Omega Phi Alpha

NEW MEMBER EDUCATION

Our new member education period is a time for you to learn more about Omega Phi Alpha and for the sorority to learn more about you. During this time you ‘pledge’ your time and energy toward learning the skills that will help you become an active sister who will contribute her talents to the success of the chapter. The length of the new member education period, also called a pledge period, varies from chapter to chapter but typically takes about ten weeks.

You will get to know all of the active sisters in your chapter, but you will form a special relationship with your big sister, a member who will serve as your mentor and special advocate as you travel on your membership journey. The pledges going through the new member education period at the same time will also have a special relationship from sharing experiences and learning together. You will have meetings separate from the active chapter, and you will elect a group of pledge officers to lead you successfully through the pledge requirements.

During the pledge period, you will learn about OPhiA’s history and policies, and you will demonstrate that knowledge by taking a series of easy quizzes. These cover information like the location of other active chapters, the membership statuses, the duties of the national and district officers, the words to our national song, etc. Near the end of your pledge period, you will take the national pledge test, similar to a final exam of all Omega Phi Alpha policies and history. We expect all of our new members to score an 85% on the national test. Don’t worry, though. The active sisters will help you, especially your big sister.

The most important skill you will demonstrate during your pledge period is related to our program of service. As a pledge class, you will plan and execute a series of service projects, at least one in each of our areas of service: to the campus, to the community at large, to the members of the sorority, and to the nations of the world. The active chapter’s membership director will be on hand to give you advice and guide you along the way. You’ll also be invited to participate in most of the chapter’s service projects, too. Service is a central part of our sorority, and you will get a lot of opportunities to help out!

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Omega Phi Alpha takes great pride in being financially accessible to almost every college student who is willing to devote the time and energy needed to earn a membership into the organization. We work hard to keep our national dues low. Local dues vary from chapter to chapter; you may contact your chapter’s leaders for specific dues information related to that chapter.

Even with the low national dues that we offer, we recognize that there may still be some prospective members for whom this is an insurmountable financial barrier to membership. If this describes you — if you have the time, the energy, and the heart to join Omega Phi Alpha, but can not raise the dues — please discuss your situation with the leaders at your chapter. WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO WORK SOMETHING OUT! We don’t want money to be in the way of a fantastic future sister!

OMEGA PHI ALPH DOES NOT TOLERATE HAZING!!

We love our pledges and want them to know how much they are valued. With that in mind, Omega Phi Alpha does not believe hazing is ever appropriate. Hazing can take many forms including but not limited to physical or emotional distress, or the imposition of many time-consuming inflexible requirements that interfere with your ability to focus on your schoolwork. Any new member who believes that she has been the victim of hazing is encouraged to contact the national membership director immediately so we can correct the situation. You can review our national hazing policy here.