How is it February already? I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday season and time with their loved ones. We are well into the spring semester now, and recruitment on our campuses is well underway. This spring, our marketing coaches are working with more than 70 campuses with a goal to increase recruitment registration. This work is mid-way through the cycle, with coaching starting back in early December and running through each school's Bid Day (happening through the end of February). We look forward to sharing updates and results with the NPC family once Release Figure Methodology (RFM) are finalized in late spring, with a full webinar for semester results in early April. We wish all of our campuses a successful recruitment season!
Just a few weeks ago, the National Panhellenic Conference hosted our annual College Panhellenic Academy weekend, during which nearly 300 College Panhellenic officers and fraternity/sorority advisors met in Indianapolis to enhance their knowledge of College Panhellenic operations and how they can continue to grow their communities. While there, they also participated in a case study competition featuring a fictionalized campus with a College Panhellenic in crisis, learned from a keynote speaker about resiliency and continued to develop their leadership skills. The feedback was positive; as one woman put it: “My biggest takeaway is that by having consistency and structure within my Panhellenic organization, I can excel in my position and create strong relationships with the other members of the Panhellenic community.” If you weren’t able to join us this year, we hope to see your campus participate next January.
As we look ahead to warmer weather, new leaves on the trees and flowers blooming, there are a few dates we want to highlight as well. As you may know, February is the Month of the Scholar. We love hearing your stories of scholarship and academic achievements, for yourselves as individuals and your chapters as a whole. Don’t miss your opportunity to be featured on NPC social platforms - send us your stories! Emma Austin, marketing specialist, is looking forward to featuring your stories of sorority scholars, so send them her way: emmaaustin@npcwomen.org.
March is Women’s History Month. What better way to celebrate women than to wear your badge on International Badge Day, which is Monday, March 4, 2024! This is one of my favorite events, as all sorority members throughout the world, collegiate and alumnae, wear their badges and show their pride in our shared sisterhood. Hopefully the wearing of your badge sparks a conversation with someone not familiar with sorority life and provides an opportunity for you to share more about the benefits of membership. NPC will be distributing a toolkit for member organizations to use in promoting and amplifying the message as well.
Also, don’t miss the deadline for applying for an NPC Foundation scholarship; it’s March 10th. They will award five scholarships to outstanding Panhellenic women for the 2024-25 academic year. To apply, all you need to do is answer a brief essay question, upload your resume and provide two letters of recommendation. You can submit your materials through the NPC Foundation scholarship application. Good luck!
Lastly, in April, many of our Alumnae Panhellenics will be hosting their annual scholarship luncheons, when they will recognize women in their area for their academic achievements and pursuits. These events are one of the hallmarks of our Alumnae Panhellenic programming and provides our members with another way to continue to demonstrate their commitment to the sorority experience and our future women leaders. Thank you to all the alumnae who work tirelessly to fundraise, review scholarships and organize events to recognize our collegiate members.
For those of you graduating this spring, we want you to remember that your membership in your organization is for a lifetime. I encourage you to seek out an alumnae chapter once you’re settled in wherever your post-graduate endeavors take you. If there isn’t one in your area, maybe you start one! Reach out to your national headquarters and they will gladly help you get connected. I would also encourage you to explore opportunities for continued leadership and service in a volunteer capacity both within your member organization or within the National Panhellenic Conference.
We’re always looking for good women who want to give back to our College Panhellenics to further this experience for more young women. And if none of those opportunities seem to fit your life right now, getting together with chapter sisters, reading your magazine and supporting your collegiate chapter are also great ways to remain connected. Regardless of the path you choose, the most important part is that you stay involved. I often hear women say, “I was in a sorority when I was in college." You ARE a sorority woman, even after college! Who knows, maybe you’ll be a future national president of your member organization or serve on the NPC Board of Directors! There are so many opportunities just waiting for you.
Wishing you all a wonderful semester!
Kelly Beck
2023-25 NPC chair
