Stockton University recognizes the value that students derive from participation in Fraternity and Sorority Life.  By virtue of their unique characteristics these values-based organizations can advance the educational mission of the university by providing members with special opportunities for personal growth and through the establishment of standards that motivate members to contribute to the quality of campus life. 

 

As Stockton University advances and adapts to the changing needs of students, so too must Fraternity and Sorority Life.  In efforts to provide a fair and accurate review of new organizations, as well as to ensure the proper support for existing organizations, the following procedures will be applied in the event of fraternity or sorority expansion. Stockton University reserves the right to implement a moratorium on expansion at any time. 

 

Any group of students or organization that desires to establish itself as a fraternity or sorority must first contact the Associate Director for Fraternities and Sororities.  During this initial meeting, the Associate Director will outline the process for establishing a fraternity or sorority at Stockton University and will facilitate contact between the student group and the appropriate governing council if applicable.  During this time period, no commitment to an inter/national organization shall be made; rather this period is for learning the process for establishing or reactivating a fraternity or sorority. 

The Associate Director may then grant approval for the group to begin the expansion process. The group will be instructed to follow one of two procedures: 

1. The National Panhellenic Conference extension procedure for member groups; or
2. The expansion procedure for member groups through application and interest; 

 

These procedures are designed to fit the needs of the organization wishing to expand at Stockton University and all organizations seeking to start and/or reactivate at Stockton University will be required to follow these procedures.

 

In order to provide maximum stability, guidance, and support for each organization seeking recognition at Stockton University, preference will be given to those inter/national fraternities and sororities belonging to national umbrella organizations.  These include, but are not limited to, the following: North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC), the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO), National Multicultural Greek Council (NMGC), and the National Asian Pacific American Panhellenic Association (NAPA).  If an organization is not affiliated with an umbrella organization, that organization must show reasoning as to why they are not affiliated and show evidence of a working inter/national organization. 

Stockton University does not support further expansion of local organizations.  Preference will be given to those inter/national fraternities and sororities with an established headquarters and a minimum of 10 chapters.  

Stockton University does not support organizations wishing to expand through affiliation with a city-wide charter.  A city-wide fraternity or sorority is defined as a collegiate and/or graduate chapter consisting of membership that can be generated from two or more colleges and/or universities in a region.

Violation of these policies will prompt the following action to be enacted against the organization: 

• Inability to seek recognition as an organization and a recognized student organization at Stockton University until, at least, two calendar years after there is clear and definite evidence that no Stockton University student has been initiated into the fraternity or sorority. 

• Inability to host or coordinate any events at Stockton University that are affiliated, in any way, with the organization.

• Inability to participate as a co-sponsor of any student event hosted at Stockton University. 
• Without formal recognition at Stockton University, the organization is not given permission to list Stockton University as a chapter/auxiliary on any materials, including, but not limited to, websites, chapter rosters, etc. 

The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) of 26 member organizations represents over 4 million women at 650+ campuses in the United States and Canada, has a very structured extension process for new sororities. Extension is outlined in detail in the NPC Manual of Information. Stockton University College Panhellenic follows this extension process for new sororities.

 

The NPC Panhellenic Extension Committee acts as the clearing house for both institutions and organizations by monitoring the extension of Panhellenic communities according to NPC Extension protocol.  This protocol is based on Unanimous Agreements followed by all 26 NPC member organizations.  It is critical to note that NPC organizations will establish a new chapter only at appropriately accredited, bachelor’s degree-granting colleges and universities if permission has been granted by what we term the “proper authority.”  The identity of the proper authority depends on the particular situation and is described more fully in the extension resource material provided below. The NPC Panhellenic Extension Committee serves to verify that the proper authority has granted permission and is also available to advise and assist in the various approaches of establishing chapters of NPC member organizations.

All fraternities and sororities not affiliated with the National Panhellenic Conference seeking to charter and/or reactivate at Stockton will be required to follow the standards and practices set forth. The organization can either choose to apply prior to forming interest, or after. 

1. Stockton University reserves the right to accept, approve, or reject any fraternity or sorority seeking recognition and/or pre-charter status at Stockton University.
2. For any organization that has not been previously recognized and is not currently recognized as an active chapter at Stockton, the full application process from interest group to active membership must be followed. After three consecutive academic years without reaching provisional chapter membership status, the interest group will lose recognition and must restart the interest group process. 
3. Formation of interest group requirements
1. A minimum of 5 members in the interest group must be enrolled as undergraduate students at Stockton University who are not graduating in the semester of establishment.
2. All members must maintain academic standards set forth by the Fraternity and Sorority Life including earning a minimum of 12 credits, and maintaining a 2.5 cumulative GPA.
3. Must follow all policies required by Student Development including being in good standing with the Student Code of Conduct. 
4. The Expansion Committee will be charged by, and report to, the Stockton Greek Council Advisor and Greek Council President. The Expansion Committee may be composed of students, faculty, staff, and/or alumni members
5. The Expansion Committee will be responsible for reviewing all applications submitted by inter/national organizations and alumni corporations.
6. The expansion process and timeframe fall solely under the discretion of the Expansion Committee for the best interest of the existing fraternal community and the university.
7. The Expansion Committee will work with National Organizations and Councils to contact organizations interested in expansion. These include, but are not limited to the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC), National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), National Association for Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO), National APIDA Panhellenic Association (NAPA), and National Multicultural Greek Council (NMGC). This communication will request specific information:
   1. National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO)
   2. North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC)
   3. National Pan-Hellenic Conference (NPHC)
   4. National Multicultural Greek Council (NMGC)
   5. National Asian Pacific American Panhellenic Association (NAPA)
   6. If an organization is not affiliated with an umbrella organization, that organization must show reasoning as to why they are not affiliated.
1. Number of active and engaged alumni in the area (50 mile radius of Galloway). 
2. Verification that the inter/national organization is affiliated with any of the following:
3. Letter of confirmation of support for a chapter by area alumni. 
4. Written request and support for a chapter by the inter/national office.
5. Number of collegiate chapters and average chapter size. 
6. Number of chapters in the State of New Jersey
7. Average chapter size nation-wide. 
8. National health and safety and alcohol policies. 
9. Copy of the new member education program. 
10. Any membership leadership development programs. 
11. List of other institutions where the organization recently expanded and their success rate. 
12. Most recent (last 5 years), of closures and reason for closure
13. Submit a plan of action or timeline for expansion. This will include support for the organization; length of time national staff will be on hand to support the chapter, and the degree of support and plan of consultations and supervision for establishing a petitioning chapter. 
14. Financial support available to the petitioning chapter from the inter/national fraternity and alumni and cost of membership for interested students
15. Statement(s) from a local alumnus, or alumni, willing to serve as an advisor or advisors.
16. Signed agreement that staff will meet with the Office of Student Development prior to the expansion.
17. Signed agreement to abide by all requirements of the Office of Student Development and the university. 
18. Proof of a one million dollar insurance policy, minimum
19. Any additional information, or indication of support, it wishes. 
8. A formal request to create a pre-charter group must be submitted by the inter/national organization to FSL, which will forward it to the Expansion Committee.
9. Each organization that expresses interest must receive the approval of the Expansion Committee before being allowed to make an on-campus presentation.
10. Presentations are organized and scheduled by the Expansion Committee. Invitations to view the presentations will go out to members of the fraternity and sorority community, faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
11. The presentations made by the inter/national organization must include the following information. It is an expectation of the Expansion Committee that all criteria meet the standards and policies set by Stockton University, the Office of Student Development and Greek Council listed below: 
1. Member Development and Belonging
2. Intellectual Development and Academic Achievement
3. Leadership Development
4. Community Engagement 
5. Health & Safety 
6. Global Engagement
7. Alumni/Advisor Engagement and Support
8. Expansion Planning and Staffing
12. After the presentation(s) the chapters shall meet and discuss the merits of those organizations applying.  The Greek Council will then vote using all information collected. A majority vote from all chapters must occur for a recommendation to be submitted to the Expansion Committee. 
13. After reviewing all applications for recognition, the Expansion Committee can recommend to the Associate Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life that a particular applicant group(s) be granted recognition, suggest adjustments to the applicant's proposal, or recommend that no current applicant group warrants an offer of recognition. The Associate Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life makes the final decision.
14. Upon acceptance by the Associate Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life of a recommendation to grant recognition, the national organizations participating in the presentations are notified of the outcome. An invitation and preferred timeline for expansion is sent to the organizations selected. 
15. Upon arrival at Stockton University the potential pre-charter group(s) must follow the procedures set forth for chartering and full integration into the Stockton Fraternity and Sorority Community. The new organization will automatically join both Greek Council and one of the governing councils.
16. At the end of two years from the date of University approval for expansion, any group, which fails to be (i) a fully chartered chapter by its inter/national organization; or (ii) a chapter in good standing by its inter/national organization; shall lose their status and recognition as a petitioning chapter at Stockton University. 

An approved petitioning fraternity or sorority chapter will be privy to the following rights: 

1. Receive the status of a registered student organization. Official recognition by the university provides several advantages, as well as responsibilities, for the organization.
2. The opportunity to use designated university facilities for regularly scheduled meetings, usually at no cost.
3. The opportunity to place signs on campus with the proper registration.
4. Be able to participate in all Council, fraternity/sorority, and related university activities. Have a vote on all business matters of the Greek Council. 
5. Have support from the Office of Student Development and all related supplies, equipment, services.
6. Meet with staff from the Office of Student Development on a regular basis for the purpose of chapter development. 

 

An approved petitioning organization will be expected to abide during year one of operation:

 

1. Elect a President and delegate to serve and attend council meetings.
2. Host and plan at least one (1) service/philanthropic event each semester.
3. Attend at least two (2) service/philanthropic events sponsored by another fraternity or sorority each semester as a petitioning chapter.
4. Complete 15 hours of service per petitioning chapter member per year.
5. Maintain a petitioning chapter average GPA which is at least a 3.0
6. Pay all Council dues as invoiced.
7. Participate in all community wide events sponsored by the Office of Student Development.
8. Abide by all university and inter/national organization policies.