Responsible Growth

  1. All IFC member chapters will actively support the responsible growth of other NIC fraternities provided that each organization follows these Responsible Growth Protocols:
    • Proactively communicates with the campus administration and IFC in good faith prior to any expansion activity.
    • Considers any available readiness assessment, utilizing metrics determined in conjunction with the NIC before formally requesting the opportunity to join the IFC.
    • The group does not have any outstanding, documented campus health and safety violation.
  2. If the inter/national organization follows the Responsible Growth Protocols:
    • Any NIC member fraternity, upon expressing interest to establish a chapter, will be given a time by the IFC for the expansion to occur. The IFC can determine the best academic term for the expansion, but the expansion will occur within a four-year period from when the IFC is first notified of interest by the NIC member fraternity.
    • NIC member fraternities with an interest group already formed will be granted IFC recognition, though the IFC may elect to have an associate member status provided reasonable written expectations and metrics are established to move from associate member status to full member status.
    • The IFC will never take a vote on recognition or expansion for an NIC member fraternity.
    • The IFC will never require NIC member fraternities to present an expansion proposal to the IFC, although the IFC can require the NIC member fraternity to submit documentation or do a virtual presentation to determine the best academic term for expansion.
    • Full membership in the IFC is limited to those fraternities (including non-NIC organizations), who have adopted all NIC Standards, are affiliated with an inter/national organization, and are men’s fraternities. Associate membership may be granted to organizations that do not meet the above criteria. Only members from full IFC member organizations are permitted to serve as IFC officers, serve on the Standards Board, or vote on Constitution and Bylaw amendments.  
  3. To be in compliance with anti-trust law as it relates to associations, IFCs cannot restrict any group from joining the IFC that meets the membership criteria (whether an NIC fraternity or not).
  4. The IFC will honor all organizational return agreements negotiated as part of a campus or IFC conduct process. Any organization returning to campus based on a return agreement will not be required to participate in any IFC or campus expansion process.
  5. Recognition by the IFC and campus are two distinct processes with potentially different outcomes, though it is best for students when organizations recognized by the IFC are also recognized by the campus.