Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®: A Legacy of Sisterhood and Service

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® stands as a beacon of sisterhood, scholarship, and service, deeply rooted in the principles of cultivating high scholastic and ethical standards, promoting unity and friendship among college women, addressing issues concerning girls and women, and being of "Service to All Mankind." Since its inception in 1908, the sorority has grown into an international organization with over 1115 chapters and more than 390,000 initiated members across 15 nations and all states.

A Storied History: From Howard University to Global Impact

The sorority's journey began in 1908 at Howard University, where nine visionary students, led by Ethel Hedgemon (Lyle), formed a sisterhood predicated on shared values and a commitment to making a difference. Five years later, Nellie Quander and her associates expanded this vision, establishing Alpha Kappa Alpha as an international organization with perpetual membership. For more than a century, the sorority has remained steadfast in its commitment to service, scholarship, sisterhood, and the empowerment of communities locally and globally.

The Guiding Mission

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s mission is to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards, to promote unity and friendship among college women, to study and help alleviate problems concerning girls and women in order to improve their social stature, to maintain a progressive interest in college life, and to be of “Service to All Mankind.”

Membership: Joining the Sisterhood

Membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® is a privilege extended by invitation only. The sorority seeks women who will promote, uphold, and extend its policies and programs. In return, the Sorority provides a conduit through which individuals can grow and develop, personally and professionally while simultaneously providing “Service to All Mankind.”

Undergraduate Membership

For women matriculating as full-time students at an accredited four-year college or university, membership is obtained through an undergraduate chapter. Those interested should look for authorized and printed rush flyers posted on their college campus or visit their campus’ Office of Greek Life.

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Requirements for Undergraduate Membership:

Matriculation as a full-time undergraduate student where the campus chapter is located or at an affiliated school in the community.
Completion of at least one grading period as a full-time student at the institution affiliated with the chapter, immediately preceding submission of application.
A cumulative and semester average of C+ (2.50 on a 4.0 scale), immediately preceding submission of application. Some chapters and/or schools may require a higher average.
Attendance at the official Rush.

The undergraduate Membership Experience (ME) begins when a candidate receives a Letter of Acceptance. Pledging is not a part of the membership process and is strictly prohibited.

Graduate Membership

Women who hold a bachelor's or advanced degree(s) from an accredited four-year college or university may seek membership through a graduate chapter. An active graduate chapter will extend an authorized and written membership letter of invitation upon approval of the official Membership Intake Process to prospective members.

Process for Graduate Membership:

Graduate membership is by invitation only and is not solicited through graduate chapters.
Prospective candidates can become acquainted with chapter members and learn about service activities by attending public events hosted by graduate chapters.
The Graduate Membership Experience (ME) begins with a Letter of Invitation signed by the graduate chapter president AND membership chairman on chapter stationery.

Pledging is not a part of the membership process and is strictly prohibited.

Legacy Status

A legacy candidate is the daughter, granddaughter, adopted daughter, stepdaughter or legal ward* of an active or deceased member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® and submits a legacy application. Legacy candidates are not guaranteed membership. The living family member must have been active for at least four years immediately preceding the submission of an Undergraduate or Graduate Legacy Application. Undergraduates and graduates who apply via legacy provision still must fulfill all other membership requirements.

Reactivation: Returning to Active Membership

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® welcomes inactive members to return to active membership. Those seeking reactivation can find assistance through their region’s director, a local chapter president (using the Chapter Locator), or the corporate office.

Read also: Legacy of Fordham University

Risk Management and Anti-Hazing Policies

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® is committed to providing a safe and respectful environment for all existing and prospective members. Hazing has been prohibited since the organization was founded in 1908. The Sorority reaffirmed its total opposition to hazing with the publication of a tougher anti-hazing policy and the implementation of new procedures to identify, investigate and punish incidents.

Soaring to Greater Heights of Service and Sisterhood: Program Initiatives

Under the leadership of International President & CEO Danette Anthony Reed, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® is implementing the 2022-2026 theme, "Soaring to Greater Heights of Service and Sisterhood." This administration seeks to build upon Alpha Kappa Alpha’s rich legacy of service by galvanizing our sisterhood of more than 120,000 active members to lead on the front lines of change, education, and advocacy. The five target areas are:

Strengthen Our SISTERHOOD
Empower Our FAMILIES
Build Our ECONOMIC WEALTH
Enhance Our ENVIRONMENT
Advocate For SOCIAL JUSTICE
Uplift Our LOCAL COMMUNITY

Chapter Meetings

Gamma Nu Omega Chapter meetings are open to members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month (except July & August) at Midlands Technical College-Airport Campus, West Columbia, SC 29169. Note: The November 2025 meeting is closed and non-Gamma Nu Omega visitors will not be admitted. Visiting members may attend two meetings and are asked to please bring your Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated financial card and picture ID, a transfer verification form from a chapter with proper signatures or an Ivy Leaf Magazine with address label attached along with a picture ID.

The Omega Omega Chapter: A Beacon in Philadelphia

The Omega Omega Chapter, chartered in 1926 by Ethel Hedgemon Lyle and 21 other members, stands as Alpha Kappa Alpha’s 24th graduate chapter. This chapter has a rich history of service, including the Annual Day of Sharing and the HBCU College Tour, which has benefited over 700 Philadelphia area high school students. Members of the Omega Omega Chapter work professionally in various fields, including academia, the arts, education, finance, healthcare, law enforcement / legal, local, state, and federal government, and STEAM/STEM.

Membership Inquiries: Key Questions and Answers

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding membership:

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Q: If a member of the Sorority asks me to attend meetings or study sessions, wear specific apparel or perform certain tasks, am I allowed to participate in those activities?
- A: No. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® prohibits such activities, and membership will not be extended to individuals who knowingly participate.
Q: Is it possible for me to become a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority if I attend an accredited four-year college or university that does not have a chapter?
- A: Yes. A nearby graduate chapter in your college community willing to sponsor you can recommend you to the Regional Director for General Membership in the Sorority. Use the Chapter Locator to identify nearby graduate chapters and contacts.
Q: What is the process for chartering an Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority chapter on my campus?
- A: Contact the Regional Director for information concerning the possibility of chartering a chapter on your campus. Utilize the Regions section through About AKA to determine the region where a campus is located and click the region’s name for the Regional Director’s contact information.
Q: Can I participate in the membership process at another school if my campus has an inactive chapter?
- A: No. You cannot participate in a Membership Experience at another school because your campus has an inactive chapter. Candidates must successfully complete at least one grading period, immediately preceding the Membership Experience, at a school affiliated with the chapter.
Q: Can I become a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority if I attend a 2-year community college?
- A: No. Candidates must attend an accredited four-year college or university that confers baccalaureate degrees.
Q: If I have already been awarded a baccalaureate degree, can I still apply for undergraduate membership if I am enrolled in an accredited 4-year college for my second baccalaureate degree and considered an undergraduate by the college or university?
- A: No. In this scenario, since you already have received a baccalaureate degree, you are only eligible for graduate membership, which is by invitation only.
Q: I received an invitation to membership from a local graduate chapter. Am I eligible for graduate membership if I have not graduated?
- A: No. You are ineligible for graduate membership until you are awarded a baccalaureate degree.
Q: Can I seek membership if I am or was a member with another Sorority?
- A: If that Sorority belongs to the National Pan-Hellenic Council or National Panhellenic Conference, you are ineligible for membership with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®. Individuals who falsify applications will have their membership revoked and will be expelled from the Sorority.
Q: I applied as a legacy candidate but my family member is ineligible. Can I switch to a non-legacy candidate?
- A: No. A candidate’s classification cannot change from legacy to non-legacy once a chapter accepts the legacy application and forwards it to the Corporate Office for review. The family member can contact AKA Corporate Office to verify eligibility for legacy provision prior to submitting a legacy application.
Q: What other steps are necessary if I have not received an invitation to membership although I attended all of the graduate chapter’s public events?
- A: Attendance at activities does not guarantee an invitation to membership. Members of the chapter will recommend for membership women who are aligned with the Sorority’s mission, service to all mankind. Please continue to network and provide service to your local community and beyond.

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