Expansion Procedures 2021-2022 Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life (OFSL) Division of Student Affairs - St. John's University
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Expansion Procedures
2021-2022
Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life (OFSL)
Division of Student AffairsNote on Reactivation at St. John’s
If your organization has been active at St. John's within the last four semesters and left campus
due to membership numbers, please see the Membership Reactivation Guidelines.
Introduction
Expansion involves inviting national and international fraternities and sororities to establish
chapters on our campus, and is encouraged when a need exists and is recommended by the
Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life and its governing councils (this policy does not include the
process for the Panhellenic Council).
Important Notice: Inter/national fraternity and sorority headquarters or members may not
solicit, recruit, or initiate St. John’s University students without the expressed consent of the St.
John's University administration. In order to ensure the safety and well-being of our students, St.
John's University does not permit students of the University to be initiated or to join any
fraternal organization that is not established and recognized by the Division of Student Affairs
and Student Government, Incorporated.
Organizations may not use the St. John’s name or facilities unless permission has been granted
by OFSL. This policy is in place to ensure that all fraternal organizations on campus are
approved and following all standards and expectations of the University. Failure to follow this
basic rule will result in a moratorium on the group’s eligibility to expand for a time to be
determined by the administration (no less than two years.)
Criteria for Expansion Consideration
Organizations applying for recognition at St. John’s University are evaluated primarily upon the
following criteria:
1. Level of support, advisement, and partnership from the Inter/National Office
2. Interest as shown through the number of prospective members
3. Alignment of organization’s mission and values with St. John’s Core Values and Mission
4. Number of fraternity and sorority chapters on campus
5. University enrollment trends
To be considered, organizations must be in a (n) (inter)national umbrella organization
[NALFO/NAPA/NIC/NPHC/NPC] OR have at least 20 chapters.
Application Format
All applications must be complied into a single document, including all information
requested by the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life. Additionally, each application
document must be formatted in the following order:
OFSL Expansion Procedures Updated 2021 Page 21) Inter/national Headquarters Values, Policies and Publications
a. Structure
i. Description of the organizational values and founding principles
ii. Summary of the organizational structure at the chapter and inter/national levels
iii. Constitution (inter/national and local if applicable)
iv. Minimal expectations of colony for existence and chartering
v. Financial obligations of members
vi. Inter/national magazine/publications ( if applicable)
b. Policies and Programs:
i. Risk Management Policy
ii. Alcohol and Substance Abuse Policy and Program
iii. Anti-Hazing Policy
iv. Membership Anti-Discrimination Policy
v. Recruitment/Membership Intake Policy and Program
vi. Membership Education Policy and Program (New Member Education
Program)
1. Please include detailed plan of New Member Program, including all
activities; example calendar of events; expectations for new members
and initiated members; HQ’s role in NME; alumni participation, etc.
vii. Scholarship Programs and Policy
viii. Sexual Assault Policy
2) St. John's University History & Alumni Information
a. Total number of initiated members in the organization
b. Total number of alumni in Queens, Manhattan, and Long Island
c. Statement of interest and support of the alumni in establishing a chapter
d. A list of specific alumni who are interested in working with the chapter in an
advisory capacity
e. Nearest graduate chapter/alumni club/organization
f. If a group is returning to campus, describe the following:
i. Reasons why the chapter became inactive on campus, and when
ii. How the issue(s) involved have been addressed
iii. How the group has cleared any debts or circumstances still incomplete from
when previously on campus
iv. A statement explaining why the chapter went inactive on campus and how
HQ plans to prevent this from happening again.
3) Chapter Development
Please provide the following for three specific time periods: during colonization, for the first
two years after chartering, and in five to ten years:
a. Membership goals (numbers, GPA)
OFSL Expansion Procedures Updated 2021 Page 3b. Community interaction and service projects
c. Campus Involvement
d. Programming initiatives (educational/cultural/faculty)
e. Chapter & Alumni Board finances
f. Fundraising Efforts
g. Impact on FSL and St. John’s communities
4) Membership Development
a. Please provide educational efforts on the following:
i. Alcohol and Other Drugs
ii. Anti-Hazing
iii. Leadership Development
iv. New Member Education/Development
v. Officer Transition Program
vi. Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness
5) Information on Inter/National Strength
a. Total number of chapters and colonies in the organization
b. Total number of chapters and colonies in New York State and bordering states
c. Total number colonies during the past five (5) years
d. Total number of chapters receiving charters during the past five (5) years
i. Explanation of why colonies did not become chapters
e. Locations and total number of colonization’s anticipated in the next calendar year
f. Total number of chapters closed and/or suspended during the last five (5) years,
including where, when, and why
g. Average size of chapters on campuses
6) Additional Information
a. A copy of the organization’s insurance certificate (minimum $1,000,000 coverage
with St. John’s listed as additional insured)
b. Letter of intent from the inter/national Headquarters Expansion Chairperson
c. A list of all interested students (if applicable) including Name, Class Status and GPA
All items above, plus any additional information should be compiled and saved as one PDF
document and emailed to the Expansion Committee Chair. Please make sure that all information
in the application packet are clearly labeled and organized.
Nicole Torres
Director of Fraternity & Sorority Life and Community Development
TorresN@stjohns.edu
OFSL Expansion Procedures Updated 2021 Page 4Expansion Request Process
Expansion Timeline (approximate time frame; subject to change)
• January 31, 2022: Deadline for all applications. All packets by petitioning organizations must
be submitted and complete in the format outlined. Incomplete packets will not be considered.
• February: The Expansion Committee meets to review applications and select candidates for
presentations and campus visits.
• March: Presentations and Campus Visits. Virtual options will be available.
• April: The Expansion Committee meets to recommend to OFSL which organization(s) to bring
to campus. OFSL reserves the right to decline consideration of a group for any reason, and the
decision is final.
• May: Once expansion is approved by OFSL and the Expansion Committee, all Student
Government, Inc. recognition procedures and requirements must be fulfilled. The organization
must submit a “Power to Organize” form; a copy of their constitution and bylaws, and a list of
undergraduate members/interests to Student Government, Inc. SGI will consider the
organization for recognition and make the final decision.
Statement on Interest Groups
If an inter/national organization is eligible for expansion (no previous restrictions from policy
breaches), it may hold two general meetings in order to build interest on campus, as well as see
which students may want to be a part of their organization if they expand to our University. Any
meetings of this kind MUST be coordinated by a designated national officer and NOT an
interested student on campus. Also, it must be clearly stated at the meeting that there is no
guarantee that because there is an interest that the organization will be approved to expand on
campus. This designated group of interests is prohibited to act as an organization affiliated with
the national fraternity or sorority, and will not be recognized as a student organization at St.
John's University or engage in any activities restricted to recognized fraternities/sororities. There
are to be no officers of the group, or events held in the group’s name. Any initiation or new
member education of members of the group interests violates the expansion policy and subjects
the national organization to a minimum of two years of ineligibility to expand at St.
John's University. Organizations may not use the St. John’s name or facilities unless permission
has been granted by OFSL.
OFSL Expansion Procedures Updated 2021 Page 5You can also read
