Panhellenic Council
Panhellenic Council
Panhellenic is the governing body for the 10 national member chapters and 1 associate member chapter sororities on the JMU campus.
Interfraternity Council
Interfraternity Council
IFC is the governing body of the 15 national fraternities in our office.
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Be Beautiful Campaign
Our mission is to educate women on important and relatable topics, and to engage our peers in conversations and discussions about our experiences as college women.  
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Freshmen Move In
Each year fraternity men and sorority women come back to JMU early to serve the community by helping the freshmen move in. We take great pride in introducing the newest students to our campus and creating a welcoming environment.
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Role Model Fashion Show
The Role Model Fashion Show highlights women from each sorority who are truly role models within the community and who uphold the values of Panhellenic’s Be Beautiful Campaign.

FSLsigma kappa

Description

The purpose of Sigma Kappa Sorority is to provide women lifelong opportunities and support for social, intellectual, and spiritual development by bringing women together to positively impact our communities.
Our values: personal growth, friendship, service and loyalty; bound by a promise.

Bound by a Promise to be the best person you can be.

Bound by a Promise to model service and leadership in your communities, especially within Sigma Kappa. Offering your time, ideas, or resources to support the common good and assist those in need.

Bound by a Promise to demonstrate sisterhood and friendship throughout life.

 

Bound by a Promise to remain loyal to Sigma Kappa and to living its values in all that you do. An unwavering devotion and steadfast allegiance to Sigma Kappa.

Chapter History

Colby College in Waterville, Maine, was the first college in New England to admit women on an equal basis with men students. The first woman student was admitted in 1871, and for two years Mary Caffrey Low was the only woman student at Colby College. In 1873, four more young women from Maine, Elizabeth Gorham Hoag, Ida Fuller, Frances Mann, and Louise Helen Coburn were admitted to Colby and the five young women found themselves frequently together. During the school year of 1873-74, the five young women decided to form a literary and social society. They were told by the college administration that they needed to present a constitution and bylaws with a petition requesting permission to form Sigma Kappa Sorority. They began work during that year with an eager glow of enthusiasm. Their purpose at the outset was that the sorority should become what it is now, a national organization of college women. On November 9, 1874, the five young women received a letter from the faculty approving their petition. Thus, this date has since been considered our Founders’ Day.

In our first constitution, chapter membership was limited to 25. The original group was known as Alpha chapter and as our sorority grew, Beta chapter and Gamma chapter were also established at Colby College. Early records indicate that the groups met together; but in 1893, the Sigma Kappa members decided intramural expansion was not desirable. They voted to fill Alpha chapter to the limit of 25 and to initiate no more into Beta and Gamma chapters. Eventually, the second and third chapters would vanish from Colby campus. Finally Sigma Kappas realized if the organization was going to continue to grow, it had to expand beyond the walls of Colby College.

Our philanthropies include Gerontology (the study of aging), with a focus on Alzheimer’s disease research and programs directed at improving the lives of older citizens; Inherit the Earth; Maine Seacoast Mission. Every November Delta Rho puts on their annual Turkey Bowl to raise money for Alzheimer’s research. All the men of JMU are welcome to play in a flag football tournament to help raise money. Recently Delta Rho has begun a local charity, ÒDonate my DressÓ foundation helping out girls who can’t afford prom dresses.

We have over 100 chapters in more than 36 states with over 140,500 women worldwide.

Chapter Information: