National Panhellenic Conference
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Distinguish". Template:DMCA Template:DMCA
Page Module:Infobox/styles.css has no content.
| National Panhellenic Conference | |
|---|---|
| NPC | |
| Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:InfoboxImage/data' not found. | |
| Founded | May 24, 1902 Chicago, Illinois |
| Type | Umbrella |
| Affiliation | Template:Infobox fraternity/affiliation |
| Status | Active |
| Emphasis | Collegiate sororities |
| Scope | North America |
| Colors | Page Template:Legend/styles.css has no content. Kelly green |
| Members | 26 sororities active |
| Former name | National Panhellenic Congress |
| Headquarters | 12730 Meeting House Road, Suite 200 Carmel, Indiana 46032 United States |
| Website | www |
Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".
The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) is an umbrella or trade association for 26 national and international women's sororities throughout the United States and Canada.[1] Panhellenic (Template:Lit) refers to the group's members being autonomous social Greek-letter societies of college women and alumnae.
The National Panhellenic Conference provides guidelines and resources for its members and serves as a national voice on contemporary issues of sorority life. Founded in 1902, the NPC is one of the oldest and largest women's membership organizations, representing more than four million women at over 650 college and university campuses and 4,600 local alumnae chapters in the U.S. and Canada. Each year, NPC-affiliated collegians and alumnae donate more than $5 million to causes, provide $2.8 million in scholarships to women, and volunteer 500,000 hours in their communities.[2]
The organization is a conference, not a congress, as it enacts no legislation and only regulates its own meetings.[3] Other than basic agreements which its member groups must unanimously vote to follow, the NPC confines itself to recommendations and advice and acts as a court of final appeal in any college Panhellenic disputes. One of its services is providing advisors for sororities.
History
Early histories of sororities contain accounts of rushing and pledging agreements or compacts among sororities on various campuses, and many stories of cooperation and mutual assistance. However, no actual Panhellenic organization existed and no uniform practices were observed. The NPC's origin can be traced to 1891, when Kappa Kappa Gamma invited all seven existing sororities to a Boston meeting, with the intention to meet again in 1893.[4]
In 1902, Alpha Phi invited Pi Beta Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Delta Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta, Delta Delta Delta, Alpha Chi Omega, and Chi Omega to a conference in Chicago on May 24 to set standards for collegiate sororities. Alpha Chi Omega and Chi Omega were unable to attend and joined the following year. The remaining seven groups met and the session resulted in the organization of the Inter-Sorority Conference, the first interfraternity association and the first intergroup organization on college campuses.[3] The first few meetings resulted in several mutual agreements, especially regarding pledging. Up to this time, no guidelines had been set, and women could be pledged to groups before enrolling in college and belong to more than one group. It became the National Panhellenic Conference in 1908 and the National Panhellenic Congress in 1911.[3]
Many sororities joined through the next decade, with Alpha Xi Delta in 1904, Alpha Omicron Pi and Sigma Kappa in 1905, Alpha Delta Pi and Alpha Gamma Delta and Zeta Tau Alpha in 1909, Delta Zeta in 1910, Phi Mu in 1911, and Kappa Delta in 1912.[3] No new member organizations were admitted for the next few decades.[3]
Throughout its early years, NPC members were often racially and religiously segregated and rarely admitted Jewish, Catholic, or ethnic minority members, which led to the formation of group-specific sororities which attempted to provide the same social and academic outlets to groups who were otherwise excluded from membership. These groups included the first Black Greek letter organizations.[5]
In 1917, it changed back to the National Panhellenic Conference, only to return to the National Panhellenic Congress name in 1921.[3] By 1922, the NPC had an executive committee consisting of a chairman, secretary, and treasurer; a publicity board; and a delegate board with at least one representative from each of its eighteen senior members.[6] That year, the congress also began plans for a centralized headquarters to coordinate and streamline interactions with the separate sororities.[7]
The Association of Education Sororities (AES) merged with NPC in 1947.[3] Shortly before its merger with the NPC, the AES was part of a larger multi-panhellenic association, the Council of Affiliated Panhellenics. Created in 1941, it included the AES, NPC, and Professional Panhellenic Association as members.[8] At the time of its merger with NPC, AES included six member organizations.[3]
In 1945, NPC returned to its current name of the National Panhellenic Conference.[3] From the 1940s to the 1960s, various smaller organizations merged into larger ones. On some campuses with two different chapters from merged sororities, a third sorority would organize on the campus to absorb the smaller sorority's former chapter.[9] By the end of the 1960s and the civil rights movement, NPC sororities eliminated official policies that prevented minority members from joining,[5] although diversity in Greek life remained an issue.[10][11]
21st century
As of the 2010s, sorority members and outside observers noticed a shift in sorority culture; though sororities began as feminist organizations, emphasis during the mid-1900s on social reputations and exclusionary recruitment policies (such as a refusal to recruit Jewish and African-American women) led to a reputation for following cultural hegemony and being made up of upper-class white women.[12] Though such issues continue to persist in various ways, sorority and anti-sorority women alike observed sororities becoming more ethnically diverse and moving away from traditional power structures towards their feminist roots.[12] In the 2010s, sorority members began attempts to change how sororities work from within.[12]
In November 2015, eight NPC members (Alpha Phi, Alpha Chi Omega, Phi Mu, Alpha Gamma Delta, Sigma Delta Tau, Delta Phi Epsilon, Delta Gamma, and Gamma Phi Beta) broke ranks from the NPC to withdraw their support for the Safe Campus Act, a controversial bill that would have required campus sexual assault victims to report to police and submit to a law enforcement investigation before their school could begin its own investigation.[13]
In 2016, collegiate members began discussing membership offers for transgender women, which was supported by some national organizations with changes to their national policies;[14][15][16] however, some national organizations delayed membership offers for trans women due to fears about Title IX exemption status, which caused dissent in local chapters.[17] Though the NPC created a gender identity study group to examine potential legal consequences, they concluded that the legal precedents were "incomplete, inconclusive, and inconsistent," and did not enact official policy or recommendations.[18]
By 2021, most national organizations had released political statements on racial and social equity and inclusion, while also developing membership policies regarding gender identity. Delta Phi Epsilon developed a policy explicitly open to trans and non-binary individuals,[19] and sororities open to anyone who identifies as a woman include: Alpha Chi Omega,[20] Alpha Delta Pi,[21] Alpha Epsilon Phi,[22] Alpha Sigma Tau,[23] Chi Omega,[24] Delta Gamma,[25] Gamma Phi Beta,[26] Kappa Alpha Theta,[27] Kappa Delta,[28] Kappa Kappa Gamma,[29] Phi Sigma Sigma,[30] Sigma Sigma Sigma,[31] and Theta Phi Alpha.[32] Sororities open to anyone who identifies and lives as a woman include: Alpha Gamma Delta,[33] Alpha Omicron Pi,[34] Alpha Xi Delta,[35] Delta Delta Delta,[36] Pi Beta Phi,[37] Sigma Delta Tau,[38] and Sigma Kappa,[39] while Zeta Tau Alpha specifies that the individual must consistently identify and live as a woman.[40]
Symbols
Panhellenic (Template:Lit) is the Greek word for "All Greek"[41] and was selected to refer to the group's members being autonomous social Greek-letter societies of college women and alumnae.
The National Panhellenic Conference adopted its coat of arms in 1975.[42] It features shield that symbolizes protection.[42] On the shield is a laurel wreath that represents victory and the achievement of NPC ideals.[42] The wreath is pierced by a sword that shows bravery, the "penalty of obligation", and a "willingness to fight for ideals".[42] Above the shield is a lamp that symbolizes enlightenment, leadership, and scholarship.[42] The shield is surrounded by a protective cloak, symbolizing education and the influence of NPC.[42] Below and to the side of the shield is the mantle with the name National Panhellenic Conference.[42] NPC's color is Kelly green.[42]
Affiliate organizations
Current members
Following are the current members of the National Panhellenic Conference.[3][1] Template:Sticky-header
| Sorority | Greek letters | Founding date | Year joined NPC | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Chi Omega | Script error: No such module "Lang". | October 15, 1885 | 1903 | |
| Alpha Delta Pi | Script error: No such module "Lang". | May 15, 1851 | 1909 | |
| Alpha Epsilon Phi | Script error: No such module "Lang". | October 24, 1909 | 1947 (associate), 1951 (full) |
|
| Alpha Gamma Delta | Script error: No such module "Lang". | May 30, 1904 | 1909 | |
| Alpha Omicron Pi | Script error: No such module "Lang". | January 2, 1897 | 1905 | |
| Alpha Phi | Script error: No such module "Lang". | October 10, 1872 | 1902 | |
| Alpha Sigma Alpha | Script error: No such module "Lang". | November 15, 1901 | 1947 (associate), 1951 (full) |
|
| Alpha Sigma Tau | Script error: No such module "Lang". | November 4, 1899 | 1947 (associate), 1951 (full) |
|
| Alpha Xi Delta | Script error: No such module "Lang". | April 17, 1893 | 1904 | |
| Chi Omega | Script error: No such module "Lang". | April 5, 1895 | 1903 | |
| Delta Delta Delta | Script error: No such module "Lang". | November 27, 1888 | 1902 | |
| Delta Gamma | Script error: No such module "Lang". | December 25, 1873 | 1902 | |
| Delta Phi Epsilon | Script error: No such module "Lang". | March 17, 1917 | 1947 (associate), 1951 (full) |
|
| Delta Zeta | Script error: No such module "Lang". | October 24, 1902 | 1910 | |
| Gamma Phi Beta | Script error: No such module "Lang". | November 11, 1874 | 1902 | |
| Kappa Alpha Theta | Script error: No such module "Lang". | January 27, 1870 | 1902 | |
| Kappa Delta | Script error: No such module "Lang". | October 23, 1897 | 1912 | |
| Kappa Kappa Gamma | Script error: No such module "Lang". | October 13, 1870 | 1902 | |
| Phi Mu | Script error: No such module "Lang". | March 4, 1852 | 1911 | |
| Phi Sigma Sigma | Script error: No such module "Lang". | November 26, 1913 | 1947 (associate), 1951 (full) |
|
| Pi Beta Phi | Script error: No such module "Lang". | April 28, 1867 | 1902 | |
| Sigma Delta Tau | Script error: No such module "Lang". | March 25, 1917 | 1947 (associate), 1951 (full) |
|
| Sigma Kappa | Script error: No such module "Lang". | November 9, 1874 | 1905 | |
| Sigma Sigma Sigma | Script error: No such module "Lang". | April 20, 1898 | 1947 (associate), 1951 (full) |
|
| Theta Phi Alpha | Script error: No such module "Lang". | August 30, 1912 | 1947 (associate), 1951 (full) |
|
| Zeta Tau Alpha | Script error: No such module "Lang". | October 15, 1898 | 1909 |
Former members
Following are former members of the National Panhellenic Conference.[43] Template:Sticky-header
| Sorority | Greek letters | Founding date and range | Year joined NPC | Status | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Delta Theta | Script error: No such module "Lang". | November 10, 1919 – August 30, 1939 | 1923 (associate), 1926 (full) |
Merged (Phi Mu) | |
| Beta Phi Alpha | Script error: No such module "Lang". | May 8, 1909 – June 22, 1941 | 1923 | Merged (Delta Zeta) | |
| Beta Sigma Omicron | Script error: No such module "Lang". | December 12, 1888 – August 7, 1964 | 1930 (associate), 1933 (full) |
Merged (Zeta Tau Alpha and Alpha Phi) | |
| Delta Sigma Epsilon | Script error: No such module "Lang". | September 28, 1914 – August 21, 1956 | 1947 (associate), 1951 (full) |
Merged (Delta Zeta) | |
| Iota Alpha Pi | Script error: No such module "Lang". | March 3, 1903 – July 1971 | 1953 (associate), 1957 (full) |
Disbanded | |
| Lambda Omega | Script error: No such module "Lang". | October 31, 1915 – September 1933 | 1930 (associate) | Merged (Theta Upsilon) | |
| Phi Omega Pi | Script error: No such module "Lang". | March 15, 1910 – August 10, 1946 | 1930 (associate), 1933 (full) |
Merged (Delta Zeta) | |
| Pi Kappa Sigma | Script error: No such module "Lang". | November 17, 1894 – May 15, 1959 | 1947 (associate), 1951 (full) |
Merged (Sigma Kappa) | |
| Pi Sigma Gamma | Script error: No such module "Lang". | November 23, 1919 – 1932 | 1930 ? | Merged (Beta Sigma Omicron) | |
| Sigma Phi Beta | Script error: No such module "Lang". | November 1, 1920 – October 1, 1933 | 1928 (associate) | Merged (Phi Omega Pi) | |
| Theta Sigma Upsilon | Script error: No such module "Lang". | March 25, 1921 – June 29, 1959 | 1947 (associate), 1951 (full) |
Merged (Alpha Gamma Delta) | |
| Theta Upsilon | Script error: No such module "Lang". | January 1, 1914 – May 6, 1962 | 1923 (associate), 1928 (full) |
Merged (Delta Zeta) |
Governance
Throughout its history the NPC Executive Board has been led by a chairman.[44] In 2018 the NPC Board of Directors voted to change its governance model. As of 2021, members rotate onto the board in the order their organization joined the NPC, but the chairman is now elected.[45]
A Panhellenic Council consists of executive board members at each university or college. Each institution holds different executive positions based on its size and the NPC's relationship with it. The basic positions at each institution are president, vice president of communications, vice president of finance, vice president of philanthropy and community service, vice president of programming, vice president of recruitment, vice president of scholarship, and vice president of judicial.[46] The number of positions is based on the number of NPC sororities at each institution. Along with the delegates each being a representative from their sorority, the executive board includes a member from each sorority as well.
See also
References
Page Template:Reflist/styles.css has no content.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Our Member Organizations". National Panhellenic Conference. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."National Panhellenic Conference". National Panhellenic Conference. Archived from the original on January 26, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Manual of Information" (PDF). National Panhellenic Conference (23rd ed.). January 2018. pp. 9–10. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."CPC History - Valdosta State University". www.valdosta.edu. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Hughey, Matthew W. (November 1, 2010). "A Paradox of Participation: Nonwhites in White Sororities and Fraternities". Social Problems. 57 (4): 653–679. doi:10.1525/sp.2010.57.4.653. ISSN 0037-7791.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Banta's Greek Exchange: Published in the Interest of the College Fraternity World. George Banta Company. 1922. p. 260.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Banta's Greek Exchange: Published in the Interest of the College Fraternity World. George Banta Company. 1922. p. 219.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Mansell, Edith L. (October 1945). "The Report on the Association of Education Sororities". The Anchor. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."On National Teacher Appreciation Day: SIUC and the AES / NPC Merger - Fraternity History & More". Fraternity History & More. May 7, 2013. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Grasgreen, Allie (September 13, 2013). "Segregated sororities not limited to Alabama, experts say". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Chang, Clio (February 25, 2015). "Sorority Segregation Is a Serious Issue". US News. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Bennett, Jessica (April 9, 2016). "When a Feminist Pledges a Sorority". The New York Times. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Kingkade, Tyler (November 13, 2015). "Several Sororities Back Away From Safe Campus Act". Huffington Post. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Milbourn, Annie. "Sorority opens to transgender pledges". The Crimson White. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Panhellenic Encouraging Transgender Women to Join Sororities – KUJH-TV". tv.ku.edu. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Panhellenic Association encourages discussions about transgender membership - Indiana Daily Student". www.idsnews.com. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Sorority Members Walk Out When Told to 'Hold Off' on Transgender Member". ABC News. November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Appendix C: Overview of the legal considerations". NPC Gender Identity Study Group (PDF). Indianapolis: National Panhellenic Conference. 2017. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 8, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Delta Phi Epsilon | Delta Phi Epsilon Trans Woman and Non-Binary Gender Policy". Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Weiss, Suzannah (March 14, 2017). "U.S. Sorority Accepts Trans Women Nationwide for the First Time". Glamour. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Inclusion in Alpha Delta Pi". Alpha Delta Pi. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Staff, Emerson Today (September 20, 2017). "With National Policy Move, All Emerson Sororities Officially Inclusive". Emerson Today. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Membership Eligibility". Alpha Sigma Tau. January 13, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Chi Omega and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion". Chi Omega. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Our Story". Delta Gamma. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Meet Gamma Phi Beta". Gamma Phi Beta. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Recruitment Information". Kappa Alpha Theta. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Join KD". Kappa Delta Sorority. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Position Statement". Kappa Kappa Gamma. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Our Expectations". Phi Sigma Sigma. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Policies and Position Statements" (PDF). Tri Sigma.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Trans Inclusion". Theta Phi Alpha. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Why Join Alpha Gam?". Alpha Gamma Delta. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.ALPHA OMICRON PI. "Book of Policies, Policy 9 – Diversity Policy" (PDF).
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Policies". Alpha Xi Delta. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Our Commitment to Kindness". Tri Delta. February 18, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Join Pi Phi". Pi Beta Phi Fraternity For Women. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."FAQ". Sigma Delta Tau. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Membership Responsibilities". Sigma Kappa. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Membership Policy Update". Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The Difference between NPC Sororities, Cultural Sororities, and NPHC Sororities | Fraternity & Sorority Life". University of California, Merced. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Manual of Information (PDF) (23 ed.). National Panhellenic Conference. January 2018. pp. 12–13. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 18, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Becque, Fran (March 2, 2015). "NPC Organizations That No Longer Exist; A Reflection on International Badge Day - Fraternity History & More". Fraternity History & More. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
- ^ Adventure in Friendship pp. 4, 12
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."NPC Manual of Information, 21st Edition (2021)" (PDF). National Panhellenic Conference. p. 7. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Panhellenic Position Descriptions". Virginia Tech Panhellenic. September 30, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Navbox/configuration' not found. Template:Greek Umbrella Organizations Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Authority control/config' not found.
