Student | Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a Fraternity?
2. When Was Kappa Sigma Founded?
3. What is Your Stance On Hazing?
4. How Do Kappa Sigma Chapters Benefit Their Host Institutions?
5. I Heard I Can Get A Scholarship From Kappa Sigma?
6. What is Kappa Sigma Looking For?
7. What is Rush?
8. How Does The Process Work?
9. What is a Pledge?
10. What Happens During The Pledge Period?
11. How Long is Kappa Sigma's Pledge Period?
1. What is a Fraternity?
A fraternity is an organization of women or men bound together by friendship, aspirations, and common goals. On a university campus a student will find many opportunities to get involved in an array of different fraternities, whether they are solely based on academic honorary, academic major, community service, religion, ethnicity; or whether they are social fraternities such as Kappa Sigma.
Kappa Sigma's main objective is based on building a better man, while encouraging him to participate in as many other campus organizations that he may choose. More specifically, Kappa Sigma looks to provide the opportunity for the male student to enhance his fellowship circle, leadership skills, scholastic involvement, and service contribution to the local community.
2. When Was Kappa Sigma Founded?
Kappa Sigma traces its origins to the writer and teacher Manuel Chrysoloras, who taught at the University of Bologna in the very late 14th century. In 1869, the traditions of Kappa Sigma were brought to the University of Virginia, from where the fraternity spread across the United States and into Canada.
3. What is Your Stance On Hazing?
Hazing doesn't create brotherhood, it creates distrust, anger and confusion. Like almost every other fraternity today, Kappa Sigma has a very strict anti-hazing policy that is enforced by the chapter Executive Committee, as well as Kappa Sigma headquarters.
4. How Do Kappa Sigma Chapters Benefit Their Host Institutions?
The benefits fraternities like Kappa Sigma provide to the university they are associated with are multiple. Despite being a "social" fraternity, Kappa Sigma requires community service/volunteer hours from its members. These activities may directly serve the university, or may simply spread the good name of the university outside in the community. Kappa Sigma places a great emphasis on scholarship - we have regular, required study hours, and we enforce minimum academic standards. At the same time, we help members become more actively involved in campus life. Fraternity members are able to look back on their university days with pride, having done so much more than just get a degree. As students become more involved in campus life, the likelihood of dropping out decreases. As a major student group on campus, Kappa Sigma creates school spirit. Finally, Kappa Sigma helps students pay for their education - more on this below.
5. I Heard I Can Get A Scholarship From Kappa Sigma?
The Kappa Sigma Endowment Fund provides nearly $300,000 in scholarships to members every year. To get one takes a combination of academic achievement, and involvement in the fraternity and other extracurricular activities.
6. What is Kappa Sigma Looking For?
We are devoted to finding men who will enhance and improve our brotherhood. If you are committed to participating in our fraternal activities, chapter meetings, community service projects, and leadership programs, we are looking for you.
7. What is Rush?
The term "rush" is another term for new membership recruitment. It is a great way to learn more about Kappa Sigma and the Greek Community that exists throughout North America. During rush, you will have the opportunity to meet the Kappa Sigma members and ask any questions to determine if Kappa Sigma is right for you.
8. How Does The Process Work?
First, submit your contact information on this website or contact the Rush Chair and to arrange to come out to some of our social events and our information sessions.
Through recruitment events, information sessions, and spending time with the members, you can become acquainted with the fraternity and see what it has to offer. After a period of time, if friendship exists, and the fraternity believes that there would be mutual benefit from your association, you would receive a "bid," which is a formal invitation to pledge as a Kappa Sigma. After accepting the bid, you would then become a pledge of the organization and spend a pledge period learning the history of the organization and getting to know its members.
9. What is a Pledge?
A pledge is an associate member of the fraternity. Pledges go through the pledge process (probation) to fulfill their requirements of becoming a brother. It is a term used to differentiate between someone who has attained full membership in the fraternity. It is by no means demeaning. All members, regardless of membership status, work hard to promote the values of fraternity and live up to its standards.
10. What Happens During The Pledge Period?
You will learn Kappa Sigma's history, traditions, and values. Pledges will have the opportunity to attend our meetings so you can get familiar with all of the brothers and how our fraternity works. Pledges are encouraged to come out to all our events and participate with us as much as possible. At the end of the pledge period, you are then initiated and become a full member of the fraternity.
11. How Long is Kappa Sigma's Pledge Period?
Kappa Sigma has a maximum 60 day pledge period, but it may be less. You may pledge during either the fall or spring semesters, consistent with the policies of your host institution.
Kappa Sigma | Theta Omega Chapter | University Of Texas at Arlington
UTA Fraternity and Sorority Life | 300 West 1st Street • Lower Level University Center B160 • Arlington, TX 76019 | Phone: 817-272-9234 • Email: greeklife@uta.edu • Hours: Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.