The IIT Black Student Union would like to increase the networking amongst our black community by providing a brief description of each organization as well as updated contact info. If you want to be added to this list, or have any corrections to the information listed, please email us using the contact us tab.
Social Organizations
African Students Organization (ASO): ASO was founded to help promote awareness of Africa and its dispersion to IIT and the Chicago community, but to also help the African student to adapt to their home away from home.
Caribbean Visionaries (CV): This organization was founded in 2010 to represent and promote cultural awareness and recognition of the young women and men of the Caribbean within the Illinois Institute of Technology and local community. Click Here for more information.
African Students Organization (ASO): ASO was founded to help promote awareness of Africa and its dispersion to IIT and the Chicago community, but to also help the African student to adapt to their home away from home.
Caribbean Visionaries (CV): This organization was founded in 2010 to represent and promote cultural awareness and recognition of the young women and men of the Caribbean within the Illinois Institute of Technology and local community. Click Here for more information.
Academic and Professional Organizations
African American Business Students Organization (AABSO): The organization is formed to encourage diversity and cultural enrichment at the Stuart School of Business at Illinois Institute of Technology; to assist in the development of African American business professionals and entrepreneurship; to assist in the recruitment, retention and graduation of African American students. To learn more, contact [email protected].
IIT African-American Alumni Association ("4-A"): The organization is formed to provide uplift, mentorship, networking and social interaction for its membership, as well as advice and support to IIT in its recruitment of students, staff and faculty. While its membership roster is based on those former IIT students of Black ancestry, its membership rolls are open to any like-minded (IIT alumni or former IIT students) regardless of race, creed, religion or national origin. Click Here for more information.
Black Law Students Association (BLSA): The Chicago-Kent chapter was founded in 1974. Chicago-Kent's BLSA chapter seeks to supplement the legal and cultural education that members receive in the classroom, to increase opportunities for black students to attend law school, to assure their success as students, and to facilitate their placement in positions that are personally satisfying and that relate to the needs of the community. Click Here for more information.
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE): This organization was founded to increase the number of culturally responsible engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community. Click Here for more information.
National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMA): This organization was founded to champion diversity within the design professions by promoting the excellence, community engagement, and professional development of its members. Click Here for more information.
African American Business Students Organization (AABSO): The organization is formed to encourage diversity and cultural enrichment at the Stuart School of Business at Illinois Institute of Technology; to assist in the development of African American business professionals and entrepreneurship; to assist in the recruitment, retention and graduation of African American students. To learn more, contact [email protected].
IIT African-American Alumni Association ("4-A"): The organization is formed to provide uplift, mentorship, networking and social interaction for its membership, as well as advice and support to IIT in its recruitment of students, staff and faculty. While its membership roster is based on those former IIT students of Black ancestry, its membership rolls are open to any like-minded (IIT alumni or former IIT students) regardless of race, creed, religion or national origin. Click Here for more information.
Black Law Students Association (BLSA): The Chicago-Kent chapter was founded in 1974. Chicago-Kent's BLSA chapter seeks to supplement the legal and cultural education that members receive in the classroom, to increase opportunities for black students to attend law school, to assure their success as students, and to facilitate their placement in positions that are personally satisfying and that relate to the needs of the community. Click Here for more information.
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE): This organization was founded to increase the number of culturally responsible engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community. Click Here for more information.
National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMA): This organization was founded to champion diversity within the design professions by promoting the excellence, community engagement, and professional development of its members. Click Here for more information.
National Pan-Hellenic Council
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. : Alpha Phi Alpha was the first Black intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Nu Rho (NP) chapter was founded on December 22, 1977, and received its charter in that same year at the Illinois Institute of Technology. In the fall of 1999, DePaul University was added to the chapters charter. Since receiving its charter, 102 brothers have been initiated into the fraternity through NP. NP has had significant influence in both the campus community and the community at large. NP chapter is committed to producing quality programs that will enhance the college experience of students on both campuses well into the 21st Century. Click Here for more information.
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.: Originally chartered and incorporated as Kappa Alpha Nu on April 15, 1911 at Indiana University, the name was changed to Kappa Alpha Psi effective April 15, 1915. At this time the fraternity acquired a distinctive Greek letter symbol and Kappa Alpha Psi officially became a Greek letter fraternity. The organization now has over 100,000 members in both alumni and undergraduate chapters across the nation. Click Here for more information.
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.: On Friday evening, November 17, 1911, three Howard University undergraduate students, with the assistance of their faculty adviser, gave birth to the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. From the initials of the Greek phrase meaning "friendship is essential to the soul," the name Omega Psi Phi was derived. The phrase was selected as the motto. Manhood, scholarship, perseverance and uplift were adopted as cardinal principles. A decision was made regarding the design for the pin and emblem, and thus ended the first meeting of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Click Here for more information.
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.: Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., an international organization of college and professional men, was founded on January 9th, 1914 at Howard University on the principles, Brotherhood, Scholarship and Service. These principles are exhibited by the fraternity motto, "Culture for Service and Service for Humanity." As one of the now nine predominantly Black Greek-Lettered organizations, Phi Beta Sigma has a membership of over 100,000 with over 600 chapters throughout the continental United States, Switzerland, Europe, the Caribbean and Africa. Click Here for more information.
Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.: Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. is the youngest of the "Divine Nine" Black Greek organizations and the last to be accepted into the National Pan-Hellenic Council. On September 19, 1963, at Morgan State College (now Morgan State University), 12 students founded what is now the nation's fifth largest, predominately African-American social service fraternity: The Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated. Click Here for more information.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA) is the first Greek letter organization in the United States established by Black college women. Established January 15, 1908 at Howard University, the organization has now grown to a membership of over 170,000, with graduate and undergraduate chapters representing every state and several foreign countries. Click Here for more information.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University. These students wanted to use their collective strength to promote academic excellence and to provide assistance to persons in need. The first public act performed by the Delta Founders involved their participation in the Women's Suffrage March in Washington D.C., March 1913. Delta Sigma Theta was incorporated in 1930. Click Here for more information.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.: Zeta Phi Beta Sorority was founded on the simple belief that sorority elitism and socializing should not overshadow the real mission for progressive organizations - to address societal mores, ills, prejudices, poverty, and health concerns of the day. Founded January 16, 1920, Zeta began as an idea conceived by five coeds at Howard University in Washington D.C. Click Here for more information.
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.: Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was organized on November 12, 1922 in Indianapolis, Indiana by seven school teachers. The group became an incorporated national collegiate sorority on December 30, 1929. Click Here for more information.
**Please note that the above mentioned NPHC chapters are not affiliated with IIT, but are listed here for informational purposes. BSU-IIT has some members who are apart of some NPHC chapters, so feel free to contact us for any additional information.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. : Alpha Phi Alpha was the first Black intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Nu Rho (NP) chapter was founded on December 22, 1977, and received its charter in that same year at the Illinois Institute of Technology. In the fall of 1999, DePaul University was added to the chapters charter. Since receiving its charter, 102 brothers have been initiated into the fraternity through NP. NP has had significant influence in both the campus community and the community at large. NP chapter is committed to producing quality programs that will enhance the college experience of students on both campuses well into the 21st Century. Click Here for more information.
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.: Originally chartered and incorporated as Kappa Alpha Nu on April 15, 1911 at Indiana University, the name was changed to Kappa Alpha Psi effective April 15, 1915. At this time the fraternity acquired a distinctive Greek letter symbol and Kappa Alpha Psi officially became a Greek letter fraternity. The organization now has over 100,000 members in both alumni and undergraduate chapters across the nation. Click Here for more information.
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.: On Friday evening, November 17, 1911, three Howard University undergraduate students, with the assistance of their faculty adviser, gave birth to the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. From the initials of the Greek phrase meaning "friendship is essential to the soul," the name Omega Psi Phi was derived. The phrase was selected as the motto. Manhood, scholarship, perseverance and uplift were adopted as cardinal principles. A decision was made regarding the design for the pin and emblem, and thus ended the first meeting of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Click Here for more information.
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.: Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., an international organization of college and professional men, was founded on January 9th, 1914 at Howard University on the principles, Brotherhood, Scholarship and Service. These principles are exhibited by the fraternity motto, "Culture for Service and Service for Humanity." As one of the now nine predominantly Black Greek-Lettered organizations, Phi Beta Sigma has a membership of over 100,000 with over 600 chapters throughout the continental United States, Switzerland, Europe, the Caribbean and Africa. Click Here for more information.
Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.: Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. is the youngest of the "Divine Nine" Black Greek organizations and the last to be accepted into the National Pan-Hellenic Council. On September 19, 1963, at Morgan State College (now Morgan State University), 12 students founded what is now the nation's fifth largest, predominately African-American social service fraternity: The Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated. Click Here for more information.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA) is the first Greek letter organization in the United States established by Black college women. Established January 15, 1908 at Howard University, the organization has now grown to a membership of over 170,000, with graduate and undergraduate chapters representing every state and several foreign countries. Click Here for more information.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University. These students wanted to use their collective strength to promote academic excellence and to provide assistance to persons in need. The first public act performed by the Delta Founders involved their participation in the Women's Suffrage March in Washington D.C., March 1913. Delta Sigma Theta was incorporated in 1930. Click Here for more information.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.: Zeta Phi Beta Sorority was founded on the simple belief that sorority elitism and socializing should not overshadow the real mission for progressive organizations - to address societal mores, ills, prejudices, poverty, and health concerns of the day. Founded January 16, 1920, Zeta began as an idea conceived by five coeds at Howard University in Washington D.C. Click Here for more information.
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.: Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was organized on November 12, 1922 in Indianapolis, Indiana by seven school teachers. The group became an incorporated national collegiate sorority on December 30, 1929. Click Here for more information.
**Please note that the above mentioned NPHC chapters are not affiliated with IIT, but are listed here for informational purposes. BSU-IIT has some members who are apart of some NPHC chapters, so feel free to contact us for any additional information.