How does collegiate extension take place? Various ways, but all of it is based upon guidelines and rules and campus situations, which provide a healthy environment for stability. Because Tri Sigma is a member of the National Panhellenic Conference, we are bound by extension guidelines that all 26 member groups have agreed to.

Proper Authority-Permission must be granted by the Proper Authority for any campus to be open for adding an NPC sorority colony. In cases where there is an established College Panhellenic, that body acts as the Proper Authority. The Panhellenic must vote to allow extension on their campus with a majority of "yes" votes. In cases where no College Panhellenic exists, the Proper Authority is deemed to be the Dean of Students, the Greek Advisor, the Vice President for Student Affairs, or whoever the University has placed in authority over the student organizations on that campus.

We are frequently approached (virtually every day) by a local group, interest group, or an individual woman from a particular campus who would like to plant the seeds for developing a colony of Tri Sigma. National Headquarters and the Membership Development Vice President respond to those requests and educate the individuals involved regarding the proper procedures. They are asked to secure approval of the Proper Authority on that campus before we can continue a dialogue with them.

Once the letter from the Proper Authority is secured, extension materials are sent to the interested parties. Tri Sigma has an extension packet that is mailed out, sharing information on the Sorority, membership requirements, and an overview of the colonization and installation process. If the group has advertised their interest in expansion on their campus in the NPC Extension Bulletin, any NPC group interested in that campus may respond with extension materials for review.

The next step is campus presentations by the groups invited to attend. When Tri Sigma makes a presentation on a campus, we do all we can to familiarize ourselves with the campus and confirm that we would be interested in colonizing on that campus. Because the process is by mutual selection, the College Panhellenic or local group, or a combination (usually referred to as an Extension Committee), takes a vote and selects the group that it feels best fits that campus environment. When we are selected to colonize, a vote is taken by our Executive Council (after reviewing pertinent information) to affirm or reject the invitation. The campus representatives, along with our Membership Development Vice President and her department personnel, determine together the best timing for the colonization. When the colonization takes place, the care and feeding of a colony begins.

After the colony has been nurtured adequately and reached its goals for installation, a wonderful and beautiful Installation Weekend is planned and executed. At this point, the colony members are initiated into Tri Sigma, elect new officers, and accept the charter to be a fully recognized and functioning chapter of Tri Sigma.