Fraternity and Sorority Life at UTEP believes in the philosophy of responsible growth for our community. While our community is not currently open for expansion, this website will be updated as our leaders continue to discuss their long-term growth.

The expansion process consists of an application process (round 1) and an on-campus presentation/interview process (round 2). Please download our expansion packet below. 

Expansion Timeline: 

• Application packets accepted: May 2023  - June 30, 2023
  • Submit packets in PDF format to  FSL@utep.edu
• Applications reviewed: Mid-July 2023
• On-campus Presentation Interviews: July 2023 - Early August 2023

If you have any questions or wish to contact our team, we can be reached at FSL@utep.edu.

Click here to download the full Expansion Process PDF. 

The information below is an excerpt from our Student Organization Handbook. If you have questions or would like more information on the process outlined below, please contact our team at FSL@utep.edu. 

Click here to download the full Expansion Process PDF. 

SINGLE-SEX STUDENT ORGANIZATION APPROVAL PROCESS

Expansion Procedures for Single-Sex Organizations (Social Fraternities and Sororities)

 Note: NO PLEDGING CEREMONIES NOR INITIATIONS NOR INTEREST MEETINGS are to occur until the group has received written notification from the University granting permission to become a Social Fraternity and Sorority Organization at UTEP.

 Section I:  Philosophy and Guiding Principles

1. The addition of new and/or returning social fraternities and sororities is contingent upon the assessed need on the campus by the Expansion Committee. The Fraternity and Sorority Life community at The University of Texas at El Paso is committed to Fraternity and Sorority Life organizations, and will put first the interests and welfare of current chapters; second, the re-establishment of (inter) national groups formerly having chapters at The University of Texas at El Paso; and third, the colonization of new (inter) national groups.
2. The University of Texas at El Paso wishes to protect the interests of any group by measuring their chance for success prior to issuing an invitation to colonize and/or be recognized as a student organization. Therefore, adherence to and demonstrated success in this policy’s components must be heavily considered in selecting a group to affiliate with UTEP Fraternity and Sorority Life community.
3. Although The University of Texas at El Paso cannot and does not seek to infringe upon the right of any group to assemble and meet, the University does have an interest in the development of campus-based Social Fraternity and Sorority Life Organizations: to assure an avoidance of hazing; development of members which maintains the health and vibrancy of the Fraternity and Sorority Life community; demonstrated support for the University mission and the Fraternity and Sorority Life community; and compliance of various laws and safety regulations.

Section II:  Social Fraternity and Sorority Organization Minimum Requirements

The University of Texas at El Paso will only recognize those Social Fraternity and Sorority Organizations, as student organizations, that meet the following requirements:

1. Affiliated with an established, (inter) national Social Fraternity and Sorority Organization, which is also 501(c) (inter) national is defined as more than one chapter in more than one state)
2. The organization is single-sex and has been granted federal Title IX exemption
3. Exist to promote fraternal relationships and personal development
4. Requirement for admission is not limited to a specific field of study, class year or grade attainment beyond the typical grade requirement

Section III:  Considerations for Expansion

The University of Texas at El Paso should consider the following information to make the decision on whether or not expansion is both desirable and feasible:

1. Number of students participating in recruitment in relation to the number who end up joining (only for NPC and IFC)
2. Number of chapters and colonies on campus
3. Number of active and new/associate members
4. Average size of chapter memberships as well as the median number of members in all chapters
5. Chapters and colonies currently experiencing membership problems and an assessment of projected measures to assist them
6. University’s projection of enrollment trends

Section IV:  Procedures for Expansion

1. Expansion for National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) groups shall occur through a Formal Expansion Plan, outlined in Section V, and by following the outlined Extension Procedures found in the NPC Manual of Information.
2. Expansion for North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) or Fraternity Leadership Association (FLA) groups shall occur through a Formal Expansion Plan, outlined in Section V.
3. Expansion for National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO), National Asian Pacific Islander American Panhellenic Association (NAPA), National Multicultural Greek Council (NMGC) and other (inter) national groups shall occur through a Formal Expansion Plan outlined in Section V.

Section V:  Procedures for Formal Expansion 

The Student Engagement and Leadership Center will work with the Council considering formal expansion (Interfraternity Council, Multicultural Greek Council or Panhellenic Council; hereby referred to as Council) to establish an Expansion Committee.  The membership of the Expansion Committee is a collaboration of the Interfraternity, Panhellenic and Multicultural Councils. It shall consist of, but not be limited to, the following individuals: One representative from the IFC, MGC, and CPC Executive Boards, and one-chapter President/Representative from each of the chapters that is a member of the Council seeking Expansion. The Assistant Director for Student Organizations and Fraternity and Sorority Life serves as an ex-officio member of the Committee and appoints all members of the Committee.

1. Expansion Committee Responsibilities
   1. Examine and determine the need for expansion.
   2. Gain approval from the Council to proceed with Formal Expansion.
   3. Determine the number of groups to be involved in the expansion plan based on need and resources.
   4. Contact those groups that have expressed interest and/or those groups with a history on the UTEP campus. Notify them of the Formal Expansion and invite them to submit Expansion Packets. Letters may also be sent to all groups that are members of FLA/NIC, NALFO, NAPA, NMGC, NPHC, or NPC (whichever is appropriate for the Formal Expansion), who are not currently represented at The University of Texas at El Paso.
   5. Review materials and determine the group(s) to be invited to on-campus meetings and a presentation. No more than six (6) groups may be invited at a given time. Those groups selected will be notified and a date that is agreeable with all parties shall be determined.
2. Expansion Process for Petitioning Organizations
   1. The Student Engagement and Leadership Center will announce that a Council is formally open for expansion.
   2. Petitioning organizations must complete and submit the Expansion Packet outlined on page 27 of the Student Organization Handbook (or page 5 of the individual Expansion document).
   3. The Expansion Committee will review the Expansion Packets and the considerations outlined in Section III. The Expansion Committee reserves the right not to not consider an organization’s application if all aspects of requested materials are not provided. Based on all the applications received, the Expansion Committee will make one of the following decisions for each application:
      1. Identify applicants who will proceed to the second round and extend an invitation to the group(s) to give an on-campus presentation. This is not a commitment for expansion, merely an invitation to continue in the expansion exploration process.
      2. Identify that expansion is neither desirable nor feasible at this time for the Council and/or petitioning group(s). The petitioning group(s) may reapply at a later date.
   4. If a petitioning group is invited for an on-campus presentation, they will be notified and a date that is agreeable with all parties shall be determined. 
      1. The on-campus presentation will consist of:
         1. Formal presentation to the Expansion Committee along with any members of the Fraternity and Sorority Life Community.
         2. A meeting with the Director of the SELC, Assistant Dean of Students for Engagement, and additional University faculty and staff as appropriate.
      2. The presentation shall include all those items in the Expansion Packet, excluding those noted with an asterisk (*).
      3. The audience of the presentation shall consist of the Expansion Committee, the Council’s Executive Board, Council Advisor(s) and any member of the Fraternity and Sorority Life Community that wishes to be in attendance.
      4. After the presentation, everyone excluding the voting delegates, Expansion Committee and the Council’s Advisor(s) will be excused from the room.
   5. Discussion and Voting
      1. Discussion will take place on the date of the presentation. However, voting on a recommendation may not take place until the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Expansion Committee.
3.  Recommendation
   1. The Expansion Committee will vote on a recommendation to give the University. The recommendation will consist of a list of the organizations they would like to invite to expand on to campus. The list shall include at least one organization or if the decision is no recommendation, then the committee must provide a thorough explanation for each organization to the Student Engagement and Leadership Center.
   2. The Expansion Committee’s recommendation is not an invitation to expand.
4. Final Decision
   1. The recommendation of the Expansion Committee shall be given to the Director of the Student Engagement and Leadership Center.
   2. After reviewing all materials and the recommendation of the Expansion Committee, a formal invitation to expand would come from the Student Engagement and Leadership Center. If more than one organization is invited to expand, an expansion schedule will outline when each organization can begin expansion onto campus.
   3. A Social fraternity/sorority that is invited to expand has no longer than one academic year to meet the minimum of six (6) members. If this requirement is not meet, the organization will have to repetition during the next appropriate Formal Expansion.

Section VI:  Additional Information

1. It is recommended that organizations wishing to re-establish a colony/chapter at Texas at El Paso wait at least four (4) full semesters (fall/spring) before entering the expansion process.
2. After receiving recognition, the colony/chapter will be governed by the policies in IFC, MGC, or CPC respectively. This includes chapter GPA requirements.
3. Membership must be maintained in one of the councils to continue being recognized as a student organization on campus.
4. Organization status (i.e., Associate Member, etc.) within the Council is the determination of the respective governing Council.
5. The Dean of Students and/or the Council Advisor reserve the right to require specific conditions to be met in order to proceed with and/or maintain student organization recognition.
6. Social Fraternity and Sorority organizations must complete the student organization registration process every year.
7. After being registered on campus for one year, all social fraternity and sorority organizations must follow the guidelines established in the UTEP Student Organization Handbook and the Good Standing Program.