Sad News 

We are sorry to share that Director of Communications/Editor Liz Appel Rinck’s father passed away on Feb. 11, 2019. Bill Appel was also the father-in-law of IT Manager Jeff Rinck. Notes of condolence should be sent to Theta headquarters.

Industry Update Provided by NPC

Multiple media outlets, including the Associated Press, The Boston Globe, and The Daily Caller (among others), covered Harvard’s motion to dismiss pending lawsuit(s) challenging the legality of Harvard’s policy of…

Theta Foundation’s 2019 Scholarship Application

Please help spread the word about Theta Foundation’s scholarship opportunities! More than $700,000 is available to support members pursuing undergraduate and graduate study during the 2019-2020 academic year. Interested applicants are encouraged to review the 2019 Scholarship Application resources, including upcoming help sessions and recordings from previous help sessions. Please contact Theta Foundation Programs Manager Mary Kate Smith with…

Industry Update Provided by NPC

Multiple local outlets—including the student paper The Nevada Sagebrush—have coverage of the decision by Panhellenic sororities at the University of Nevada-Reno to disaffiliate from the university following a breakdown in negotiations regarding their status as student organizations. The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) provided media counsel to the campus Panhellenic leadership and issued a media statement in response to numerous media inquiries.

Pennsylvania…

Volunteer Title Change

The volunteer role formerly titled permanent alumnae secretary (PAS) has been changed to alumnae contact officer (ACO), effective Jan. 1, to better reflect the volunteer role and responsibilities.

Each college chapter (active and inactive) has an ACO. It is this volunteer’s responsibility to ensure that all the women from her chapter remain connected to the Fraternity. She does this by finding “lost” Thetas: women for whom we no longer have current contact information.…

Due to dangerously cold temperatures, Theta offices will open at 9:00 am on Monday, Jan. 21. To facilitate shoveling and scraping of cars and sidewalks, staff may wear casual (warm!) clothing.  

Industry Update Provided by NPC

The Chronicle of Higher Education, Mother Jones, and others offered new coverage of Harvard’s policy targeting single-gender social groups. In a lengthy piece that followed weeks of reporting, the Chronicle’s Sarah Brown focused on the policy’s disproportionate impact on women’s organizations—including National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) member organizations. NPC Chairman Carole Jones spoke to reporters at both The Chronicle of Higher Education and Mother Jones…

Industry Update Provided by NPC

Value Walkreported that George Washington University is considering an anti-discrimination rule that some fear may threaten Greek life. The rule states that “failing or refusing to allow an individual to participate in a student organization or activity based on their protected characteristics” would be considered discriminatory. Though the university has denied it intends to target fraternities and sororities, some have expressed concern that single-sex…

At its meeting earlier today, Grand Council took the following action:

*Reviewed the Fraternity audit report of the consolidated financial statements, independent auditor’s report, and tax returns for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018;

*Declined the opportunity to pursue Valparaiso University as a field of extension; and

*Considered ADD and CDD appointments for the term beginning January 1, 2019.

Happy Holidays!!

Industry Update Provided by NPC

The pair of lawsuits filed by four sororities (including Kappa Alpha Theta), two fraternities, and three male students against Harvard University regarding their policy of sanctions for members of single-sex organizations continued to receive coverage in many national and campus outlets. 

• Can Harvard punish its students for their off-campus behavior?(The Los Angeles Times)
• EXCLUSIVE: Harvard frat student says same-sex club policy ‘undermines’ individualism(Ca…