-1988).

Did this campus have a name change?

[aopirose]

Originally Posted by NutBrnHair

Did this campus have a name change?

It began as South Texas State Teachers College then Texas College of Arts and Industries then Texas A & I University and now Texas A & M - Kingsville.

[gee_ess]

slight hijack -

How does a campus determine if it is open for NPC expansion? Does the Greek life office begin the process? The Pan council? Can a group ask to be considered?

I am specifically wondering about the University of Arkansas which took around 80 - 82 girls per pledge class this fall and has not taken a pledge class lower than 75 in the past four years, and wondering why they are not opening up for expansion again after the successful colonization of AOPi.

[LaneSig]

Originally Posted by gee_ess

slight hijack -

How does a campus determine if it is open for NPC expansion? Does the Greek life office begin the process? The Pan council? Can a group ask to be considered?

I am specifically wondering about the University of Arkansas which took around 80 - 82 girls per pledge class this fall and has not taken a pledge class lower than 75 in the past four years, and wondering why they are not opening up for expansion again after the successful colonization of AOPi.

We actually had a conversation about this when AOPi colonized. One of the Greek Life admins was quoted as saying that they would like to see 1 or 2 more NPCs colonize on campus. First, they need to make sure that AOPi is succeeding (which they are in spades). Then they need to see if it huge numbers of pnms for the sororities is a continuing pattern (which it sounds like, but let's make sure).

Also, it may be a case of Arkansas girls being willing to give the new chapters a chance. A few groups have been on campus and closed. Are those groups willing to come back and try again? One particular sorority has been on campus twice and closed. This is a traditionally southern group, but still had to close. Several things to consider.

irishpipes and carnation would probably have a better idea about the campus culture than I do.

[aopirose]

Originally Posted by gee_ess

slight hijack -

How does a campus determine if it is open for NPC expansion? Does the Greek life office begin the process? The Pan council? Can a group ask to be considered?

I am specifically wondering about the University of Arkansas which took around 80 - 82 girls per pledge class this fall and has not taken a pledge class lower than 75 in the past four years, and wondering why they are not opening up for expansion again after the successful colonization of AOPi.

Under no circumstances can an NPC group just "ask" to be considered. That is a violation NPC extension policy of more than 50 years.

A campus determines if it should "open" based on its needs. Are the current chapters getting too large for their comfort? Is there a large number of qualified PNMs who are not completing the recruitment process? Is there a local sorority or interest group seeking NPC affiliation? On a Locals-only campus, is the university mandating that the sororities become "national" or close?

After adding a new NPC chapter, a Panhellenic may wait a few years to see how the addition affects the system and to let that chapter become more established. Another item to consider is "where" to put a new chapter. If all of the chapters are housed, whether it is a residence hall suite or a multi-million dollar stand alone structure, the new chapter will need comparable arrangements. Can the university provide the space?

[deadbear80]

Originally Posted by gee_ess

slight hijack -

I am specifically wondering about the University of Arkansas which took around 80 - 82 girls per pledge class this fall and has not taken a pledge class lower than 75 in the past four years, and wondering why they are not opening up for expansion again after the successful colonization of AOPi.

Check irishpipes' thread. Unless they took about 20 more during COB/COR, there is a chapter at Arkansas who got only 50 girls during formal recruitment. That's 30 less than the others. I don't think they'll be opening for expansion in the near future if they have 1 chapter that is so far behind the others.

[33girl]

There were schools who expanded too quickly in the 80s when Greek life had a renaissance and a lot of those schools ended up having to close chapters. Once bitten, twice shy. Especially at someplace like Arkansas. Even though interest in the South is probably more "consistent" through the years than most places, the costs have gone up a lot.

[Low C Sharp]

there is a chapter at Arkansas who got only 50 girls during formal recruitment.

I know that it's relative size that matters on that kind of campus, but jeez! It's still amazing that such a giant pledge class isn't enough to keep a chapter thriving.
________
SexyArmyBoy1

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by aopirose

Under no circumstances can an NPC group just "ask" to be considered. That is a violation NPC extension policy of more than 50 years.

However, a NPC group can send a letter of interest, letting the campus know that should they decide to expand they would be interested in being considered. When a campus opens to extension, ALL 26 members will be notified, and then those who are interested can submit packets to be considered. The campus then decides who will present, and from that group the eventual new group will be selected.

eta - I think I've got that right . . . can't find my Green Book.

[banditone]

Originally Posted by deadbear80

Check irishpipes' thread. Unless they took about 20 more during COB/COR, there is a chapter at Arkansas who got only 50 girls during formal recruitment. That's 30 less than the others. I don't think they'll be opening for expansion in the near future if they have 1 chapter that is so far behind the others.

A (est.) 200 girl chapter is way behind. wow.

[aopirose]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

However, a NPC group can send a letter of interest, letting the campus know that should they decide to expand they would be interested in being considered.

Yes, a letter of interest can be sent but that is much different from a group saying, "Hey, we like your school and we have an opening in our colonization schedule for Fall 2010. Does that work for you?"

When a campus opens to extension, ALL 26 members will be notified, and then those who are interested can submit packets to be considered. The campus then decides who will present, and from that group the eventual new group will be selected.

All groups will be notified that the campus is open but sometimes the campus wants a targeted extension. The campus will focus on only certain groups that they feel most strongly meet their needs.

[gee_ess]

Originally Posted by deadbear80

Check irishpipes' thread. Unless they took about 20 more during COB/COR, there is a chapter at Arkansas who got only 50 girls during formal recruitment. That's 30 less than the others. I don't think they'll be opening for expansion in the near future if they have 1 chapter that is so far behind the others.

Yes, I am familiar with that chapter and they have been struggling for years. However, that did not seem to be a concern when the campus opened for AOPi. (but, I was not a member of GC during AOPi's colonization process, so there may be info I don't know)

I do think that the chapters on campus are struggling to accomodate these large pledge classes, and that Arkansas would benefit from another NPC chapter. But, whoever chooses to colonize at Ark could sure take a lesson from the way AOPi handled things, and that means spending MONEY. Money for housing, in particular.

[exlurker]

Originally Posted by gee_ess

. . . I do think that the chapters on campus are struggling to accomodate these large pledge classes, and that Arkansas would benefit from another NPC chapter. But, whoever chooses to colonize at Ark could sure take a lesson from the way AOPi handled things, and that means spending MONEY. Money for housing, in particular.

Good point. With the U.S. (and world) economic conditions in their current state, in most places it is probably going to be tough to get the necessary loans and general financial structuring needed for a multimillion - dollar house. There may also be legitimate fears that the pool of potential members could drop substantially for a few years if more and more families get hit severely (job loss, cuts in income, etc.) and high school grads and their parents decide that Greek life -- dues, extras from shirts to trips -- is (or appears to be ) too expensive.