Members of Alpha Kappa Psi are eager to spread information about Rush because they said they believe every student on campus who expects to have any professional career can benefit from membership in the fraternity.
Founded in 1904 at New York University, Alpha Kappa Psi is America’s oldest professional business fraternity and has more than 228,000 initiated members worldwide. The fraternity has also chartered more than 300 campuses in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, according to the Alpha Kappa Psi national website.
The fraternity is nationally recognized as the leading collegiate developer of principled business leaders, and the fraternity’s efforts develop its members’ interviewing, networking, and social skills, according to the website.
“We plan organized parties, brotherhood retreats, professional events, networking events, interview and resume improvement classes, and much more for our student members,” said Brown Gill, president of Alpha Kappa Psi. “Becoming a member can benefit anyone who plans to enter a professional workplace.”
The wide network of Alpha Kappa Psi alumni around the nation has benefited the UA chapter by enabling them to bring in large corporations from many different sectors of the business world as speakers for events, Josh Orr, vice president of pledgeship for Alpha Kappa Psi, said.
“We have big businesses come and speak to us and it helps give [student members] an idea of how to get internships, what companies are looking for as far as jobs go. Basically, improving their professional appearance,” Anna Zellner, vice president of marketing for Alpha Kappa Psi, said.
The fraternity also organizes community service events and fundraisers in addition to their professional events.
“You learn how to work as a team. You learn different aspects of organizing events and different aspects of business,” Gill said.
During his three years as a member of Alpha Kappa Psi, Gill noted that many of the most active members and alumni had majors outside the College of Commerce and Business Administration. He said he has noticed that many members, other than the business majors, found value in the fraternity and could use the skills they learned in whatever field they entered after graduation.
“Everything is business at some point, so it makes sense for people to get that kind of experience. This year, I think two or three members on the [executive council] are not business majors, myself included. Before, that has never happened,” Zellner said.
Currently, there are also public relations, journalism, nutrition and nursing majors among the various business majors in the fraternity’s membership.
“As an organization determined to expand our horizons, we are trying something new this year and have decided to make a large effort to expand outside of the business school and into other colleges and departments across campus,” Gill said.
After the recruitment events, potential new members must schedule an interview. Each person who comes in for an interview is required to give a resume and a letter of intent.
“I look for someone who is very outgoing and carries themselves professionally. It is required that they dress professionally for the interview. Being in the business world, you need to carry yourself professionally,” Zellner said.
However, a prospective member’s interview skills do not need to be perfect, as the fraternity intends to improve their members’ professional skills, Zellner added.
In addition to the potential and desire to become a leader, “I look for somebody that has a drive for success, wants to be successful in life, and has a love for business… and wants more than just the social aspects of the fraternity,” Orr said.
To join Alpha Kappa Psi, you must have a 2.75 GPA and be available Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. for new member classes, which focus on the fraternity’s history, interview and resume basics, and networking skills to bring the new members up to the current members’ level.
