Mission Statement:

The Fraternity is committed to fostering a close cooperative partnership with all colleges and universities where chapters exist. The Fraternity should promote academic achievement and assist each member to achieve his academic potential. By helping members adjust to the college environment, we can help them pursue their degree goals. Co-curricular activities can be as valuable as the classroom experience; hence, the Fraternity should promote involvement in all aspects of campus life.

The Fraternity should promote the ideal of Brotherhood.

The creation of lifelong friendships is a primary benefit of Fraternity membership. The Fraternity fulfills the need of students to belong to an extended family and frequently provides the opportunity to enhance those personal relationships through group living situations. As Brothers, our members have an obligation to have a caring concern for the welfare of our members. Brotherhood is a lifetime commitment; therefore, we should encourage strong alumni-undergraduate relationships for the mutual benefit of the students and the alumni.

The Fraternity should actively contribute to the personal growth and development of its members.

We teach young men social skills that will benefit them throughout their lifetime. The multitude of leadership opportunities available through the Fraternity prepares members for success in their chosen careers. Chapters should organize well-rounded programs and strive for excellence and quality in all undertakings.

The Fraternity should promote ethical behavior and decision-making.

The lessons taught from Fraternity ritual should be incorporated into the daily lives of the members. Kappa Sigmas are expected to act as gentlemen at all times, and the Fraternity must demand the highest standards of personal conduct. The Fraternity should instill a sense of responsibility and integrity. The dignity of all persons shall always be respected; intolerant or abusive behavior cannot be tolerated.

The Fraternity should encourage service to others.

Members, individually and collectively, should work toward the betterment of their campus and community... and in so doing contribute to the betterment of themselves.

Brief History:

ΚΣ (Kappa Sigma) is an international fraternity with currently 234 chapters and 42 colonies in North America. There have been over 250,000 initiates, of which over 182,500 are living and over 12,000 are undergraduates. It is currently the leader of all American Fraternities in terms of pledges and new initiates per year, service hours, and philanthropic donations. The Fraternity also has the lowest national dues of any other fraternity and has the oldest continuous endowment fund which has donated $4.5 million to undergrads since its inception in 1919.

The origins of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity can be traced back to the city of Bologna, Italy around the year 1400. At the University of Bologna, a teacher by the name of Manuel Chrysoloras founded an ancient society of students with five of his most devoted disciples. The society was founded for mutual protection against the corrupt governor of the city, former pirate Baldassare Cossa, who would often have students of the University physically attacked and robbed in the streets. After leaving Bologna, he later usurped the Papacy as an antipope under the name John XXIII.

The students used secret words and signs to protect their ranks from betrayal. These forms and rituals became the basis of their organization. It embodied their ideals and allowed for both the safety of their members and the strong unity of the society.

The society slowly grew to large numbers, taking in those students who desired the protection it could offer. With a strong foundation in the loyalty and quality of its members, the ancient order grew into a strong organization. Over time, its strength and unity transformed the order from a protective society against Cossa into something much greater --- a true brotherhood.

History holds that the society continued to grow and spread its glory to the great universities of Europe. It is believed that this continued throughout much of the Renaissance. However, by the middle of the 19th century, the Order was barely active.