New Member Experience

Here’s what to expect

Brotherhood

Meeting new friends is a hallmark of joining a fraternity. Your brothers are for life, whether you join with them or they are the seniors now. Get to know your brothers now and learn how to work, play, and live with them. This will benefit you for your entire life.

Education

You should have a period of education up to 8 weeks long–anything longer is a violation of KA rules. You can’t learn everything in 8 weeks or even 4 years. Learn what you need to know and then continue to gain more knowledge in your experience. New member education will include meetings, retreats, service projects, quizzes, online education, and orientation of meeting the chapter. Most importantly, you’ll key in on the responsibilities of fraternity membership so you will be fully prepared and ready to contribute to the chapter once you are initiated.

No Hazing

Now, a word about hazing. Hazing is just simply not useful to KA. If you’ve ever been part of a team you likely experienced hazing. Don’t bring it into KA. This is not true brotherhood building. It is forced adversity for the enjoyment of hazing folks. Most likely you’ll not experience hazing. But if you do, know this–there is not one single chapter or fraternity who permits hazing and it is your duty to report it, work to fix it, or simply do not engage in the activity. Be a man and stand up.

Finances

There is a financial commitment to joining. There are national dues and fees. These are for your induction, your initiation, national dues, and national insurance.

Induction Fee
$125 per man. One-time. This is owed to the chapter when you join. You fill out your first form online and receive your goKA account. This confirms your membership and will be where you pay all your dues, both national and local, from here on out.

Initiation Fee
$300 per man. One-time. Consider it a lifetime joining fee. You’ll get your badge, your shingle, and varied other benefits. Same deal as Induction; pay the chapter, they pay the national administrative office

National Dues
$185 per man, per year. (half in the spring if joining in the fall). These help keep the Order running. Your dues, among hundreds of other ways, help start new chapters, give resources to our chapters, and more, and when others join, their dues benefit the Order as a whole too. You’ll be assessed this by the chapter who will in turn pay the national administrative office.

Risk Management Assessment Fees
$235 per man, per year. Just like you insure your car, a house, or other important items, KA insures its members and our Order. Like national dues, you’ll pay this to the chapter, and the chapter will pay the national administrative office.

Chapter Dues and/or Housing Fees
These help keep the lights on at your chapter. You’ll likely pay by semester or by month. Financial information is all set up on a page for you online through goKA. This may include rent if you live in a chapter house or fees to help with upkeep of the property.

New Member Education

It is unfortunate that in today’s society the media and members of our many Greek organizations have portrayed a distorted view of fraternity life. This has created several common misconceptions and myths about what should go on in a fraternity. Kappa Alpha Order was founded on the principles of Christian Knights and we believe, teach, and cherish the high tenets of honor, duty, character, and gentlemanly conduct. The requirements of a member awaiting initiation should reflect these principles.

The new member education period in Kappa Alpha Order varies slightly from chapter to chapter, however every chapter of Kappa Alpha Order does have several general requirements and regulations they must uphold. If at any time a member awaiting initiation feels he is being asked or required to do anything that violates these regulations or the Kappa Alpha Order Risk Management Policy he is encouraged to contact the chapter’s advisors, Province Commander, or a member of the national administrative staff.

-In accordance with the Kappa Alpha Laws, the new member education period cannot extend for more than eight consecutive weeks, except by approval from the Executive Director. This period begins when a new member accepts his bid and ends at his initiation.

-Every member of Kappa Alpha Order is required to attend certain meetings. As an organization we prescribe to Robert’s Rules of Order for parliamentary procedure. New member meetings are to be carried out in the same manner.

-New members of Kappa Alpha Order are asked to do many of the same things that active members are expected to do. As a standard, all members of Kappa Alpha Order need to be committed to doing the following:

  • Maintain a GPA that is at least or above the all men’s and all fraternity averages on campus
  • Become involved and engaged in other college activities and organizations
  • Perform tasks for the community and those who are less fortunate through volunteer service projects, and philanthropic fundraisers
  • Treat members as brothers and conduct yourself as a gentleman at all times
  • Participate in chapter activities as a contributing member, on a committee or as an officer
  • Serve seven full active semesters as an undergraduate member or graduate
  • Pay your bills owed to the chapter in a timely fashion
  • Learn about the organization’s history and structure to gain a better understanding of how organizations work and how you might contribute

If you have additional questions regarding the Kappa Alpha Order new member education process please contact the Kappa Alpha Order National Administrative Office.