Expansion
Overview & Timeline
The Fraternity seeks out expansion opportunities across North America and will expand at an institution if we are confident that we can become a leading organization on campus in the areas of scholarship, community service, and campus involvement. Phi Gamma Delta has determined three keys to the success of any expansion process that must be in place to consider an institution for expansion:
- Overall academic reputation of the university
- Strong local graduate and volunteer support
- Healthy and supportive Greek community
Whether you are a campus administrator, campus leader, or potential recruit interested in starting a fraternity on your campus, we invite you to explore Phi Gamma Delta and its expansion plans and policies to determine if it is the right fit for your campus or your future. If you have any questions or comments, contact us at phigam@phigam.org or 859-255-1848.
Campus Recommendations
Phi Gamma Delta conducts a recommendation-based expansion program. Quality men are not identified or attracted by gimmicks. We believe that the faculty, staff, campus leaders, students, and local graduate brothers can best help us identify men who meet our high standards.
We conduct meetings and presentations with all of the groups listed above and ask them to recommend men whom they feel exemplify the qualities of the “Fiji Gentleman,” devoting their college lives to friendship, scholarship, leadership, and service to the community.
Expansion Staff
The fraternity employs two full-time brothers to oversee all phases of the Fraternity's expansion process. Aside from managing relations with new host institutions, the Director of Fraternity Growth and Director of Chapter Services - East/West are responsible for:
- Coordinating the recruitment of provisional chapter members during the establishment process
- Coordinating the recruitment of graduate brothers to support the provisional chapters
- Prospecting for new expansion opportunities
Phi Gamma Delta also devotes a minimum of two International Headquarters staff members to each expansion effort. Trained specifically on successful expansion techniques, these two men typically spend seven weeks on campus conducting the expansion effort.
Expansion Timeline
- Individual meetings with a wide variety of university community members
- Presentations to Greek councils, other chapters, and campus organizations
- Gather recommendations and begin initial contact with prospects
- Informational meetings for interested students
- Interview prospects
- Attend council meetings
- Group recruitment events
- Recruitment interviews continue
- Continue group recruitment events
- Extend invitations to join Phi Gamma Delta
- Founding Fathers of provisional chapter formally pledged
- Goal setting, team building retreat for all new provisional chapter members
- Ken Blanchard Leadership facilitated to all members and interested IFC men
- ASAP risk management and Social Strengths sexual assault prevention training for all members and interested IFC men
- First provisional chapter meeting and new member education begins (taught by a graduate brother)
- Elections for 5 officer positions and slating for remaining committee chairmen
- Orientation and training for officers and committee chairmen
- Graduate advisor and mentor introductions for all leaders
- Evening with the Phi Gams Campus Reception
- Second provisional chapter meeting and new member education (taught by a graduate brother)
Expansion Projects
Current Expansions
If you have any recommendations of men attending one of these institutions, contact the Director of Fraternity Growth.
Spring 2023
- Re-Expansion (began fall 2022)
- Location: Ithaca, NY
- Re-Expansion
- Location: Gettysburg, PA
Future Expansions
If you have any recommendations of men attending one of these institutions, or if you would like to obtain more information about one of these expansion projections, contact the Director of Fraternity Growth.
Fall 2023
- Re-Expansion
- Location:Charleston, SC
- IFC Fraternities: 11
- Undergraduate Enrollment: ~9,100
- Re-Expansion
- Location: Lubbock, TX
- IFC Fraternities: 22
- Undergraduate Enrollment: ~32,400
Spring 2024
- Re-Expansion
- Location: Miami, FL
- IFC Fraternities: 14
- Undergraduate Enrollment: ~41,200
- Re-Expansion
- Location: Gainesville, FL
- IFC Fraternities: 25
- Undergraduate Enrollment: ~34,200
- Re-Expansion
- Location: Morgantown, WV
- IFC Fraternities: 17
- Undergraduate Enrollment: ~19,600
Past Expansion Success Stories
- George Washington University: This expansion completed in spring 2022 with 13 Founding Fathers. Members are involved in a variety of campus organizations including orientation leaders, student activist organizations, College Democrats/Republications and the IFC, to name a few.
- University of Vermont: This re-expansion project finished in November 2022. Founding Fathers are heavily involved in club sports, Engineering Without Borders, American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics, University of Vermont CChababand more. Members also have a cumulative 3.2 GPA.
- University of Wyoming: The expansion completed in November 2022. Each member of the new provisional chapter is involved in at least one other campus organization, and they have a cumulative 3.9 GPA.
- California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo: The expansion ended in spring 2021 with 16 Founding Fathers. Members recently participated in Alpha Phi Sorority’s Hoops for Hearts philanthropy within weeks of accepting bids.
- Texas A & M University Corpus Christi: This expansion finalized in fall 2021 with 16 men, whose majors include business administration, kinesiologyand several engineering fields. The Founding Fathers have also participated in Greek Week and other local philanthropy and service events.
- University of Memphis: This re-expansion ended in fall 2021 with nine Founding Fathers, who had a collective 3.42 GPA during the fall 2020 semester. There are two military veterans in the Provisional Chapter: President Hollis Abner and Thomas Thompson. Members are involved in several campus organizations, including marching band, Tiger Elite, Weeks of Welcome, Honors College, Emerging Scholars and Orientation Guides.
- Seton Hall University: The expansion finished in spring 2020 with 60 men, who have a collective 3.1 GPA. The Founding Fathers are from nine states and are members of 20 organizations on campus.
- Christopher Newport University: This expansion ended in spring 2019 with 27 Founding Fathers, who have a collective 3.08 GPA.
- Loyola University New Orleans: The expansion completed in fall 2019 with 24 men, who have a collective 3.11 GPA.
- University of Wisconsin Oshkosh: The expansion finalized in fall 2019 with 7 men, who have a collective 3.63 GPA. The Founding Fathers are members of the Oshkosh Student Association, Computer Science Club, University Police Department, and Party.0 (a sober party initiative), to name a few.
- George Mason University: Phi Gamma Delta completed the expansion in fall 2018 with 33 men, who have a collective 3.4 GPA. The Founding Fathers are from every continent, excluding Antarctica, and they are involved in over 20 club and organizations.
- Kent State University: Phi Gamma Delta recruited 14 Founding Fathers by the re-expansion's completion in spring 2018. Members are involved in a variety of campus organizations, including campus mentors, Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity and Alpha Rho Chi Architecture Fraternity, to name a few. The Provisional Chapter was also #1 in IFC grades, with a collective 3.24 GPA.
- University of Colorado Boulder: Phi Gamma Delta finished the re-expansion in spring 2018 with 40 men, who had a collective 3.25 GPA.
- University of Missouri Kansas City: Phi Gamma Delta ended the expansion in fall 2018 with 23 Founding Fathers. Members are involved in 26 student organizations and have a collective 3.63 GPA.
- University of Nevada Reno: The expansion completed in fall 2018 with 20 Founding Fathers, who have a collective 3.1 GPA.
Campus Testimonials
Letters from Campus Greek Advisors:
Re-Establishment FAQs
The below guide is designed to answer graduate brothers' frequently asked questions on the re-establishment process.
Phi Gamma Delta seeks to re-establish chapters if we feel there is strong local graduate support, a supportive Greek community and a healthy university environment. The decision has been carefully considered and approved by the Archons.
Once Phi Gamma Delta sees potential for a successful return, the process is a result of months (or sometimes years) of staff preparation. This involves a written application to the university explaining Phi Gamma Delta’s history, vision and commitment to adding value to the community. It also involves at least one site visit to conduct a presentation and meetings with various administration, undergraduate leaders and Greek affairs staff.
Phi Gamma Delta sends two staff members to campus for seven (or more) weeks for a dynamic recruitment process. Graduate brothers are encouraged to send us referrals and will receive follow-up throughout the process. More information can be found here.
We are able to bid and retain higher quality men with this extended recruitment process. The process also helps model how we expect our undergraduates to recruit well beyond “formal rush” after the provisional chapter is established.
The chartering process typically takes approximately 12-18 months for any provisional chapter. This is designed to give the provisional chapter more staff support and direction, as they show sustainability in scholarship, recruitment, campus engagement and finances/administration. We refer to these as the Four Points of the Diamond.
The provisional chapter as a whole receives additional benefit from this model, as the detailed establishment process is the best way of ensuring their long-term sustainability. It is a luxury for undergraduates and graduates to receive the additional staff support, coaching and direction that the road to chartering presents.
All provisional chapter new members receive Purple Pilgrims and complete new education with a trained graduate brother or staff member culminating with initiation into the provisional chapter that semester. Staff teach the men a provisional chapter ritual that allows for purposeful meetings, while withholding chapter ritual until the chartering. The provisional chapter recruits new member classes in subsequent semesters with guidance from staff and graduate brothers. At chartering, all provisional chapter brothers (including upperclassmen who have since graduated) are initiated into the chapter.
As much as you allow it to. Undergraduates come into Phi Gamma Delta excited for the opportunity to meet graduate brothers and create a positive change on their campus. The provisional chapter/chapter distinction does not hinder their experience unless graduate brothers excessively reference it.
To learn more about Phi Gamma Delta's Building Courageous Leaders initiative, click here. To attend events or learn about advising opportunities, email our Director of Fraternity Growth.
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