Wake Forest’s National Pan-Hellenic Council is looking to expand.

Beginning Jan. 9, organizations in the national NPHC that do not currently have a chapter on Wake Forest’s campus can apply to join the university’s council. Initially announced in November, NPHC is looking for a historically African American fraternity or sorority as well as a multicultural organization to join the council. 

Established in 1988, Wake Forest’s NPHC is home to five historically Black fraternities and sororities as well as a multicultural sorority, Delta Xi Phi. During the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life’s annual expansion meeting in 2022, students decided that growing the NPHC community would enrich students’ experiences on campus. 

“Our NPHC members wanted to offer something different to the Wake Forest community,” Assistant Director of Sorority Life Brittany Harris-Nelson said. “If a student can’t find their home in one of the current organizations on campus, then we want to give everyone the opportunity to find where they belong.”

Former NPHC President and senior Kgosi Hughes was involved in the beginning stages of expansion. He, alongside other students, presented their interest in other organizations to the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. 

“I think the wish for an increase in diversity at Wake Forest influenced the interest in expansion,” Hughes said. “The visibility of the NPHC has been expanding, and a lot of people have been saying ‘I want to do this, but the current fraternities and sororities aren’t exactly what I am looking for.’ I also think a lot of people would like to charter a new organization on campus, whether that is Latinx or Southeast Asian or others.” 

The expansion, according to Harris-Nelson, could significantly impact the presence of multicultural Greek life on campus. 

“Delta Xi Phi, our multicultural sorority, is an affiliate member, but once we have three multicultural organizations on campus, they will be able to create their own council,” Harris-Nelson said. “That way, Delta Xi Phi won’t have to be an attachment to NPHC.” 

Wake Forest’s branch of the NPHC offers students of marginalized communities a unique experience on campus both through its rich history and by allowing students to find a sense of belonging. 

“NPHC offers a home to our students of marginalized communities, specifically our Black and brown communities,” Harris-Nelson said. “NPHC organizations were founded at a time when Black and brown people were not allowed in traditional Greek letter organizations, so they founded their own. Each organization has different values and principles, but many are related to scholarship, service, brotherhood and sisterhood.” 

Drawing from his experience as NPHC president and Kappa Alpha Psi member, Hughes expressed how this expansion could grow the larger Wake Forest community and create opportunities for students. 

“Ultimately, I would like a bigger community where people from all over the world with different backgrounds can feel welcome,” Hughes said. “These organizations can determine a lot of how students spend their four years of college. I am hoping that people will find their place.”

He continued: “Joining my organization allowed me to tap into a lot of leadership positions that I would not have been able to hold. We increased cultural competency on campus and went into spaces that don’t see a lot of NPHC members or people of color. We tapped into those spaces, increased awareness of our organizations and saw how we could facilitate greater diversity, equity and inclusion.”

Harris-Nelson and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life believe that student input is imperative to the success of the expansion. Once applicants are established, student trustees, as well as other student life organizations, will be heavily involved in the decision-making process. 

“We want students to be as involved in this process as possible,” Harris-Nelson said. “Students are always welcome in the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life in Benson 218. We try to give a diverse voice to this process by including students from all walks of life. Our door is always open to anyone who would like to share with us.”

Applications will close on Jan. 27. After applications are reviewed, new organizations will gain charter during the 2023-2024 academic year. More information about the expansion and the interest form can be found on the Office of Student Engagement website at https://studentengagement.wfu.edu/fraternity-and-sorority-life-expansion/.