The Greek Life Community Center sits on Greek Row on Oct. 6. The Zeta Tau Alpha chapter is returning to UTA this fall.
Zeta Tau Alpha has been at UTA since 1969, but after declining membership, the sorority took a one-year pause.
“When memberships start to decline, it becomes harder to recruit more members,” Karla Wheeler, Zeta Tau Alpha extension director, said, noting this prompted the decision to halt operations.
Amanda Perez, Fraternity and Sorority Life director, said the 2030 strategic plan for Greek life at UTA is growing and cultivating the Greek community and that with Zeta Tau Alpha’s return, more chapters will be active, which in turn will contribute to campus life and community.
“Having an amazing organization like Zeta Tau Alpha rejoining us with a house on Greek Row is just going to continue to bring that sense of belonging and sisterhood and home away from home that I know the university is looking for,” she said.
During various tabling events and organization fairs organized through the Zeta Tau Alpha national organization, Wheeler said that many women have signed up and shown interest in joining.
“It makes me hopeful for the future success of the chapter,” she said.
The first event since the sorority’s return was hosted Oct. 2. During the event, attendees created their own bouquets, met the Zeta Tau Alpha leadership consultants and learned more about the sorority.
Beyond the event, Zeta Tau Alpha’s mission emphasizes service and long-term sisterhood.
Perez said the sorority’s service project focuses on breast cancer education and awareness. She said Zeta Tau Alpha also has a chapter at UT Austin, providing Coordinated Admission Program students an opportunity to continue the sisterhood throughout their entire collegiate journey.
She said something that makes Zetas unique is a line in their creed which emphasizes “being” rather than “seeing.”
“They have amazing women in their organization that I’ve been able to work with at different campuses,” she said. “Their creed, where they push to be rather than to see, has been an amazing way for them to shape that culture of that organization.”
Zeta Tau Alpha will have recruitment week from Oct. 14-17. Their next event will take place Wednesday, where attendees will have the opportunity to create custom glass tumblers, make a dirty soda, get to know other women on campus and learn if Zeta Tau Alpha will be a good fit.
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