The three organizations vying for a spot in the Greek community will each host an informative presentation for the 10 Panhellenic sororities this week. Alpha Phi, Delta Zeta and Gamma Phi Beta will visit today, Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, to host their programs and tour the campus.
All presentations are closed and will be conducted in a location that could not be disclosed due to privacy concerns, said Hannah Munsch, Panhellenic president.
James Parker, assistant dean of Campus Life, said the Panhellenic council needs to find a good institutional fit and an organization that will foster giving back and becoming leaders in both the TCU and Fort Worth communities.
Alpha Phi, a fraternal organization founded in 1872, has the Gamma Eta chapter at the University of North Texas.
A positive history and success at other universities, especially in Texas, are factors that were listed on the feedback form used by the Panhellenic extension committee to select the final candidates.
Delta Zeta, founded in 1902, has tenets of both academic achievement and leadership. The Iota Psi chapter at the University of Texas at Arlington attends leadership retreats for its university, a leadership conference for its chapter and encourages members to be leaders involved in two on-campus organizations, Ashley Wilson, UTA Delta Zeta president said.
The Delta Zeta women are also heavily represented in a freshman mentoring program coined “UTA Hosts,” Wilson said.
“The national chapter is very actively engaged in their academic standing, and we regularly provide information to them,” said Seth Ressl, assistant director for Greek life and university events at UTA.
Chapter scholarship standards were one of the criteria reviewed by the Panhellenic extension committee in selecting the three finalists as well as providing leadership development, which was listed on the feedback form under internal chapter operations.
“We look for accountable, responsible girls who also have a religious background because we are a Christian-based organization,” Wilson said.
Although no specific faith is required to be a member of Delta Zeta, the fact that TCU is also a Christian-based institution could fulfill part of the common heritage element outlined by the Panhellenic extension committee.
In the Feb. 24 Panhellenic meeting, Panhellenic extension committee president Clare Edwards said the committee will look for universities most like TCU.
The only small-to-medium sized private university in the area that has any of the three sororities giving presentations to the Panhellenic council is Southern Methodist University.
At a 2006 international convention, the Alpha Xi chapter of Gamma Phi Beta at SMU won numerous awards.
Patricia Crowley, executive director of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, said the E. Adeline Curtis Award recognizes strong sisterhood and that an honorable mention should be viewed with great pride.
A developed philanthropy and community service program were considered in choosing potential candidates, as outlined in the feedback form for the extension committee.
Crowley said the national sorority has an expectation that each of its chapters participate in their philanthropy as part of membership, and that they should also be active in their community locally and within their universities.
Shannon Sumerlin, coordinator of student activities and Greek affairs at SMU was unable to comment on the Alpha Xi chapter or anything pertaining to the possible sorority acceptance to TCU.
Parker said each of the 10 current sororities will get one vote, in which they will rank the organizations in preferential order.
The vote will take place Feb. 28 at the Panhellenic meeting, and the final decision will be announced March 8.