How Do I Start a New Chapter?

1. National Fraternity
2. Undergraduate Interest      
3. Alumni
4. University

National Fraternity

When determining the next institution at which Delta Sigma Phi will expand, the Headquarters staff uses a formula called the PESR (Predicted Expansion Success Rate) to determine if the University would be a good site for Expansion. The PESR considers such factors as the academic caliber of the students, strength of the current Greek community and University support of the Greek community. If the University scores 70% or more the Director of Expansion will start to cultivate a relationship with that University. If the University does not meet the 70% criteria the likelihood that the colony would fail is probable. Therefore the fraternity is not willing to expand at this time.

As the years progress the status of the Fraternity and Sorority community might improve, and the fraternity will examine the dormant chapter. Some universities have prohibited the Fraternity from returning for a specific time period due to risk management violations. In these instances, the Fraternity will work to return when the university deems it is appropriate. Currently, Delta Sigma Phi is not looking to return to dormant chapters where the Fraternity have had recent risk management violations. Delta Sigma Phi wishes to contribute positive new colonies to the Fraternity community to enhance Fraternity and Sorority Communities across the country.

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Undergraduate Interest

If a student or group of students would like to start a chapter of Delta Sigma Phi, they should look over the Compass. It requires that each group fill out an Interest Group Packet and send all materials to the Director of Expansion. The following materials are:

The Petition for Colony Status

Group Requirements
Interest groups and Local Fraternities desiring affiliation with Delta Sigma Phi should meet the following requirements to be considered for colony status:

• The group must have at least 20 members
• The cumulative GPA of the interest group must be equal to or above the all-men’s grade point average. (You can receive this figure from the Campus Registrar’s Office) For campuses that do not calculate an all men’s grade point average, the standard shall be 2.8.
• Each member must have a cumulative 2.5 GPA or a 3.0 from the previous academic term. First semester freshmen must have had a 3.0/4.0 cumulative GPA in high school.
• The interest group must complete and sign the Interest Group Application Form and include un/official transcripts for each of the members.
• Must have a letter of support from campus Greek Advisor.

Interest Group Packets
Please provide a typed and bound Petition for Colony Status with the following:

• What is your Group’s Mission Statement?
• What are your Group’s goals as a Chapter of Delta Sigma Phi?
• Why is your Group interested in becoming a Colony, and then a Chapter, of Delta Sigma Phi?
• Provide a Letter of Recommendation from your Greek Advisor for Colony Status in Delta Sigma Phi.
• Provide college transcripts for each member
• Provide individual member requirements for each member (see below)
• Please provide documentation from your Greek Advisor stating your School’s Expansion Policy.

Individual Requirements for Each Member
Typed on a sheet of paper, have each member provide the following (to be included in the bound Petition for Colony Status) with the member’s signature:

• Name
• Address
• Phone Number
• Email Address
• College/University
• Undergraduate Status
• Major/Minor
• Projected Graduation Date
• Have you ever been affiliated with a fraternity (inter/national or local) either through pledging or initiation?  If so, please describe, and include the month and year of pledging and/or initiation.
• Please list all High School Activities, if you are a freshman or sophomore (Please list High School, City, and State).
• Please discuss your College Activities.
• Please discuss your Community Involvement.
• Please discuss your Personal Goals with Membership in Delta Sigma Phi.

Local Fraternities
Please provide a typed and bound Petition for Colony Status with the following:

• What is your Group’s Mission Statement?
• What are your Group’s goals as a Chapter of Delta Sigma Phi?
• Why is your Group interested in becoming a Colony, and then a Chapter, of Delta Sigma Phi?
• Provide a Letter of Recommendation from your Greek Advisor for Colony Status in Delta Sigma Phi.
• Provide college transcripts for each member
• Provide individual member requirements for each member
• Does your Group have a group/chapter advisor?  If so, please provide his/her name and contact information.
• Please provide a Letter of Recommendation from your Greek Advisor for Colony Status in Delta Sigma Phi.
• Please provide a letter from your College/University and/or bank describing your Group’s financial solvency.
• Please provide a Grade Report of your Group for the previous 2 years (or length of the Group’s existence).
• Please provide a Membership Report of your Group for the previous 2 years (or length of the Group’s existence).
• Please provide a Risk Management Record for the previous 3 years (or length of the Group’s existence).
• Please provide documentation from your Greek Advisor stating your School’s Expansion Policy.

Individual Requirements for Each Member
Typed on a sheet of paper, have each member provide the following (to be included in the bound Petition for Colony Status) with the member’s signature:

• Name
• Address
• Phone Number
• Email Address
• College/University
• Undergraduate Status
• Major/Minor
• Projected Graduation Date
• Have you ever been affiliated with a fraternity (inter/national or local) either through pledging or initiation?  If so, please describe, and include the month and year of pledging and/or initiation.
• Please list all High School Activities, if you are a freshman or sophomore (Please list High School, City, and State).
• Please discuss your College Activities.
• Please discuss your Community Involvement.
• Please discuss your Personal Goals with Membership in Delta Sigma Phi.

Upon meeting the above basic criteria, please submit your Petition for Colony Status according to the requirements set forth.  It is your chance to sell your group to Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity Headquarters.  Please be thorough and provide the necessary documentation.  You may include any additional items you deem necessary.  If you have any questions, or feel that a particular requirement may not be relevant, please contact our Headquarters at 317-634-1899 and ask for clarification. 

Delta Sigma Phi encourages Undergraduates and Interest Group Leaders wishing to be affiliated with Delta Sigma Phi to send all requests by mail to Delta Sigma Phi Headquarters.

Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity National Headquarters
Attn: Expansion Director
 1331 N Delaware
Indianapolis, IN 46202

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Alumni Volunteers

If you are interested in volunteering to assist the Headquarters staff in re-colonizing your undergraduate chapter you can do any of the following:

• Recruit other alumni in the surrounding area of the University and re-establish the Alumni Corporation Board (if one does not exist).
• Volunteer as a liaison between the University and the Headquarters Staff. Duties of this position would include meeting with the Greek Advisor to discuss the current condition of the Greek Community, and working with the Headquarters Staff to cultivate alumni to volunteer to serve on the ACB.

The Headquarters Staff is currently scheduling Expansion projects for the next several years, and has many schools in mind. The Fraternity uses a top 50 list as a direction for re-colonizing; however, as opportunities present themselves a school not on the list may be slotted for a re-colonization. In order to return to a University it can take anywhere from one to five years to gain the approval of the University. This can be as easy as requesting an Expansion date from the University to proposing to an Expansion committee and being selected by the University. The most important criteria that the Expansion committee�s look at is the number of alumni that are willing to volunteer and assist the new colony. If you would like to work with the Headquarters Staff in re-colonizing your undergraduate chapter, feel free to contact us at expansion@deltasig.org.

There are many different ways to "Pay the Debt" and give back to the Fraternity after college. The two main ways to give back are by either financial contributions or volunteering your time. While financial contributions are important, in the initial stages of starting a colony, alumni that can volunteer their time is crucial to helping a colony get started.  

There are also many ways to volunteer your time. You can volunteer as a local Alumni Corporation Board (ACB) member, alumni advisor, regional commissioner, or by starting your own Alumni Chapter in your residing city.

As you can see there are many different opportunities to volunteer your time as an Alumni member of Delta Sigma Phi. For more information on volunteer opportunities, please click on the following links and you will be redirected to the appropriate site or be able to fill out the proper form and submit it electronically:

Contributing Financially

What it takes to start an Alumni Corporation Board

Becoming a Member or Alumni Advisor on the Alumni Corporation Board

Becoming a Regional Commissioner

Starting your own Alumni Chapter

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University

If you are University Faculty or a member of an Expansion Exploratory Committee and your campus is currently accepting expansion applications, our Expansion Team would be happy to send you a detailed proposal of our programs and support we offer to our chapters and colonies. Delta Sigma Phi is committed to making a great addition to your Greek Community. Please send us an email and our Director of Expansion will contact you to discuss the possibility of bringing Delta Sigma Phi to your institution. We look forward to working with you and your Fraternity and Sorority Life Community!

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