Georgia Tech’s female population hit an all-time high in 2015 with an incoming class of 42 percent women. One area of campus that has noticed that increase is the Greek community.

This fall, to accommodate more women on campus and a growing interest in Greek life, an eighth National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sorority will colonize a chapter at Georgia Tech.

Kappa Alpha Theta will be the first NPC group to bring a chapter to Tech since Alpha Phi came to campus in 2008. The process of bringing a new chapter to campus — called “extension” — is largely driven by current students.

“The NPC provides a checklist with guidelines that they suggest campuses meet to determine if they’re ready for extension,” said Kylie Corcoran, interim director of Greek Affairs. Once it is determined that the campus is ready for extension, current sorority members vote whether or not to approve it. The extension for Tech was approved in November 2015.

An Extension Committee, made up of one member from each of Tech’s Collegiate Panhellenic Council (CPC) sororities, heard from three finalists interested in forming a chapter at Georgia Tech. Kappa Alpha Theta stood out in part because of its emphases on mental health, academics, and philanthropy. 

“When we asked each chapter why they wanted to be at Georgia Tech, it was clear that Theta has a high regard for the type of women Tech caters to,” said McKenzie Elliott, Tech’s CPC president. 

The Greek community initially did not vote for an extension in 2014. But this year, with chapter sizes of around 180 people and new member classes as large as 60 women, the need has grown. 

“We pride ourselves on having a large Greek community, but with groups small enough that you can know everyone and be close,” Elliott said. About 30 percent of Tech women are involved in Greek life.

On the whole, students who are involved in Greek life have higher GPAs and graduation rates than their non-Greek counterparts. Based on students who enrolled at Tech in 2009, 90.5 percent of Greek students had graduated within six years, compared to 82.4 percent overall. 

Kappa Alpha Theta will begin its recruitment process following formal recruitment for Tech’s existing CPC sororities this fall.

“It’s exciting to have a big change in our community,” Elliott said. “We’re looking forward to working together to welcome a new group to campus.” 

Tech’s existing chapters of national CPC groups are Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Phi, Alpha Xi Delta, Phi Mu, and Zeta Tau Alpha. It also has two associate chapter groups, Alpha Delta Chi and Alpha Omega Epsilon.

Tech’s Greek community also includes five Multicultural Greek Council chapters, eight National Pan-Hellenic Council chapters, and 32 Interfraternity Council chapters.