History of the National Fraternity

When New York University announced in 1900 that it would open an evening school for instruction in commerce, accounts, and finance, and would give a university degree to those who, having successfully qualified for admission, should successfully complete the course, the announcement was received with doubt throughout the country. The doubt manifested and the need of student loyalty in supporting the new idea were in no small measure the reason for Alpha Kappa Psi's coming into being.

The class that entered NYU in the fall of 1902, four months after the first of the new degrees had been awarded by the university, was unique in several respects. First, it was the three-year class; second, all students studied the same subjects; third, there were no textbooks -- everything was new and somewhat crude; fourth, Dean Haskins died during the first semester; and fifth, Dean Johnson was promoted to the deanship during the same year.

Other things occurred that had a strong bearing on the early development of the Fraternity. The founders occupied the same seats five nights a week. They became acquainted with one other. Four men from Brooklyn (Bergen, Jefferson, Lane, Leach), later known as the Brooklyn Four, walked home from school together over the Brooklyn Bridge. The spirit of brotherhood grew so strong in the hearts and in the minds of the men from Brooklyn that early in the second year they decided to suggest to the other members of their class that something be done to perpetuate it, and Alpha Kappa Psi, the first professional fraternity in business, was founded at an organization meeting help October 5, 1904.

On March 20, 1905, formal application was made to the State of New York for a charter of incorporation for Alpha Kappa Psi. This application was drawn up in the handwriting of Frederic R. Leach and was signed by the ten Founders: George L. Bergen, Irving L. Camp, Robert S. Douglas, Daniel V. Duff., Howard M. Jefferson, Nathan Lane, Jr., Frederick R. Leach, Morris S. Rachmil, William O. Tremaine, and Herbert M. Wright.

The application was approved and the charter of incorporation officially issued in the name of Alpha Kappa Psi on May 20, 1905.

In 1910, Beta Chapter at the University of Denver was installed; in 1911, Gamma at Northwestern University; in 1912, Delta was established at the University of Pittsburgh. Thus began the national development of Alpha Kappa Psi.

In 1951, the Alpha Kappa Psi Foudation was established as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the ideals of Alpha Kappa Psi. The Foundation provides scholarships, awards, and programs to students, educators, and the business community.

In August of 1976 women were admitted into the Fraternity under President Richard Reis at the Minneapolis Convention.

Now, over 250 college chapters and over 90 alumni chapters have been installed, over 170,000 members have been inducted and Alpha Kappa Psi is one of the largest of American college fraternities.

For the full history of the National Fraternity, visit the AKPsi National Site.

History of the Rho Chi Chapter

The Rho Chi Colony of Alpha Kappa Psi began with a few individuals interested in starting something that would be distinctive to Chapman University, something that was not just another club. We wanted something new that was based on educational and career goals that could give real life experience to its members.

Numerous individuals researched a number of professional fraternities, but Alpha Kappa Psi quickly rose to the top of the list. Once the Founding Fathers chose Alpha Kappa Psi they began the process of starting the Rho Chi Chapter.  On December 8, 2000, the Rho Chi chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi fraternity came into existance.

The next major step for the chapter was to learn the basics of the fraternity and to begin building the chaoter. The chapter started it's construction efforts during the winter break but it was not until the beginning of the 2001 Spring semester that members truly felt what brotherhood was all about.

The Rho Chi chapter continued to grow and develop and continued to make a differce in the Chapman community. And our story thus continues ...