Forming a New Chapter

Expansion/Extension Procedures

I. Review Procedure

Within the semester but following formal Recruitment, the Greek Life Advisory Board Expansion Committee will review recruitment statistics and, after consultation with administrative personnel (e.g. VP for Student Affairs, Richmond College and Westhampton College Deans, and Director for Student Involvement) and Richmond College and Westhampton College Student Affairs Committees, Panhellenic Association, Panhellenic Council, Interfraternity Council members and local alumni, and the Greek Life Advisory Board will determine whether or not there is a need for expansion during the upcoming academic year.

II. Requirements for formation of a new men's or women's fraternity chapter

Any recognized new chapter or established chapter of a (inter)national men's or women's fraternity/sorority at the University of Richmond shall conform to all regulations of the Panhellenic Association, the Panhellenic Council, or the Interfraternity Council, the University regulations contained in the "Procedures to be Followed for the Formation of Campus Organizations for Richmond College and Westhampton College".

International chapters which start a new chapter without PHC/NPHC/IFC support and administrative backing will not be considered in the University of Richmond's expansion process and therefore will not be recognized by the University.

III. Expansion Process

Any group of university students desiring to form a chapter of an international or local fraternity at the University of Richmond shall file a letter of intent to establish a chapter with the Center for Student Involvement. The Assistant Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life shall notify the Panhellenic Association and the Panhellenic Council in the case of women's fraternities/sororities, the Interfraternity Council in the case of men's fraternities.

  1. Approval of expansion process may be granted by the Assistant Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life after:
    1. Recommendations for colonization have been receivedfrom Panhellenic Association, the Panhellenic Council, or the Interfraternity Council.
    2. A recommendation of support has been received from the Greek Life Advisory Board and submitted to the Vice President for Student Affairs.
    3. The Vice President for Student Affairs presents the recommendation of the Greek Life Advisory Board and his/her response to the University faculty.
  2. Contact the international organizations that have expressed interest in establishing and/or solicit information from those organizations not represented on the campus.
  3. Review submitted materials for international organizations. The following information will be solicited from international organizations as appropriate:
    1. Fraternity purpose
    2. Area alumni/ae support
    3. Alumni/ae/collegiate membership
    4. New chapter/chapter information
    5. Alumni/ae advisor training
    6. Membership/pledge education program and philosophy
    7. Fraternity education programs
    8. New officer training/advising information
    9. Philanthropic activities and programs
    10. (inter)national policies and/or definitions
    11. Recruitment policy
    12. Resources/leadership conferences
    13. History and fraternity development
    14. Regional/state strength
    15. (inter)national representative support
    16. Financial assistance
    17. New chapter membership recruitment plans
    18. Timeline for development of a new chapter
    19. Philosophy on decision making at the (inter)national and chapter levels.
  4. Following the screening process, the pool of potential Greek letter organizations will be narrowed to an appropriate number by an appointed representative expansion committee, and these finalists will be invited to participate in an on-campus interview process. The international fraternity/sorority representatives will be interviewed by alumnae/alumni, University representatives, the Greek Life Advisory Board Expansion Sub-committee, and IFC, Panhellenic and PanHellenic representatives.
  5. Formal invitations to establish a chapter will be extended following the interview process. The international organization that does not receive an invitation to establish, will be kept in the Expansion Committee's records and will be given consideration in the future; however, no commitment exists until a formal invitation to establish is extended to that chapter.

IV. Recognition as a chapter

The establishing chapter will be permitted a maximum period of one semester to complete all requirements stated herein. The Assistant Director for Fraternities and Sororities may give final recognition to the new chapter, upon the recommendation of the Greek Life Advisory Board, and authorize initiation ceremonies provided that:

  1. The new chapter submits a formal request for recognition.
  2. Members, who are either bona fide transfer active members of a international fraternity/sorority, or students who are eligible for initiation in accordance with existing University requirements, comprise the new chapter. Any new chapter with extenuating circumstances which preclude meeting this requirement may petition the Center for Student Involvement - Assistant Director for Fraternities and Sororities for special consideration.
  3. The new chapter presents a statement of financial solvency and a future financial plan which has been approved by Panhellenic, International Panhellenic Council, or the Interfraternity Council.
  4. The new chapter presents evidence of satisfactory scholastic standards.
  5. The new chapter has been recommended to the Center for Student Involvement - Assistant Director for Fraternities and Sororities, by the Panhellenic Council, Panhellenic Council, or the Interfraternity Council for the establishment of a chapter.

V. Local men's and women's fraternities/sororities will not be considered in the expansion process

  1. By their very nature, local men's and women's fraternities/sororities do not meet the criteria upon which other interested applicants will be judged. Some of these include:
  2. Not holding membership in the (inter)National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), the (inter)National Panhellenic Council (NPHC), or the (inter)National Interfraternity Conference (NIC);
  3. Not having an international organization, they may be without vital support. They will also be absent of a superior governing body;
  4. Not having local alumni/ae support.

Passed by the Greek Life Advisory Board on March 14, 1990