Start a Chapter
Omega Phi Alpha welcomes new groups who wish to form a chapter: a recognized local unit of the sorority at their college or university.
With sufficient interest, students can petition the national organization to form a prospective new chapter, which is simply a temporary affiliation with the sorority. Once the group completes the requirements to earn a charter, each of the founding members will gain lifetime membership into Omega Phi Alpha.
Starting an OPhiA chapter takes hard work, dedication, and spirit, but it is a challenge with many rewards.
One individual will act as the campus contact and work closely with the national expansions director to set up an informational meeting where the prospective new chapter process is explained to other prospective members.
When 25 or more full-time students demonstrate a commitment to the sorority, they can petition to be a prospective new chapter. The prospective new chapter must meet a series of requirements, including establishing a program of service, and participating in at least five different prospective new chapter-sponsored service projects. Membership is open to any students in good standing with their university: freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and even graduate students.
If you would like more information about starting a collegiate chapter, download the guide below and email the expansions director at [email protected].
What is a chapter?
A chapter is a recognized local unit of the sorority. For collegiate members, it is a group of student members who carry on the traditions of OPhiA at their school and interact with the national organization and other chapters as a group.
As the group works to earn lifetime OPhiA membership, they are known as a prospective new chapter, a temporary affiliation with Omega Phi Alpha, while the national expansions director guides them through the expansions process.
How do we become a chapter?
It starts with one person. That person is the campus contact who works closely with the expansions team to set up an informational meeting at a university or college. The expansions process is explained to other prospective members, and when 25 or more full-time students demonstrate a commitment to the sorority, they can petition the national organization for affiliation as a prospective new chapter of Omega Phi Alpha.
As a prospective new chapter, the group must learn about the sorority and prove its stability and maturity.
- They must organize themselves into officers and committees and write a local constitution.
- They learn about the sorority’s history by taking a series of quizzes and the national membership exam.
- To prove a commitment to service and show they are an organized group, these future members must establish a program of service. Each prospective member must participate in at least five different prospective new chapter-sponsored service projects.
- To demonstrate its stability, the prospective new chapter must plan a tentative outline of activities for its first year as a new chapter, as well as draft a detailed plan for the new chapter’s first new member recruitment.
- Along the way, the prospective new chapter will prepare to attend its first national convention (held every other summer) by conducting a fundraiser and setting the proceeds aside to offset convention expenses.
The prospective new chapter is expected to participate fully in all district activities during their expansions period, so they can build strong relationships with nearby chapters.
Midway through the process, the prospective new chapter will organize an off-campus retreat. A representative from the national organization will attend to provide training and fellowship workshops.
How long does this take?
The prospective new chapter has up to a year to complete all of the requirements, but technically it could be done in as little as three months. The expansions team will guide the prospective new chapter each step of the way. When all of the requirements are met, the prospective new chapter applies for chapter status. National officers and sisters travel from all over the country for the formal induction ceremony.
Who can join? Do I have to be a freshman?
Membership is open to any student in good standing with their university. Prospective members can be juniors, seniors, and even graduate students. OPhiA membership is open to members of social sororities, too. OPhiA offers something special in addition to what social sororities might have.
OPhiA members represent all races and ethnic groups. They live on campus, in apartments, and at home. Some are married. Some are in wheelchairs. Some are international students.
Basically, OPhiA members are a diverse cross-section of campus life. This melding of perspectives is one of our greatest strengths.