BAY VILLAGE, Ohio – With great sadness, the Grand Council of Theta Phi Alpha recently voted to indefinitely suspend the charter of the Gamma Rho Chapter at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut due to a decline in chapter membership.
The Gamma Rho Chapter was originally chartered in 2009. In 2017, an improvement plan was developed for the chapter to make improvements necessary for the health of the chapter. Executive board officers and chapter members worked diligently with volunteers and National Office staff members to make these changes, but despite many achievements, the decline in membership hindered the ability of the chapter to provide the enriching membership experience that our legacy dictates.
“The members of Gamma Rho Chapter are impacted greatly by this difficult decision,” said National President Tracey Liphardt. “I want to thank all of the local and national volunteers, the staff members who worked to support the chapter, and the chapter members for their years of service and dedication. We look forward to continuing our lifelong sisterhood with the chapter members through their membership as alumnae.”
The Gamma Rho Chapter will forever remain a valued part of the Theta Phi Alpha sisterhood. Collegiate members of the Gamma Rho Chapter will transition to alumnae members of Theta Phi Alpha and will continue to experience a lifetime of sisterhood along with the privileges of being a lifelong member of Theta Phi Alpha.
Theta Phi Alpha intends to re-establish the chapter when conditions are optimal for the chapter to be successful, and per the National Panhellenic Conference’s membership growth plan, which will be filed with Sacred Heart University.
Questions can be directed to Kathryn Hartmann at the Theta Phi Alpha National Office at (440) 899-9282.