Fraternity and Sorority Life

Founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, DC, in 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African American college-trained women. To trace its history is to tell a story of changing patterns of human relations in America in the 20th century. The small group of women who organized the Sorority were conscious of the privileged position as college-trained women of color, just one generation removed from slavery. They were resolute that their college experiences should be as meaningful and productive as possible. Alpha Kappa Alpha was founded to apply that determination.

As the Sorority grew, it balanced two themes: the importance of the individual and the strength of an organization of women with ability and courage. As the world became more complex, there was a need for associations which cut across racial, geographical, political, physical, and social barriers. Alpha Kappa Alpha’s influence extends beyond campus quads and student interest. It has a legacy of service that deepens, rather than ends, with college graduation. The goals of its program activities center on significant issues in families, communities, government halls, and world assembly chambers. Its efforts constitute a priceless part of the global experience in the 21st century.

• Founding: January 15, 1908
• Where: Washington, DC
• Motto: “By culture and merit”
• Colors: Salmon pink and apple green
• Philanthropies: Refugees in America, American Heart Association, and Alzheimer's Association

Kappa Delta was founded in 1897 with the purpose of promoting and encouraging women to be their best selves through the power of friendship. Over the last 100+ years, Kappa Delta has expanded to over 200 colleges across the US and includes over 250,000 women. Kappa Delta believes in bettering the college experience of young women through charity work, social involvement, and leadership experience. Kappa Delta participates in four national charities: Girl Scouts of the USA, Prevent Child Abuse America, Children’s Hospital of Richmond, Virginia, and Orthopedic Research Awards. They have also recently begun an exciting collaboration with companies such as Vera Bradley, American Girl, and the Confidence Coalition.

When members aren’t working in the community, they love to have fun together through socials, formals, mixers, and sisterhood events. Kappa Delta ladies aren’t only about having a good time, though. Their academics are very important—they have one of the top five GPAs of all the Kappa Delta chapters nationwide. They also have the highest GPA of any organization on campus.

In the summer of 2019, the Pace chapter received the Merit Award, an honor awarded to the top 10 percent of Kappa Delta chapters in the world.

• Founding: October 23, 1897
• Where: State Female Normal School (Longwood University)
• Motto: “Let us strive for that which is honorable, beautiful, and highest”
• Colors: Olive green and pearl white
• Philanthropies: Prevent Child Abuse America, Girl Scouts of the USA, Orthopedic Research Award, and Children’s Hospital of Richmond Virginia

Phi Mu is a woman's organization that was founded in 1852. Phi Mu provides personal and academic development, service to others, commitment to excellence, community, and lifelong friendships.

• Founding: March 4, 1852
• Where: Wesleyan College
• Motto: “The faithful sisters”
• Colors: Rose and white
• Philanthropies: Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals

Sigma Delta Tau, a national women’s social sorority founded in 1917 at Cornell University, has over 100 chartered collegiate chapters and more than 60,000 alumnae members. Sigma Delta Tau’s philanthropic partners include Jewish Women International, Prevent Child Abuse America, and Women for Women International. Sigma Delta Tau provides intellectual, philanthropic, leadership, and social opportunities for all members, presented within a framework of mutual respect and high ethical standards. The mission of Sigma Delta Tau is to enrich the lifetime experience of women of similar ideals, to build lasting friendships, and to foster personal growth.

• Founding: March 25, 1917
• Where: Cornell University
• Motto: “One hope of many people”
• Colors: Café au lait and old blue
• Philanthropies: Prevent Child Abuse America and Jewish Women International

Founded in 1869, Kappa Sigma is represented on 313 college campuses throughout the US and Canada. At the heart of Kappa Sigma are the Fraternity's four pillars—fellowship, leadership, scholarship, and service—which guide its ambitions and underpin its successes. Striving for excellence in fellowship, leadership, scholarship, and service produces brothers who are involved in all aspects of campus life; who excel academically as students and professionally upon graduation; who develop lifelong bonds with those around them and who support those peers; and who serve their colleges and communities. Becoming a Kappa Sigma provides the framework to build yourself into the man you want to be.

Since its founding at the University of Virginia on December 10, 1869, Kappa Sigma has initiated more than 255,000 men on college campuses throughout the US and Canada. Today, the Fraternity has over 190,000 living alumni and more than 17,000 undergraduate members.

• Founding: December 10, 1869
• Where: University of Virginia
• Motto: “Bononia Docet (Bologna Teaches) | A.E.K.Δ.B.”
• Colors: Scarlet, white, and emerald green
• Philanthropies: A Greater Cause and Military Heroes Campaign

The mission of Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity is to foster and develop in its membership the tenets of its credo: intellectual awareness, social responsibility, integrity, and brotherly love in order to prepare its members for positions of leadership and service within their communities.

• Founding: December 29, 1898
• Where: The City College of New York
• Motto: “Brotherhood for a lifetime”
• Colors: Medium blue and white
• Philanthropies: Children's Miracle Network Hospital

The Pace NYC Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC) serves as the primary governing body for the men’s three social fraternities on campus. IFC exists to promote harmonious relations amongst the fraternities at Pace NYC; provide and act as the representative central government of the men’s social fraternities; promote support and develop programs for the fraternity community; standardize, control, and regulate the formal recruitment and new member education activities and programs of the men’s social fraternities; act as the judicial body for the men’s social fraternities on campus; and maintain and promote the standards and expectations set forth by the North-American Inter-Fraternity Conference (NIC) for our member organizations.

Pace NYC’s IFC is a subsidiary of NIC. The NIC is the trade association representing 58 inter/national fraternities. The NIC serves to advocate the needs of its member fraternities through enrichment of the fraternity experience; advancement and growth of the fraternity community; and enhancement of the educational mission of the host institutions. The NIC’s member organizations have approximately 5,500 chapters located on more than 800 campuses in the US and Canada with approximately 350,000 undergraduate members.

The Order of Omega is a leadership honor society for members of fraternity and sorority organizations. Order of Omega recognizes juniors and seniors who have exemplified high standards in the areas of scholarship; leadership; and involvement within their respective organization, campus, and local community. Members are selected from the top 3 percent of students at each institution. To date, over 500 chapters have been chartered throughout North America, each sharing the common goal of recognizing the many outstanding student leaders at their institution.

The Order of Omega unites fraternity students and facilitates an organization that will help to mold the sentiment of the institution on questions of local and intercollegiate fraternity affairs. It brings together members of the faculty, alumni, and student members of the institution's fraternities and sororities on a basis of mutual interest, understanding, and helpfulness. It helps create an atmosphere where ideas and issues can be discussed openly across Greek lines to hep work out solutions.

A college Panhellenic association is a democratic entity composed of all members of the NPC sororities on a campus. In this case, NPC sororities include Kappa Delta, Phi Mu, and Sigma Delta Tau. NPC works to promote the growth of individual chapters and the sorority community; encourage the highest possible academic, social, and moral standards as well as orderly procedures; and provide for programming in addition to recruitment. The Panhellenic Council exists to develop and maintain inter-fraternal relations at a high level of accomplishment by considering the goals and ideals of each member organization as applicable to campus and personal life; promote superior scholarship as basic to intellectual achievement; cooperate with member organizations and University administration to maintain high social and moral standards; act in accordance with all Unanimous Agreements, Standards, and Best Practices set forth by the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC); and act in accordance with the standards and expectations set for the sorority community at Keene State so as not to violate the sovereignty, rights, and privileges of our member organizations.

Pace NYC’s University Panhellenic Council is a subsidiary of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC). The NPC is the premier advocacy and support organization for the advancement of the sorority experience, and provides support and guidance for its 26 member inter/national sororities and women’s fraternities, and serves as the national voice on contemporary issues of sorority life. NPC is one of the oldest and largest women’s membership organizations representing more than 4 million women at 655 college and university campuses and 4,500 local alumnae chapters in the US and Canada.