New Membership
In Alpha Phi Omega you will have a semester of new membership before becoming a full member. This semester is used to teach you about our fraternity and the principles that we stand for. During this semester, you will have a set of requirements to finish. These requirements will be similar to the requirements that you will have to complete as a full member to give you a feel for what it will be like to fit these requirements in to your semester schedule. Your new member educator, big brother, and sturdy oak will help you with completing these requirements.
New Membership FAQ
Pictured above is actives and alumni after the Taylor Dates New Member Class initation in Spring 2022
New member Requirements
New Members of the Alpha Zeta Kappa Chapter must complete the following requirements to initiate. To view the reasoning behind each requirement please click the "Explanations of New Member Requirements" button.
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Complete ten (10) hours of service.
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Attend at least three (3) Chapter business meetings.
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Attend six (6) of eight (8) New Member classes (unless excused). Excuses should be reported to the New Member Educator and VP of Membership no later than two (2) hours prior to the start of the New Member class. The validity of excuses shall be determined by the New Member Educator and VP of Membership. All missed New Member classes must be made up before the next New Member class, unless other arrangements are made with the New Member Educator.
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Attend at least one (1) Fellowship event.
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Complete interviews with all of the current new members, all of the active members, four (4) Advisor interviews, four (4) alumni interviews, and collect signatures from those interviewed (zoom interviews are allowed for the alumni interviews). Any remaining signature interviews for the Actives will be determined by the New Member Educator and Vice President of Membership according to the size of the New Member class and active membership.
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Complete two (2) membership interviews
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Pay New Member dues or make arrangements with the treasurer (promissory note) by the New Member reflection paper.
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Complete a reflection paper. More details about the paper will be explained at the first new member class
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Complete the Launch course of the APO LEADS program.
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Attend one (1) Inter-Chapter event.
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Show character desirable for Alpha Phi Omega.
Active Requirements
After initiating into the fraternity new members will become active members. The requirements of being an active member are slightly different than the requirements of new membership. They are listed below.
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20 service hours
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Attend 70% of chapter business meetings
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5 fellowship activities
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4 leadership development workshops
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1 inter-chapter event
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Plan (individually or as part of a committee) 1 service project, fellowship event, or leadership development workshop
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$20 of fundraising
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5 committee meetings
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Complete membership survey by 2nd regular business meeting
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Pay dues
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Refrain from hazing / Show character desirable of Alpha Phi Omega
Hazing Policy
Both Alpha Phi Omega and Alpha Zeta Kappa Chapter have a ZERO TOLERANCE policy for hazing. Facilitating or participating in hazing activities can be grounds for suspension or expulsion from Alpha Zeta Kappa Chapter, as well as further sanctions from Eastern Kentucky University, and/or local law enforcement. If you think hazing has occurred, you should report it immediately to the new member educator, the VP of membership, the chapter president, and/or your advisors*.
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* Note: Advisor contact information will be presented to you upon new membership.
New Member Educator
The new member educator will be your teacher and guide throughout your pledging process. Every week, you will be required to attend a short new-member class. The educator will use this time to teach you everything you need to know about the fraternity and what will be required of you as an active member. If you have and questions throughout your new membership, the new member educator will always be happy to assist. You will get to know them very well throughout your new member semester. The current new member educator is Maggie Camp.
Big Brother
A big brother is a brother that has been active for at least one semester and is assigned to you during your new member period. This big brother serves as a mentor and role model throughout your new member process and beyond. He/She/They will help you with completing your new member requirements, time management, studying for the new member final, transitioning into active membership, and more. The week after RECRUITMENT week Big/Little events will be hosted every night. At these events you will get the chance to get to know all of the potential bigs for that semester. At the end of the week the new member educator and vice president of membership will assign bigs to the new members based on the preferences of the bigs and new members, personal observations, etc. The Big/Little reveal will be one week later.
Sturdy Oak
A sturdy oak is a brother that serves as a "temporary big" until new members receive their big brothers. Sturdy oaks are typically brothers that are newly initiated but can occasionally be older actives that are not going to be big brothers that semester. Sturdy oaks are assigned to new members at random at the New Member Ceremony.
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