Alpha Kappa Delta
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Alpha Kappa Delta () is an international
honor society In the United States, an honor society is an organization that recognizes individuals who rank above a set standard in various domains such as academics, leadership, and other personal achievements, not all of which are based on ranking systems. ...
of
sociology Sociology is the scientific study of human society that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of Interpersonal ties, social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. The term sociol ...
. It was founded by Emory S. Bogardus at the University of Southern California in 1920.''Robson, John, ed. (1963). ''Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities'' (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press, George Banta Company, Inc. pp. 607-608.'' It has over 152,000 members across more than 700 chapters worldwide. It is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies.


History

In 1915, one of the earliest American collegiate sociology departments was created at the
University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in ...
, under the direction of Professor Emory S. Bogardus. Wanting to support the new program with a forum for students and faculty to discuss sociological research, Bogardus created Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD) on November 21, 1920 and served as its first president.'''' Alpha Kappa Delta initially consisted of fourteen students and faculty members. Alpha Kappa Delta's primary goal is to advance social research for service. In 1921, Bogardus contacted a select group of American universities, inviting them to join Alpha Kappa Delta. Three schools created an AKD chapter: the
University of Wisconsin A university () is an institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly means "community of teachers and scholars". Uni ...
,
Northwestern University Northwestern University (NU) is a Private university, private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851 to serve the historic Northwest Territory, it is the oldest University charter, chartered university in ...
, and the University of Kansas. These three schools, along with the
University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in ...
, became the United Chapters of Alpha Kappa Delta in 1924. During the 1930s and 1940s, the leaders of Alpha Kappa Delta, namely Kimball Young, Reed Bain, and Luther L. Bernard, attempted to increase membership. This effort was tested by
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
which dropped both membership and attendance at organizational meetings. Bernard led Alpha Kappa Delta through these trying years until Andrea B. Hollingshead was elected Alpha Kappa Delta's president in 1948. In 1967, it joined the Association of College Honor Societies. As of 2024, Alpha Kappa Delta has initiated more than 152,000 members. However, the society closed most of its active chapters in 2024, with several of the surviving chapters consolidating in 2023. Its national headquarters are located at 2507 James Street in
Syracuse, New York Syracuse ( ) is a City (New York), city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States. With a population of 148,620 and a Syracuse metropolitan area, metropolitan area of 662,057, it is the fifth-most populated city and 13 ...
.


Symbols

The name Alpha Kappa Delta was chosen by Bogardus and represents the first letters of three Greek words '' Anthropon'', which translates to "humankind"; ''Katamanthanein'', which translates to "to investigate thoroughly"; and ''Diakonesein'', which translates to "for the purpose of service". The society's motto is ''Anthropon Katamanthanein Diakonesein'' or "To investigate humanity for the purpose of service". The society's emblem is a key that was designed by Melvin J. Vincent in 1920. In 1924 Gertrude A. Stephens wrote the lyrics to Alpha Kappa Delta's hymn in conjunction with Charles H. Gabriel who composed the music. Alpha Kappa Delta's color is teal. Its quarterly publication is '' Sociological Inquiry.''


Chapters

As of 2024, Alpha Kappa Delta has chartered 702 chapters, with four chapters being active. Chapters are only allowed at institution with two fulltime sociology professors and a graduate program in sociology.


Membership

Membership in Alpha Kappa Delta is open to juniors and seniors who are sociology majors who are in the top 35 percent of their class with a minimum 3.0
grade point average Grading in education is the application of standardized Measurement, measurements to evaluate different levels of student achievement in a course. Grades can be expressed as letters (usually A to F), as a range (for example, 1 to 6), percentage ...
.'''' Graduate students studying sociology may also join if they have completed half of their coursework with a 3.0 GPA or better. Staff members of institutions with chapters may also join if they meet the undergraduate or graduate requirement and either work in sociology or have a Ph.D.


Governance

Alpha Kappa Delta is governed by an executive committee, including the president, president-elect, vice president, secretary/treasurer, and the editor of ''Sociological Inquiry''.


Notable members

* Robert Cooley Angell, head of sociology at the
University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...
* Luther L. Bernard, sociologist and psychologist * Michael Biber, technologist and industrialist * Emory S. Bogardus, founder of the sociology department at the
University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in ...
* Jolly Bugarin, retired military officer, lawyer, and criminologist * Herman George Canady, psychologist * Jon Favreau, political pundit and speechwriter * Richard LaPiere, professor of
sociology Sociology is the scientific study of human society that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of Interpersonal ties, social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. The term sociol ...
at
Stanford University Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University, is a Private university, private research university in Stanford, California, United States. It was founded in 1885 by railroad magnate Leland Stanford (the eighth ...
* Patricia Yancey Martin, professor of sociology at
Florida State University Florida State University (FSU or Florida State) is a Public university, public research university in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida and a preeminent university in the s ...
. * Daniel J. Myers, president of Misericordia University * Carolyn C. Perrucci, head of women's studies program at
Purdue University Purdue University is a Public university#United States, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, United States, and the flagship campus of the Purdue University system. The university was founded ...
* Marvin Scott, politician and academic * Rosemarie Skaine, sociologist and author * Samuel Woodrow Williams, civil rights activist * Kimball Young, chair of sociology at Queens College and
Northwestern University Northwestern University (NU) is a Private university, private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851 to serve the historic Northwest Territory, it is the oldest University charter, chartered university in ...
.


See also

* Honor cords *
Honor society In the United States, an honor society is an organization that recognizes individuals who rank above a set standard in various domains such as academics, leadership, and other personal achievements, not all of which are based on ranking systems. ...


References


External links

*
Alpha Kappa Delta
{{Authority control Association of College Honor Societies Student organizations established in 1920 1920 establishments in California University of Southern California Sociological organizations