Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority, Inc. is a women’s group that provides an opportunity for members to grow both personally and professionally. This group is also dedicated to serving all mankind, so you won’t be making a mistake if you join AKA sorority. The strength of this sorority lies in its more than 355,000 members and their commitment, vision, and confidence.

In this post, you will learn the steps to join AKA sorority for all available memberships. There are currently 3 levels of AKA membership.

Membership Classifications

Membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.® falls under 3 categories:

1. Undergraduate Membership
2. Graduate Membership
3. Legacy Membership

AKA Membership Guidelines

The Sorority has a set of principles that prospective members must uphold:

1. The sorority does not tolerate discrimination based on race, color, age, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, or disability by its chapters or its members. Being a women’s organization, it maintains single-sex membership.
2. Prospective members must maintain high ethical and moral standards.
3. To join AKA sorority, you must complete the sorority’s official Membership Experience (ME).
4. All members and prospective members deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. The sorority prohibits hazing and imposes sanctions for violations of its policies.
5. Contact with current, suspended, or expelled members and/or activities outside of the official ME process are strictly prohibited.

How to Join AKA Sorority Undergraduate Membership

• After attending the official Rush, your Membership Experience (ME) begins when you receive a Letter of Acceptance. There are no membership activities between Rush and receiving your acceptance letter.
• Pledging is not part of the membership process, and anyone found participating in pledging activities will be denied membership. If pledging activities are discovered after initiation, suspension or expulsion may occur.
• You will need to fill out the Undergraduate Membership Interest Application to prepare for Rush, and any questions should be addressed to the Graduate Advisor for your chapter.
• Prospective members should review the General Information for the Collegian and must submit at least one (but no more than three) Evidence of Community and Campus Involvement (ECCI) forms.

Requirements

The following are the requirements for membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® at the undergraduate level:

1. You need to be a full-time undergraduate student at the university where the campus chapter is located, or at an accredited school affiliated with an undergraduate city chapter in the community.
2. You must have completed at least one grading period (as defined by your university) as a full-time student at the affiliated institution before submitting your application.
3. You should have earned full-time hours (12+ hours) for the Spring or Fall session.
4. You should have a cumulative and semester average of C+ (equivalent to a 2.50 on a 4.0 scale) immediately preceding the submission of your application. If your university uses a pass-fail grading scale, then competency or good-standing grading systems are acceptable.
5. You must attend the official Rush, which is the first step in the membership process. Information about Rush, such as location, date, and time, will be provided at least two weeks in advance.
6. Please note, some chapters or schools may require a higher semester and/or cumulative average for eligibility.

How to Join AKA Sorority Graduate Membership Intake

The membership process for graduates is purely by invitation and is not solicited via graduate chapters. This membership is for those who are not in college.

These chapters organize various public events, including forums, cultural presentations, and social activities, to familiarize potential candidates with members and the service activities offered to local communities. Prospective members should not proactively seek membership into the Sorority.

For locating graduate chapters and contacts within or near your community, the Chapter Locator tool can be used.

The Graduate Membership Experience (ME) officially commences with a Letter of Invitation signed by both the graduate chapter president and membership chairman on chapter stationery. Any membership activities before receiving this official invitation letter are prohibited. If a candidate partakes in any such activities before receiving the official letter, their membership application will be rejected.

Pledging at any point, be it before, during, or after initiation, is not part of the membership process.

Any candidate found participating in such activities knowingly will be denied membership into the Sorority. Moreover, suspension or expulsion may follow if a member is found to have participated in pledging activities post-initiation.

Requirements

To be considered for membership, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Have completed a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with at least a C+ cumulative average. If the school doesn’t use a plus/minus grading scale, a C+ equates to a 2.50 on a 4.0 scale. Alternatively, they may have a graduate or professional degree (Ph.D., M.D., J.D., etc.).
• Exhibit the motivation and skills needed to further the policies and programs of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®.
• Attend an Information Session with all the necessary documents mentioned in the Invitation Letter.

How to Join AKA Sorority Legacy Candidate Status

Legacy candidates are applicants who have a certain familial relationship with an active or deceased member of the sorority. This includes:

• Daughters
• Granddaughters
• Adopted daughters
• Stepdaughters
• Legal wards

However, being a legacy candidate doesn’t guarantee you’ll be accepted as a member.

A ‘legal ward’ is someone who has been legally placed under the permanent care, control, and custody of a sorority member by an appropriate court of law. If this applies to you, you’ll be asked to provide court documentation to confirm your status.

Legacy Provision

Your living family member in the sorority must have been an active member for at least two years straight before you submit your application. This means they must have been a member for 24 consecutive months.

It’s worth noting that even if you’re applying as a legacy, you’ll still need to meet all other membership requirements.

Undergraduate Legacy Application Guidelines and Form

Before you apply and join AKA sorority using undergrad legacy, your family member can verify whether or not you are eligible. Once you know you qualify, you can submit an Undergraduate Legacy Application.

Application Requirements

Your family member should be in a position to verify your eligibility before you submit your application. Following that, you should complete and submit the Undergraduate Legacy Application form. Remember, meeting the legacy provision does not ensure automatic membership. You would still have to meet all other membership requirements.

Unacceptable Behaviors

Members who ask you to perform tasks or participate in activities outside those specified in the ME violate the sorority’s policies and do not represent its values. If these rules are broken, disciplinary action, including expulsion, may be taken.

Membership will not be granted to individuals who:

1. Participate knowingly in activities outside of the official Membership Experience.
2. Participate knowingly in activities that are demeaning, degrading, or demoralizing.
3. Knowingly submit falsified documents or credentials.

I got an invitation to join from a local graduate chapter. Can I join as a graduate member if I haven’t graduated yet?

No, you can’t. You need to have a bachelor’s degree before you can join as a graduate member.

Can I join Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority if I’m studying at a 2-year community college?

No, you can’t. You need to be studying at a four-year college or university that offers bachelor’s degrees.

If a Sorority member asks me to join meetings, study groups, wear certain clothes, or do specific tasks, can I join in?

No, you can’t. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® doesn’t allow these activities, and you won’t be able to join if you knowingly participate in them.

Can I join if I’m a member of another Sorority or used to be?

If the other Sorority is part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council or National Panhellenic Conference, you can’t join Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. If you lie on your application, your membership will be canceled and you’ll be kicked out of the Sorority.

If my school’s chapter is not active, can I join the membership process at another school?

No, you can’t. You need to complete at least one grading period at a school that’s affiliated with the chapter before you can join the Membership Experience.

Can I join Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority if my four-year college or university doesn’t have a chapter?

Yes, you can. If there’s a graduate chapter near your college that’s willing to sponsor you, they can recommend you for membership. You can use the Chapter Locator to find nearby graduate chapters.

I applied as a legacy candidate but my family member doesn’t qualify. Can I switch to a non-legacy candidate?

No, you can’t. Once your legacy application has been accepted and sent to the Corporate Office for review, you can’t change your candidate type. Your family member can contact the AKA Corporate Office to check if they’re eligible for the legacy provision before you submit a legacy application.

If I already have a bachelor’s degree, can I apply for undergraduate membership if I’m studying for a second bachelor’s degree at a four-year college?

No, you can’t. If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you can only apply for graduate membership, which is by invitation only.

How can I start an Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority chapter at my school?

You can get in touch with the Regional Director for information on how to start a chapter at your school. You can find the Regional Director’s contact information in the Regions section under About AKA.

What should I do if I haven’t gotten an invitation to join even though I’ve been to all the public events of the graduate chapter?

Just going to activities doesn’t mean you’ll get an invitation to join. Chapter members will recommend women who share the Sorority’s mission of service to all mankind. Keep networking and serving your local community and beyond. We appreciate your interest in the sorority.