Expansion Process for Social Greek-Letter Organizations

The University at Buffalo supports new social Greek-letter organizations in the following ways:

• Hosts educational meetings with new members including recruitment/intake processes, governance structure, leadership opportunities, risk management, standards and expectations, resources, etc.
• Provides support and advisement to new members taking on executive roles. 
• Provides guidance to alumni advisors. 
• Serves as liaison with inter/national headquarters expansion team/staff. 
• Formally evaluates progress toward chartering throughout the semester.

All social fraternities and sororities must be affiliated with an inter/national headquarters.

Inter/national social Greek-letter organizations who are not yet recognized by the University at Buffalo and are seeking recognition must apply. Interested organizations may submit applications on a rolling basis.

Applications are submitted to the Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life via email at stu-greeks@buffalo.edu

1. A letter of interest from inter/national headquarters stating the mission and values of the organization and why it is a benefit to the University at Buffalo community.
2. A current constitution and bylaws.
3. An explanation of expansion support team structure, including the name of a selected alumni advisor. If there is a change, the Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life must be notified within 10 days, and the position must be filled within 30 days.
4. An explanation of the staff supports available once the chapter is chartered.
5. Information regarding the number of active chapters, inactive chapters, and how many chapters were closed in the last 5 years nationally or internationally.
6. A copy of the new member education or intake program established by headquarters. The philosophy of the membership education/intake program must be consistent with the non-hazing, student developmental philosophy of SUNY Buffalo.
7. A copy of the inter/national organization’s risk management policies and programming, as well as the procedure for handling violations of the policies.
8. The total number of alumni within a 50-mile radius of Buffalo.
9. A record of national or international philanthropic milestones.

The expansion committee (Hereinafter referred to as “committee”) shall review all matters of potential expansion for the UB Fraternity and Sorority Life community. The committee is chaired by the Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life or their designee, and will also include:

• One council president selected by the committee chair from the College Panhellenic Association, United Council of Cultural Fraternities and Sororities, Pan-Hellenic Council, and Interfraternity Council (when in existence).
• Two chapter presidents from recognized chapters, to be selected by the committee chair, not to be from the same council as the selected council president above.
• The Senior Associate Director of Student Engagement or their designee.
• The Director of Student Engagement or their designee.
• Additional staff from Student Engagement and Greek Life Advisory Council may be selected in an ex-officio capacity when deemed necessary but shall not hold voting rights.

1. Determine if it is an appropriate time for expansion and notify all governing bodies of that decision in a timely manner.
2. Maintain a record of submitted applications.
3. Review submitted application materials.
4. Coordinate campus presentations.
5. Provide a recommendation on which organizations to invite to campus, if any.

• Recruitment trend data
• Health of current colonies and chapters
• Current conduct trends within the community
• Current invitations to reactivate or expand
• Staffing levels
• Alumni presence
• Representation of diverse populations

The committee will meet once at the beginning of each academic year to determine if the campus community is open to expansion.

1. UB will be considered closed to expansion for the remainder of the academic year but will continue accepting applications for recognition/expansion for the following academic year.
2. The Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life will provide a statement explaining the decision, which will be provided to current social fraternity and sorority presidents and any Inter/National Headquarters staff members who have inquired or applied for recognition.
3. The committee will reconvene the following academic year.

1. UB will be considered open to fraternity or sorority expansion efforts for the academic year and will continue to accept applications for review on October 1.
2. The committee will convene in early October to review expansion applications. 
3. Following deliberation, the committee may or may not determine a list of potential new organization finalists. The committee could also choose to solicit other Inter/National organizations or end their search with no expansion.
4. The committee will ask organizations to proceed with an on-campus presentation in November. On campus visits may include meetings with committee members and organization representatives, meetings with governing councils and chapter leadership, meetings between key stakeholders including FSL staff, presentations open to the campus community, and/or a campus tour.
5. The committee may solicit feedback from those that attended meetings and presentations.
6. After presentations, the committee will make recommendations to the relevant campus governing councils. Those councils will hold a vote to decide which organizations, if any, will officially be invited to expand. This vote will occur no later than December 10^th.
7. Following a successful vote and final approval from the Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, a timeline will be provided to that organization’s Inter/National Headquarters for the start of on-campus activities. 
8. The organization will have two calendar years to meet full recognition requirements.
9. The organization will need to provide contact information for alumni/ae advisors and the expansion team at that time.
10. UB will then be considered closed for expansion until the next committee meeting occurs in the following academic year.