Lambda Chi Alpha

Associate Membership Program

Since its inception Lambda Chi Alpha has always taken a strong stance against hazing. In the 1970’s Lambda Chi Alpha was the first college fraternity to end the practice of pledge-ship, replacing it with the associate member program; since then many other fraternities have followed suit. Associate membership is more than just a name-change, however. Instead of being isolated from the rest of the chapter (by having separate pledge class meetings, pledge class officers, pledge class tasks, and so forth), the associate member program seeks to integrate each new member into the operation of the chapter as soon as he joins. An associate member is even permitted to serve as an officer in any office for which he is qualified, holds voting rights, and is privileged to all benefits of initiated members.

Unlike other Chapter Houses, Lambda Chi Alpha offers an alternative to being a “Pledge”. We offer what is known as an Associate Membership Program. This is one of our fraternity’s most notable features. As a new member of the fraternity, you will become part of the most successful new member programs ever incorporated. Lambda Chi Alpha was the first fraternity to outlaw HAZING IN ALL FORMS and even made it a cornerstone of the Associate Membership Program.

Associate members of the fraternity are treated with utmost respect and dignity. Unlike other fraternities, new members will not be asked to participate in any activity that goes against chapter, school, or state laws. Instead, they will learn side-by-side with active members of the fraternity, who will provide instruction and leadership along the way.

Other features of the Associate Program:

- FULL PARTICIPATION in all chapter functions, including dances, mixers, and trips.

- Full voting rights on all chapter issues.

- Ability to run for all offices (except for Ritualist).

- Associates can wear letters as soon as they sign a bid.

- Associates are not required to do anything that would designate them as new members to the public

- Associates WILL NEVER be asked, induced, or forced to drink alcohol or perform any other act that is prohibited by chapter, school, or state laws. What an associate member chooses to do is his own business as long as it does not put the chapter in danger.

Essentially, an Associate Member is accorded almost all of the rights that are enjoyed by the active members. All divergences from chapter law will result in punishment, including expulsion. This one-of-a-kind program is used as a model for other risk management programs across the nation,

AND WE’RE PROUD OF IT!