Membership - Reactivatioin
This page is designed to assist inactive members’ return to active membership. We are a legacy of sisterhood and service and welcome you back with open arms. If additional assistance is needed, please contact the Great Lakes Regional Director, a local chapter president, or contact our corporate office.
What do I need to do to reactivate my membership if I’ve been inactive for one or more years?
Please complete the appropriate form below. Include your current name, address, chapter of initiation and date, last chapter with which you were active, all previous names used and financial card number (if available). Once your membership is reactivated, you will receive a financial card, Ivy Leaf magazine and announcements about the Boulé, Leadership Seminar, and other events.
Graduate Chapter Reactivation Form – complete and submit to the chapter with which you wish to affiliate plus money order/certified check for reactivation/reinstatement fees, chapter dues, fees and assessments, as applicable.
General Member Reactivation Form – complete and submit to the Corporate Office plus money order/certified check for reactivation/reinstatement fees, per capita, fees and assessments, as applicable.
Notes:
- THESE FORMS ARE TO BE USED ONLY IF YOU HAVE BEEN INACTIVE ONE OR MORE YEARS.
- Undergraduates who attend a college/university where an AKA chapter exists, may not reactivate as General Members.
How much will it cost to reinstate/reactivate my membership?
You will need to pay: reinstatement fees and the Corporate Office Improvement Project (COIP) assessment, if applicable. Corporate assessments include Education Advancement Foundation (EAF) dues and the cost of the current Constitution and Bylaws and Manual of Standard Procedure. If you’re reactivating with a chapter, you will also need to pay dues and assessments (which vary by chapter).
What is a Transfer Verification Form?
The Transfer Verification Form is an official Sorority form which documents that an inactive member has met all financial obligations to her former chapter and the Boulé. Before transferring membership from one chapter to another, you must obtain clearance from the former chapter. Before transferring your status as a General Member to chapter member, you must obtain clearance from the Corporate Office. No chapter can accept an inactive member into active membership before receiving a completed Transfer Verification Form. Download a Transfer Verification Form by clicking here.
What is the Corporate Office Improvement Project (COIP) assessment?
COIP is a fee that goes into an endowment fund which pays for building maintenance of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Corporate Office. Delegates to the 1990 Boulé (Richmond, VA) voted in favor of adding an additional floor and storage space to the Corporate Office building. The Building and Properties Committee developed a fund-raising plan, which included a building assessment fee to pay for this addition. Delegates to the 1992 Boulé (New Orleans, LA) ratified the establishment of an endowment fund to pay for building maintenance. Effective January 1, 1994, the one-time COIP assessment must be paid by all financially active members.
Is anyone exempt from the COIP assessment?
Sorors initiated July 31, 1943 and earlier, do not have to pay the COIP assessment.
How do I know or find out if I paid the COIP assessment?
If you were initiated after July 1992, the COIP assessment was included in your initiation fees. If you were initiated before July 1992 or were a Golden Soror as of July 31, 1993 and active after July 1, 1994, contact the Corporate Office (Attention: Membership) if you need to verify payment was made.
Overview
By uniting individual efforts, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority has built a strong, cohesive organization that positively impacts the lives of families and communities. The Sorority's success is based on the depth of commitment, vision and confidence of its members.
Alpha Kappa Alpha seeks women who will promote, uphold, and extend its policies and programs. In return, the Sorority is a conduit through which individuals can grow and develop, personally and professionally, while simultaneously providing "Service to All Mankind."
Membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is generally classified as undergraduate or graduate. In both classifications:
- Prospective members must have high ethical and moral standards;
- Membership can only be obtained by completing the Sorority's official Membership Intake Process (MIP);
- Interested candidates should not participate in demeaning, degrading or unkind acts. Should members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority ask you to perform tasks or participate in activities other than those outlined in our MIP, they are in violation of the Sorority's policies and practices and do not represent the values of the organization. This behavior will not be tolerated.
Membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority will not be extended to:
- An individual who knowingly participates in activities outside of the official Membership Intake Process;
- An individual who knowingly participates in activities which are demeaning, degrading or demoralizing;
- An individual who knowingly submits falsified documents or credentials.
Undergraduate Membership
Requirements
- Matriculation as a full-time student where the campus chapter is located; or matriculation as a full-time student in a school in the community where a city chapter of undergraduate status is located;
- Completion of at least one successful grading period (or a defined by the university) as a full-time student at the institution where application is made;
- A cumulative average of C+ and semester average of C+ immediately prior to submitting an application for membership. [In those two-, three- or four-year senior colleges/universities using pass-fail, required competency or good standing systems of grading, either shall be acceptable.];
- Attendance at the official Rush.
Process
The process for undergraduate membership begins with Rush. The date, location and time of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority activity will be posted a minimum of two (2) weeks prior to the event. Any individual who does not attend the Rush activity is ineligible to be considered for candidacy and may be considered during a subsequent Rush/MIP period.
The Sorority's undergraduate Membership Intake Process (MIP) begins when an Official Acceptance Letter is received. THERE WILL BE NO MEMBERSHIP ACTIVITIES BETWEEN RUSH AND RECEIPT OF THIS OFFICIAL LETTER. MIP activities in the name of the Sorority prior to Rush are prohibited. The university may have additional requirements, which will impact this process. There is no pre-pledging or pledging requirements for membership.
Following is a list of documents and forms which will assist in the process.
Undergraduate Membership Interest Application (writeable PDF)
Contact the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority graduate advisor on campus with any additional questions pertaining to the Membership Intake Process.
Graduate Membership
Requirements
- Completion of at least a baccalaureate degree with a cumulative average of at least C+ or a graduate degree from an accredited senior college/university;
- Motivation and ability to promote and extend the policies and programs of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
Process
The Sorority's official graduate Membership Intake Process (MIP) is by invitation only through one of our local graduate chapters and may not be solicited. Chapters host public events, such as forums, cultural presentations and social activities, which you may wish to attend in order to become acquainted with Sorority members and their community service activities in your area. The Chapter Locator section of this site provides chapter names and contacts in your community.
The MIP begins with an Official Letter of Invitation, on chapter stationery, signed by the local graduate chapter president AND membership chair. THERE WILL BE NO MEMBERSHIP ACTIVITIES PRIOR TO RECEIPT OF AN OFFICIAL LETTER OF INVITATION. Participation in MIP activities in the name of the Sorority prior to receipt of this official letter is prohibited. There is neither pledging nor a Rush.
Candidacy is also contingent upon approval of the required materials submitted by the prospective candidate.
Legacy Status
A candidate who is the daughter, granddaughter, adopted daughter, stepdaughter or legal ward* of an active or deceased member is considered a Legacy Candidate.
* For Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, a legal ward is defined as one whose permanent care, control, and custody legally have been placed with a member of the Sorority by an appropriate court of law.
Undergraduate
The living family-member must have been active for at least two (2) years immediately preceding the membership application for the undergraduate Legacy Candidate. Any undergraduate who applies for membership under the legacy provision must meet all of the requirements for undergraduate membership.
Graduate
The living family-member must have been active for at least two (2) years immediately preceding the presentation of recommendation for the Legacy Candidate. Graduate Legacy Candidates must meet all of the requirements for graduate membership.
Following is a list of documents and forms which will assist in the process.
Undergraduate Legacy Application Guidelines
Undergraduate Legacy Application (writeable PDF)
Graduate Legacy Application Guidelines
Graduate Legacy Application (writeable PDF)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I participate in membership intake related activities, such as attending meetings or study sessions, wearing specific apparel or performing tasks prior to Rush, if I am asked to do so by a member of the Sorority?
A. No. Such activities are prohibited. Membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority will not be extended to individuals engaging in membership intake activities prior to Rush.
Q. Is it possible for me to be considered for membership if I attend a four-year college/university that does not have a chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority?
A. Yes. Review the Sorority's criteria for membership as outlined in the Undergraduate Membership section above. You can be presented for General Membership in the Sorority by the graduate chapter in your college community or by the graduate chapter in your home community. Use the Chapter Locater to identify chapter names and contacts.
Q. What is the process for chartering an Alpha Kappa Alpha chapter on a campus that does not have one?
A. Contact the Regional Director for information regarding an Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority chapter on your campus. [Regional Director contact information is available in the Contact Us section of the site. To determine if your campus is located in the North Atlantic Region, consult the chapter listings in the About The Region section of the site.]
Q. Is there another method for me to become a member of the Sorority if I attend a college/university that has an inactive chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority?
A. No. If your campus chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is inactive, it is not possible for you to become a member of the Sorority at this time.
Q. Can I become a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority if I attend a community college?
A, No. The Sorority's membership requirements include attendance at a four-year college/university that confers baccalaureate degrees.
Policy
All existing and prospective members have the right to be treated with dignity and respect. These rights are enforced by punishing violations of the Sorority's policies and procedures. A cornerstone of the Sorority's Risk Management policy is the prohibition of hazing.
Hazing has been prohibited in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority since the organization was founded in 1908. In 1999, Alpha Kappa Alpha 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.
Hazing will not be tolerated in any form.
Definition of Hazing:
Hazing is defined as an act or series of acts that include, but are not limited to:
- Physical acts, such as hitting, striking, laying hands upon or threatening to do bodily harm to any individual(s), while acting in one's capacity as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
- Behavior which is directed against any individual(s) for the purpose of causing shame, abuse, insult, humiliation, intimidation or disgrace.
- A variety of prohibited practices, including but not limited to, "underground hazing," "financial hazing," "pre-pledging," "post-pledging" or "post-initiation pledging."
Educating Members:
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority makes every effort to fully disclose its Risk Management policy, including but not limited to:
- Distributing brochures through university officials and graduate advisors, who, in turn, distribute them to students likely to go through Sorority Rush. These brochures outline the Sorority's Risk Management policies.
- Training chapters on the Risk Management policies during workshops conducted before each chapter begins its Membership Intake Process (MIP)/Rush activities. Undergraduate and graduate members involved in the MIP must promise to treat candidates with respect by signing a Commitment Statement that affirms they will not participate in hazing.
- Distributing a letter to all Rush participants from the respective Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Regional Director that defines hazing and outlines procedures for reporting hazing incidents. This letter is also read audibly as part of the Rush agenda.
- Providing all Rush participants with a copy of the Sorority's Risk Management policy.
During the Membership Intake Process:
- Providing training to graduate advisors and/or graduate councils/committees who serve as mentors for undergraduate members to ensure the Rush and the MIP is conducted properly, without hazing incidents.
- Mandating that candidates under age 21 (unless emancipated under state law), along with their parents/legal guardians, sign an undergraduate form that expresses their interest in joining Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. That form explains the Sorority's strict Risk Management policy on hazing.
By signing the Membership Interest form, undergraduate candidates acknowledge that they have read, understand, agree and will abide by Sorority policy.
By signing the required Candidate Commitment statement, all candidates—graduate and undergraduate—agree to follow Sorority policies on hazing.
Following is a list of documents and forms which will assist in a complaint process, if necessary.
Undergraduate Hazing Complaint Form (writeable PDF)
Graduate Hazing Complaint Form (writeable PDF)
Hazing Policy Violations
Any individual or chapter violation of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority's Risk Management policy will result in suspension, expulsion or revocation of the chapter's charter. A fine may also be imposed.
In addition, hazing activities may result in official discipline by a college/university or the imposition of civil and criminal penalties for individuals and/or chapters.
Unofficial [Improper] Contact
All candidates—graduate and undergraduate—should understand that they must not consider contact with a suspended or expelled member to be any part of the Sorority's Membership Intake Process. Members may be, and are, suspended or expelled for reasons other than hazing. However, candidates should not participate in any form of membership activities with any suspended or expelled member. In order to assist candidates in determining who may not contact them on behalf of the Sorority, below are descriptions of the suspension and expulsion penalties, and separate links to list all suspended and expelled members irrespective of the specific reasons for the punishment.
Member Suspension
Suspension of a member disqualifies the individual from participating in any and all Sorority activities, in any capacity, until restored to good standing by the Regional Director, upon approval of the International President.
Member Expulsion
Expulsion permanently revokes the individual's membership in the Sorority.
Policy
All existing and prospective members have the right to be treated with dignity and respect. These rights are enforced by punishing violations of the Sorority's policies and procedures. A cornerstone of the Sorority's Risk Management policy is the prohibition of hazing.
Hazing has been prohibited in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority since the organization was founded in 1908. In 1999, Alpha Kappa Alpha 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.
Hazing will not be tolerated in any form.
Definition of Hazing
Hazing is defined as an act or series of acts that include, but are not limited to:
- Physical acts, such as hitting, striking, laying hands upon or threatening to do bodily harm to any individual(s), while acting in one's capacity as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
- Behavior which is directed against any individual(s) for the purpose of causing shame, abuse, insult, humiliation, intimidation or disgrace.
- A variety of prohibited practices, including but not limited to, "underground hazing," "financial hazing," "pre-pledging," "post-pledging" or "post-initiation pledging."
Hazing Policy Violations
Any individual or chapter violation of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority's Risk Management policy will result in suspension, expulsion or revocation of the chapter's charter. A fine may also be imposed.
In addition, hazing activities may result in official discipline by a college/university or the imposition of civil and criminal penalties for individuals and/or chapters.
Undergraduate Hazing Complaint Form (writeable PDF)
Graduate Hazing Complaint Form (writeable PDF)