A Student Society for Mutual Protection

Around the year 1400, at the University of Bologna, Manuel Chrysoloras and his disciples formed a society for mutual protection against physical attack and robbery by the unscrupulous governor of the city of Bologna, Baldassarre Cossa. These students devised secret signs, words, and forms - a ritual - to protect their ranks from penetration and betrayal and to ensure the’ members’ safety. It was these rites which transformed their association from a protective guise against the ruthless Cossa into something much more important. Their ideals, embodied in a ritual, transformed them from a group of men to a true brotherhood – the Fellowship of Kappa Sigma.

Tradition holds that Cossa practiced extortion and robbery against the students. He levied fees from students traveling from other cities, and Cossa’s agents preyed on those students when given the opportunity. Chrysoloras and his disciples stood against those forces on the strength of their bonds in Kappa Sigma. Born to a family of sea pirates, Cossa later usurped the Papacy under the name John XXIII after leaving Bologna.

Dedicated to the Pursuit of Learning

Modern-day Kappa Sigma was founded in the fall of 1869, as five students attending the University of Virginia in Charlottesville gathered at 46 East Lawn.

In William Grigsby McCormick’s room, they planted the seed of brotherhood. For weeks the bonds of friendship drew these five together. It became clear that a formal structure was needed to contain their feelings. The Founders formalized their association, but they also created a fraternity. A fraternity steeped in the traditions of the past and dedicated to the pursuit of learning. The new brothers recorded their bond in a Constitution and in an Oath that set forth the ideals and principles that form the core of all Kappa Sigmas today.

Our Founding Brothers

Champion Quest

A results-driven recruitment initiative, Champion Quest provides training and motivation to dramatically increase the number of quality men added to the membership rolls of Kappa Sigma each year.

Stephen Alonzo Jackson was initiated into Kappa Sigma in 1872, and would go on to transform a struggling local fraternity into a strong international Brotherhood. The success of the Order has been the direct result of Jackson’s devotion “to make Kappa Sigma the leading college fraternity of the world.”

The Fraternity just completed a decade of dominance in recruitment, and will continue to lead as the largest college fraternity in the world.

Brothers in Action

Brothers In Action (BIA) is a character and competence based program designed to teach fraternal values applicable to academic, chapter, and career goals through experiential learning and chapter-supported programming. BIA provides a blueprint for chapters to follow as they provide personal development programming for members. Chapters provide education about chapter operations, workshops and activities that develop essential career skills, and brotherhood activities focusing on deepening the bonds between our members.

Beginning with the Brothers In Action for Pledges program, Kappa Sigma provides opportunities for personal growth and development that guides members not only during their college careers, but throughout life.

A Greater Cause

Kappa Sigma is committed to making a difference in the lives of others. It is this commitment that has provided the inspiration and vision for A Greater Cause – the Fraternity’s bold initiative to promote volunteerism, citizenship and service to the community. During the 2015-2017 biennium, Kappa Sigma members raised more than $6.7 million for charity and volunteered over 1.4 million hours of community service as part of the initiative.

Military Heroes Campaign

Created in 2007, the Kappa Sigma Military Heroes Campaign honors and aids thousands of military veterans and their families in communities throughout the U.S. and Canada. Since its inception, the campaign has donated over $1,000,000 to non-profit organizations who advocate on behalf of servicemen and women and those wounded in combat.