The Alpha Phi sorority will return to the University of Rhode Island this fall after nearly a decade off campus, gathering a new founding member class.
Alpha Phi lost recognition on campus in 2015 following a hazing incident involving new members. The organization later reached an agreement with the university that allowed it to return after a period of time.
The upcoming return will have a different recruitment structure and additional oversight as the chapter reestablishes itself, according to Alison Burke, assistant director of Greek Affairs. The Alpha Phi organization has worked with the university to ensure risk management and member education will be a priority as the chapter relaunches.
“They actually have three dedicated staff members at their headquarters whose sole responsibility is health and safety education,” Burke said. “They want to make sure that they take risk management seriously.”
The organization is also planning to build a new sorority house in the Fraternity Circle area, according to Renee Zainer, international executive director of Alpha Phi. However, construction will take a few years to complete. Soil studies delayed the organization’s earlier return.
“We had an agreement with the university when we left to come back, and the earliest we could have returned was 2025,” Zainer said. “But we had to figure out if we could actually build on the lot because there was a lot of sludge in the soil.”
International Alpha Phi members will also work closely with the organization during the rebuilding process, according to Burke.
“It’s definitely a collaboration between our staff, our student leaders and their organization on making sure that those values are built up from the ground up,” Burke said.
Although the chapter will return this fall for rush, its recruitment process is uniquely designed to form a founding member class that will create the chapter’s new traditions and leadership structure, according to Zainer.
“We’ll participate in the open house so everyone can kind of see that we’re an option,” Zainer said. “But then we stop and wait for the process to finish, and we’ll have our own recruitment about two weeks later.”
Since the organization is starting without existing members, recruitment will focus on bringing together a large founding class that will establish the chapter, according to Zainer.
“It’s mostly to give people an opportunity to ask questions because this is such a unique process,” Zainer said. “It’s unlikely they’ve ever met someone who has started their own organization.”
Interest in the chapter has already been strong. According to Burke more than 150 students have filled out interest forms and about 70 to 80 have attended a recent information session.
“I think that’s a great indicator of success right there,” Burke said.
After URI’s formal recruitment process ends, Alpha Phi will begin its own marketing period, where alumni will meet with interested students and explain what it means to become a founding member, according to Zainer.
The organization plans to finalize its founding member class by mid-October.
Two graduating members of Alpha Phi chapters will be live-in staff on campus for the next academic year, who will serve as guidance for the new founding member class, according to Burke.
“They’ll do all of the education and training, explaining how to do everything and helping them with budgeting and finances,” Burke said. “Their full-time job is to work for Alpha Phi and set this up.”
After the studies, the organization determined that a house could be constructed with adjustments, according to Zainer. The house is expected to open in 2028. Until then, members will meet in other campus spaces while the chapter grows.
Adding another sorority will also help support the university’s expanding Greek community, which includes about 30 organizations, according to Burke.
“I think our sorority community definitely is in need of another group,” Burke said. “It offers a different experience for someone who might want to build something from the ground up rather than joining something already established.”
With recruitment set to begin this fall, university officials say the return of Alpha Phi will give students the chance to shape the chapter at URI. Any upcoming information on Alpha Phi can be found on their Instagram @urialphaphi.
