National Panhellenic Conference

In 1891, seven women's fraternities met in Boston to discuss relations among their groups. The cooperative spirit of this meeting served as the beginning of what is known today as National Panhellenic Conference (NPC). In 1902, representatives from five of these groups convened in Chicago, which resulted in the organization of the first interfraternity association on college campuses. The member groups decided to meet every year to discuss mutual concerns and other matters which were important to all sorority women.

Eight years after Delta Zeta was founded as a national fraternity (1902), we were invited to join the Interfraternity Conference (1910) as the sixteenth member organization.

Its purpose has always been to foster interfraternity relationships, to assist collegiate and alumnae Panhellenic associations and to cooperate with colleges and universities in maintaining high scholastic and social standards. Each member fraternity selects one delegate to represent the organization at meetings. The delegate casts the fraternity's vote and also serves on committees within the conference.

The NPC Executive Committee offices are held by the delegates from the twenty-six member groups. Each group takes its turn on the Executive Board on a rotational basis. The order for rotation is based on the date when each fraternity joined NPC.

As a part of the National Panhellenic Conference, the College Panhellenic Association is composed of all members of eligible women's fraternities on each campus. The College Panhellenic Council is made up of one delegate from each campus chapter, and it operates within the guidelines established by NPC. When two or more NPC member groups are chartered on a particular campus, the first group takes the initiative to begin the formation of a College Panhellenic.

Throughout this section on Panhellenic activities, you may have wondered about the use of the phrase "women's fraternities." In the last century, the first women's groups called themselves fraternities (based on frater). As the societal role of women evolved in the early part of this century, several groups began to use the term "sorority" with emphasis on sisterhood. Gamma Phi Beta adopted "sorority" in 1911, and others have followed their example. Delta Zeta uses "sorority" as a part of its official name. However, within the framework of NPC, all groups are identified as "women's fraternities."

For more information, go to the National Panhellenic Conference Web site at www.npcwomen.org.

Panhellenic Creed

We, as Undergraduate Members of women's fraternities,
stand for good scholarship, for guarding of good health,
for maintenance of fine standards,
and for serving, to the best of our ability,
our college community.
Cooperation for furthering fraternity life,
in harmony with its best possibilities,
is the idea that shall guide our fraternity activities.

We, as Fraternity Women,
stand for service through the development of character
inspired by the close contact and deep friendship
of individual fraternity and Panhellenic life.
The opportunity for wide and wise human service,
through mutual respect and helpfulness,
is the tenet by which we strive to live.

Members of NPC

Alpha Chi Omega ΑΧΩ	Alpha Delta Pi ΑΔΠ	Alpha Epsilon Phi ΑΕΦ	Alpha Gamma Delta ΑΓΔ	Alpha Xi Delta ΑΞΔ	Alpha Omicron Pi ΑΟΠ
Alpha Phi ΑΦ	Alpha Sigma Alpha ΑΣΑ	Alpha Sigma Tau ΑΣΤ	Chi Omega ΧΩ	Delta Delta Delta ΔΔΔ	Delta Gamme ΔΓ
Delta Phi Epsilon ΔΦΕ	Delta Zeta ΔΖ	Gamma Phi Beta ΓΦΒ	Kappa Alpha Theta ΚΑΘ	Kappa Delta ΚΔ	Kappa Kappa Gamma ΚΚΓ
Phi Mu ΦΜ	Phi Sigma Sigma ΦΣΣ	Pi Beta Phi ΠΒΦ	Sigma Delta Tau ΣΔΤ	Sigma Kappa ΣΚ	Sigma Sigma Sigma ΣΣΣ
Theta Phi Alpha ΘΦΑ	Zeta Tau Alpha ΖΤΑ

NPC Organizations