Our Purpose

The purpose of this non-profit organization shall be to promote cooperation among sororities, to formulate rules and procedures for recruitment and new member education, to regulate intersorority activities, and to insure cooperation between sororities and other student organizations and the University administration.

Our Mission

We, the members of the URI Panhellenic Association, will form a unified sisterhood consisting of all the unique ideals belonging to each sorority. We believe in the intrinsic value and good character in all women. We strive to be positive role models to all women in the URI community by upholding our high standards of excellence. We will use our influence to maintain and advance high standards of conduct and scholarship for our members.We aim to serve the college community through community service, to promote a positive image of women’s fraternities to the public, and to promote the well-being of our members. We will initiate appropriate programs and materials to carry out our mission.

History of the NPC

Early histories of women’s fraternities contain accounts of “rushing and pledging agreements” or “compacts” among fraternities on various campuses, and also many stories of cooperation and mutual assistance. However, no actual Panhellenic organization existed and no uniform practices were observed. By 1902, it was obvious that some standards were needed, so Alpha Phi invited Pi Beta Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Delta Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta, Delta Delta Delta, Alpha Chi Omega and Chi Omega to a conference in Chicago on May 24. Alpha Chi Omega and Chi Omega were unable to attend. The remaining seven groups met and the session resulted in the organization of the first interfraternity association and the first intergroup organization on college campuses. (National Interfraternity Conference for men’s fraternities was organized in 1909, now called the North-American Interfraternity Conference).

This meeting, and the next few, resulted in several mutual agreements, especially regarding pledging. Up to this time, no guidelines had been set, and women could be pledged to groups before enrolling in college and, indeed, even belong to more than one group.

The fact that NPC is a “Conference” is significant to the NPC philosophy because the organization is a conference, not a congress. It enacts no legislation except for the conduct of its own meetings. Other than the basic UNANIMOUS AGREEMENTS which all groups have voted to observe, NPC confines itself to recommendations and advice, and acts as a court of final appeal in any College Panhellenic difficulty. One of its greatest services is providing Area Advisors for College Panhellenics and Alumnae Panhellenics.

SOURCE: www.npcwomen.org