DARTMOUTH COLLEGE

EXPANSION OF THE FRATERNITY SYSTEM

Membership in the IFC includes representatives from all recognized chapters and colonies of NIC fraternities as well as all local fraternities at Dartmouth College. The IFC is responsible for determining the appropriate timing to expand the fraternity community and granting permission for expansion, though the College has ultimate authority over whether or not such expansion can occur. The Council believes that organized, thoughtful growth of the system will ensure continued quality of fraternity life at Dartmouth. Unplanned growth is viewed as detrimental to group accountability and a quality fraternity experience.

REVIEW, DISCUSSION, AND VOTING PROCEDURES

When the possibility of expansion arises, the IFC officers and organization representatives shall work together to determine whether or not permission for expansion will be granted. The IFC shall review material submitted by the applying organization and shall consider the current state of the Dartmouth Greek community in general. The president of the IFC shall preside over all discussions regarding expansion.

A vote of three-quarters of the total voting membership (one vote per organization) shall be required to approve the establishment of an organization that will be part of the Interfraternity Countil.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Any CFS organization should contribute positively to the undergraduate experience of its members. It should espouse ideals consistent with those of the College and should commit the human and financial resources necessary to ensure achievement of these ideals.

Each organization should specify to the IFC how it can specifically support and nurture a strong fraternity capable of contributing to the education, leadership development, and character development of its members in terms of the following areas:

A. Alumni Support (applies to national and local organizations)

Including strength of alumni associations, number of alumni, alumni support in establishing a chapter at Dartmouth, selection and training program for alumni, and potential house corporation members.

B. Strength

For national organizations, this will be assessed by number of active chapters, number of chapters gained and lost in the last five years, and recruitment statistics.

For local organizations, this will be assessed based on financial security, support of alumni and/or advisors and interest in the organization within the College community.

C. Support Staff:

This includes consultants/field representatives (or alumni acting as organization representatives) as well as any colonization team. The following will be minimum standards for this category:

There must be at least two consultants/field representatives to work with the colony/chapter on a regular basis for the period of at least two years after installation/chartering.

For National organizations: there must be one national officer that assumes responsibility for the colonization process and is in attendance at the colony recruitment. For local organizations: there must be one local alumnus (within a 50 miles distance from campus) that assumes responsibility for the colonization process and is in attendance at colony recruitment.

There must be specific commitment to continuing support for the new chapter over a five year period in the form of extra visitations by consultants/field representatives and national officers (if applicable) funding for increased chapter attendance at national leadership training conferences, and the development of alumni support. Local organizations must send at least one member to the regional conference (NGLA) and to an individual leadership development experiences: UIFI FuturesQuest, LeaderShape etc. for the first year, if these trips can be funded through ORL.

D. Success of Recent Colonizations

In the case of a national organization, the IFC will solicit the opinions of IFC Advisors on other campuses where the fraternity has recently made colonization efforts.

E. Quality of Programs

Fraternities should provide written materials describing their education programs, policies on hazing, alcohol and drug abuse, assault, member development programs, programs for active/alumni interaction, recruitment and membership selection programs, and any other leadership programs.

F. Chapter Development/Programs

Fraternities must provide written materials describing chapter programs and methods of implementation for scholarship development, self-discipline, character development, and broad based involvement of membership in chapter responsibilities.

G. Quality of Proposed Colonization Procedure (applies to nationals attempting to colonize only)

Nationals attempting to colonize must have:

An orderly colonization procedure, outlined in writing and previously tested on other campuses.

Plans for recruiting alumni volunteers. IN case of a national organization, the plan must include plans to have active chapter members from other campuses and (inter)national and regional officers.

Financial backing for colony establishment.

Plans to cooperate with IFC in publicizing colony recruitment.

Plans for colony officer and member training.

CONSIDERATIONS

The Interfraternity Council should consider the following information to make the decision on whether or not fraternity expansion is both desirable and feasible:

1. The number of male students participating in fraternity recruitment in relation to the number who end up pledging/associating.

2. The number of chapters and colonies on campus.

3. The number of active and new/associate members.

4. The average size of chapter memberships as well as the median number of members in all chapters.

5. Chapters and colonies currently experiencing membership problems and an assessment of projected measures to assist them.

6. The College's projection of enrollment trends.

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