Expansion
New expansion occurs when an inter/national organization receives a formal invitation to establish a chapter at Wake Forest University. Organizations must be invited by the Director of Fraternity and Sorority Engagement, following a recommendation from the Expansion Committee and approval from the Vice President for Campus Life.
Expansion Committee
The Expansion Committee reviews community data each year—including recruitment trends, expansion interest, and conducts cases—to determine whether the fraternity and sorority community should open for expansion. The committee is composed of:
- The council president from each recognized council, or a designee appointed by the president from the council’s Executive Board;
- One chapter advisor from each council;
- One non-affiliated representative from the University’s Student Government;
- The Director of Fraternity and Sorority Engagement, and
- One representative from the Division of Campus Life.
Inter/National Affiliation
Any group seeking recognition at Wake Forest University must have an established inter/national headquarters and be recognized by, or affiliated with, one of the following umbrella organizations:
- National Asian Pacific American Panhellenic Association (NAPA)
- National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO)
- National Multicultural Greek Council (NMGC)
- National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)
- National Panhellenic Conference (NPC)
- North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC/IFC)
Recognized inter/national organizations that do not fall under an umbrella group, such as service- or religious-based organizations, will be considered only through the formal application and expansion process. Inter/national academic honor societies—except for Order of Omega and Gamma Sigma Alpha—are not subject to this policy and are not governed by the OFSE.
Expansion Procedures
The following procedures must be completed for an organization to be considered for a Formal Invitation by the Expansion Committee:
Expressing Interest
Representatives of inter/national organizations or students interested in bringing a fraternity or sorority to campus can submit an interest form.
The form may be submitted at any time, even if no active expansion process is underway. Submission of an interest form is not required for consideration should a council begin the expansion process.
Application Packets
All organizations interested in establishing a chapter at Wake Forest University must provide the following information to the Director of Fraternity and Sorority Engagement:
- History of the organization
- National membership statistics
- New member education outline, including:
- Minimum requirements to join
- Description of the new member education/intake plan, including a draft six-week new member education plan
- Leadership and personal development programs offered by the organization
- Charter/chapter designation requirements and timeline from the national organization
- Resources provided by the national organization, including:
- List of chapters in the surrounding areas
- Structure of volunteer support
- Number of alumni/ae in the Piedmont Triad area
- Names of chapter advisors, if available
- Description of the advisory board, including setup, expectations, training, and roles
- Financial obligations and support provided to the chapter
- Risk management policies, including those related to alcohol, drugs, hazing, and facility management
- Names and academic year of interested Wake Forest students, if applicable
- Academic policies and programs
- IRS documentation of 501(c)(7) tax status
- List of previous expansion efforts in the past three years, including a reference contact for each campus
- History at Wake Forest University, if applicable
- Any additional information requested by the Expansion Committee
Formal Presentation
The formal presentation provides an opportunity for the inter/national organization to demonstrate its interest in joining the Wake Forest University fraternity and sorority community to the Expansion Committee.
The formal presentation should include:
- Explanation of why the organization is interested in joining Wake Forest’s fraternity/sorority community
- Demonstration of how the organization will enhance the existing fraternity/sorority community
- New member education outline, including:
- Minimum requirements to join
- Description of the new member education/intake plan, including a draft six-week new member education plan
- Description of potential collaborations with campus partners
- Alumni in the Piedmont Triad area who have committed to providing ongoing support
- Resources provided by the inter/national organization, including support for the first three years of the chapter
- Details of inter/national philanthropy and community service partnerships
- Requirements and timeline for receiving a charter/chapter designation from the national organization
Approval
The OFSE staff will follow the processes outlined in the respective councils’ bylaws, the inter/national governing body, and this policy to determine expansion approval.
- Organizations will receive written notification from the Director of Fraternity and Sorority Engagement once a decision is final.
- All expansion agreements must be signed before any formal announcements.
If an organization is not approved, it may reapply when the council next opens for expansion.
Expansion Timelines
Expansion timelines are limited to a maximum of three academic semesters, excluding summer. If an organization is unable to establish a charter within this period, its representatives must meet with the Director of Fraternity and Sorority Engagement to discuss a potential extension.