It is the oldest national and secret Greek-letter fraternity in the United States, founded in 1825. The founder of Kappa Alpha Society is John Hart Hunter. The Kappa Alpha Society was originally formed as a literary society at Union College, New York and is one of the three oldest fraternities in the United States that form the “Union Triad”. It is also the progenitor of the American fraternity system. Today, it is an international community with chapters in the United States and Canada.
Kappa Alpha Society is a literary society that is focused on creating and nurturing lifelong friendships and the development of its undergraduate members. Founders of Kappa Alpha Society saw it as a fun and friendly outlet for education outside the classroom and a society that provides space for academic and personal conversations.
The Kappa Alpha Society is a central component of the college experiences of its members. It provides its members with a supportive environment, learning experiences outside the classroom, leadership opportunities and lifelong friendships.
The activities of Kappa Alpha are structured around intellectual discussions and literary pursuits and provides its members with a chance to express themselves creatively and engage themselves in debates. All members of Kappa Alpha value social interaction, and the Kappa Alpha society hosts several social events during the year.
The Kappa Alpha society’s color is scarlet, and its flower is carnation. Its newsletter is Kappa Key.
The members of Kappa Alpha Society uphold John Hart Hunter’s legacy of constant striving for knowledge, constant questioning and desire to never stop learning. In 1989, a group of Kappa Alpha members planned a foundation to strengthen the Kappa Alpha Society.
The goal of the John Hart Hunter Educational Foundation was to support the intellectual and educational objectives of Kappa Alpha Society on the campus of each chapter by funding scholarships, educational programs and making improvements to Kap lodges. The members and alumni of Kappa Alpha Society also support the Executive council and John Hart Hunter Educational (Canada) Foundation.
Requirements To Join
To become a member of the Kappa Alpha Society, a minimum GPA of 2.5 to 2.75 is required. Potential members who can add real value to the Kappa Alpha chapters are preferred as pledges by Kappa Alpha Society.
Since diversity adds to the dynamics of the chapter, so Kappa Alpha Society focuses on recruiting members from diverse backgrounds but with identical thinking.
Society is very careful in selecting new members and chooses potential members who fully understand the time and financial commitments that they will be required to honor as members.
How To Join
Recruitment is critical to the success of society. It is a constant ongoing group activity at each chapter of Kappa Alpha Society. Existing members can also recommend potential members by contacting Kappa Alpha Society through email or phone.
Individuals interested in becoming a member of Kappa Alpha Society can also express their interest by filling new member recruitment forms online on the Kappa Alpha Society website.
The interested individuals need to submit the personal details, home address, school address, school information, initiation payment and information in the form for Initiate/New Members.
How Much It Costs To Join
The new members need to pay an Initiation Fee of $275 USD as the cost of joining the Kappa Alpha Society. The initiation fees can be paid either in whole or in installments.
Other than initiation fees, the members need to contribute towards the costs of chapter activities, which includes the cost of dinners and other social events.