ABOUT US
A brief history...
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated® was one of the first African American social fraternities in the United States. The fraternity was founded in 1911 at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, a predominantly white institution at a time when racism and prejudice were high. Kappa Alpha Psi has since dedicated their efforts to an equal brotherhood, bound only by a willingness to succeed and not by skin color, race, or background.
Its founders, ten African American students at Indiana University, first organized the fraternity in January 1911. Kappa Alpha Psi gave African American men at Indiana University a way to participate in campus social events.
Kappa Alpha Psi, like many other Greek organizations across colleges and universities in the United States, has evolved over time.
Over the years, Kappa Alpha Psi® has sponsored national programs under its name feeding the homeless, funding youth and after-school programs, providing scholarships, and sponsoring other philanthropic efforts. It now has over 700 chapters and 125,000 collegiate members worldwide. Kappa Alpha Psi® takes pride in the fact that their Constitution has never included any language that “either excluded or suggested the exclusion of a man from membership merely because of his color, creed, or national origin”.
Notable Kappa Alpha Psi members include Hollywood director John Singleton, former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, author and television personality Marc Lamont Hill, political author on race relations Charles Blow, and former president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Dennis Hayes.
Its founders, ten African American students at Indiana University, first organized the fraternity in January 1911. Kappa Alpha Psi gave African American men at Indiana University a way to participate in campus social events.
Kappa Alpha Psi, like many other Greek organizations across colleges and universities in the United States, has evolved over time.
Over the years, Kappa Alpha Psi® has sponsored national programs under its name feeding the homeless, funding youth and after-school programs, providing scholarships, and sponsoring other philanthropic efforts. It now has over 700 chapters and 125,000 collegiate members worldwide. Kappa Alpha Psi® takes pride in the fact that their Constitution has never included any language that “either excluded or suggested the exclusion of a man from membership merely because of his color, creed, or national origin”.
Notable Kappa Alpha Psi members include Hollywood director John Singleton, former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, author and television personality Marc Lamont Hill, political author on race relations Charles Blow, and former president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Dennis Hayes.
The Alpha Theta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.® was founded May 23, 1931 on the campus of Tennessee A & I State College in Nashville, Tennessee. This was accomplished with the assistance of the Alpha Delta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi® at Fisk University. Alpha Theta resides in the South Central Province of Kappa Alpha Psi®
The chapter has been committed to achievement from its inception. To list a few of these achievements would include but not limited to:
The Chapter’s objectives are:
The chapter has been committed to achievement from its inception. To list a few of these achievements would include but not limited to:
- Assisting in the establishing of chapters at:
- Austin Peay State University
- Middle Tennessee State University
- Vanderbilt University
- Participation, including leadership roles, during the Civil Rights Movement, especially the infamous Nashville Lunch Counter sit-ins.
- Joint Host to Grand Chapter Meeting, Nashville 1993
- Edward G. Irvin Undergraduate Chapter of the Year Awards – 2015, 2017 and 2019
- South Central Province Undergraduate Chapter of the Year Awards – 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023
- 2023 Ronald R. Young Undergraduate Website of the Year Award Winner
The Chapter’s objectives are:
- To establish a strong bond of fraternity among members.
- To comply with the rules and regulation governing the Chapter as outlined by the University, Grand Chapter, and Province.
- To establish a friendly and collaborative relationship with other chapters.
- To encourage active participation and involvement with college life and student run organizations—SGA, etc.
- To participate in campus and community service projects. A major commitment of the Chapter is that of training for leadership in every field of human endeavor.
Membership
A solemn commitment. To this Fraternity, the maker of the commitment becomes synonymous with the commitment itself. Membership in Kappa Alpha Psi® is a lifelong dedication to the ideas and lofty purposes of Kappa Alpha Psi®, which considers for membership only those aspirants whose personal, social and academic qualifications are acceptable to both the College and Fraternity. Expectations concerning maturity and dedication are made upon new members and established members alike.
A solemn commitment. To this Fraternity, the maker of the commitment becomes synonymous with the commitment itself. Membership in Kappa Alpha Psi® is a lifelong dedication to the ideas and lofty purposes of Kappa Alpha Psi®, which considers for membership only those aspirants whose personal, social and academic qualifications are acceptable to both the College and Fraternity. Expectations concerning maturity and dedication are made upon new members and established members alike.
Maturity
Is more than simply reaching a certain age. Maturity to us means acceptance of reality, the ability to sacrifice and set goals, consideration of others, incisive judgment, emotional balance, development of social skills, intellectual competence, and moral rectitude. We expect our members to be mature.
Is more than simply reaching a certain age. Maturity to us means acceptance of reality, the ability to sacrifice and set goals, consideration of others, incisive judgment, emotional balance, development of social skills, intellectual competence, and moral rectitude. We expect our members to be mature.
Dedication
Means putting those characteristics of maturity into a lifelong program of action to advance the goals and purposes of Kappa Alpha Psi®. We expect our members to be dedicated.
Do not let personal goals supersede those of the Fraternity. A person who feels he would do the Fraternity a favor by joining is not worthy of membership. No one who holds himself superior to the Brotherhood of Kappa Alpha Psi ® is worthy of this distinction.
Kappa Alpha Psi® is not interested in the simple accumulation of members and chapters. Its emphasis, however, is in the quality and integrity of its membership. Membership quality manifests itself through an intangible element of brotherhood we call “that Good Old Kappa Spirit.”
If you are interested in becoming a member of Kappa Alpha Psi®, please contact the Polemarch of the Alpha Theta Chapter for further information.
Acceptable qualities of Kappa Alpha Psi® members include:
Means putting those characteristics of maturity into a lifelong program of action to advance the goals and purposes of Kappa Alpha Psi®. We expect our members to be dedicated.
Do not let personal goals supersede those of the Fraternity. A person who feels he would do the Fraternity a favor by joining is not worthy of membership. No one who holds himself superior to the Brotherhood of Kappa Alpha Psi ® is worthy of this distinction.
Kappa Alpha Psi® is not interested in the simple accumulation of members and chapters. Its emphasis, however, is in the quality and integrity of its membership. Membership quality manifests itself through an intangible element of brotherhood we call “that Good Old Kappa Spirit.”
If you are interested in becoming a member of Kappa Alpha Psi®, please contact the Polemarch of the Alpha Theta Chapter for further information.
Acceptable qualities of Kappa Alpha Psi® members include:
- The disposition to live in close companionship with men of similar values.
- The wisdom to abide by the will of the majority without sacrificing individuality.
- The discretion to refrain from destructive criticism while seeking to remove the causes of such criticism.
- The acceptance of responsibility for any effort that moves the group forward.
- The desire to strive for, and ultimately achieve, excellence in everything you do.
- The commitment to train for leadership.
- The resolution to give lifelong financial support and commitment to the maintenance and development of the Fraternity’s programs and purposes.
Please visit our International Website to view more history of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
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