NPHC

What is the NPHC?

The National Pan-Hellenic Council was established in 1930 at Howard University as a national coordinating body for the nine historically African American fraternities and sororities which had evolved on American college and university campuses. Blatant racism prevented many African American students on historically white campuses from joining fraternities and sororities. African Americans were denied admittance to large numbers of campuses which still prohibited blacks from attending. Therefore, African American students on both types of campuses established fraternities and sororities to enhance their college experiences. These organizations did not then nor do they now restrict membership to African Americans.

 

The nine international fraternities and sororities that make up NPHC, also known as the Divine 9, are:

1906 | Cornell University | Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

1908 | Howard University | Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

1911 | Indiana University | Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

1911 | Howard University | Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

1913 | Howard University | Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

1914 | Howard University | Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

1920 | Howard University | Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

1922 | Butler University | Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

1963 | Morgan State University | Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.

 

The stated purpose and mission of the organization in 1930 was “Unanimity of thought and action as far as possible in the conduct of Greek letter collegiate fraternities and sororities, and to consider problems of mutual interest to its member organizations.”

On December 31, 1993, the National Pan-Hellenic Council at the University of Southern Mississippi was chartered. Black Greek-letter organizations have a long history at Southern Miss. The chartering dates of our chapters are: Alpha Kappa Alpha (1975), Omega Psi Phi (1975), Delta Sigma Theta (1975), Phi Beta Sigma (1976), Sigma Gamma Rho (1978), Kappa Alpha Psi (1980), Alpha Phi Alpha (1982), Zeta Phi Beta (1984), and Iota Phi Theta (2005)

NPHC Intake 

The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) organizations at The University of Southern Mississippi select members through a process called intake. Intake is the process of selecting, educating and initiating new members into an NPHC chapter. This process is prescribed by the national organization.

NPHC groups will individually announce their membership selection/intake process during the semester and they will explain their membership process at the initial informational meeting. Interested students are encouraged to check out the national websites for the various NPHC organizations and to attend events sponsored by the local chapters. By doing this, you will have a better perspective of the organization and its members so that you can make the best decision for you.

• Students interested in membership of the NPHC chapters at Southern Miss must have completed at least 12 credit hours.
• Students must be enrolled at Southern Miss with a 2.5 or higher cumulative grade point average.
• It is the decision of individual organizations if transfer students are eligible for membership into their organization.
• Students enrolled at other colleges or universities are not eligible for membership in Southern Miss organizations.
• All potential members/candidates for membership must have their grades and hours verified prior to the chapter extending any form of invitation to membership.
• Attendance at the NPHC Sorority/Fraternity Informational is required for intake into any active NPHC organization. The fall 2020 informational will be hosted on August 30th, 2020
• Letters of recommendation from alumni/ae are usually required.
• Groups can conduct intake each semester, skip semesters, or conduct one every other year. It is the decision of individual groups when to conduct intake.

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