ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s Panhellenic Council has selected Delta Delta Delta to colonize in fall 2016. Tri Delta will join the existing five National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sororities on campus: Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Omicron Pi, Chi Omega, Phi Mu and Zeta Tau Alpha, and associate member Delta Xi Phi Multicultural Sorority Inc.
Samford’s sorority community has grown exponentially over the last five years along with increased undergraduate student enrollment, according to Renie Moss, assistant vice president for student life. The average sorority chapter membership in 2010 was 140 women compared to the present average of 224 women per chapter. The desire to provide additional sorority opportunities to women seeking membership was endorsed by Samford’s Panhellenic Council in spring 2015 by unanimous vote.
“Tri Delta is a perfect fit for Samford’s community as they bring fresh ideas, authentic sisterhood and unique programming. The search committee was blown away by their campus presentation, and we are excited to share our enthusiasm in welcoming them to campus to colonize in fall 2016,” said Savannah Newman, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøPanhellenic president.
Delta Delta Delta was chosen to colonize at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøfollowing the recommendation of the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøPanhellenic Extension Committee, comprised of current sorority student leaders, university staff and alumnae advisers to Samford’s current Panhellenic sororities. The selection came after three NPC sororities were invited to make campus presentations in October.
The Extension Committee’s recommendation to invite Tri Delta was unanimously endorsed by the Panhellenic Council, and approved by Samford’s Vice President for Student Affairs Phil Kimrey and President Andrew Westmoreland this week.
“Tri Delta is thrilled to be joining the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø community,” said Phyllis Grissom, Tri Delta national president. “ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøand Tri Delta share a passion for education based on values. We are committed to bringing the Tri Delta experience to campus, where our members will truly live, learn and lead with a purpose.”
Tri Delta at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøwill be the Epsilon Xi chapter. ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøwill be 137th chapter to colonize in the United States, joining 29 other chapters in the Southeast.
Staff and volunteers from Tri Delta will return to ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøthroughout the remainder of the 2015–16 year to begin plans for colonization, according to Julie Fletcher, Samford’s director of greek life.
For more information, contact Fletcher via email at greeklife@samford.edu.