What is Sigma Alpha Iota?
Sigma Alpha Iota, International Music Fraternity, is a Greek music fraternity for women. It is an organization whose purposes are to foster interest in music and to promote social contact among persons sharing an interest in music. It is a specialized Fraternity which confines its membership to persons interested in the single academic discipline (music) in accredited colleges and universities. It may initiate members of general college fraternities. Sigma Alpha Iota organizes its group life specifically to promote competence and achievement within its field.
Sigma Alpha Iota, with over 107,000 initiated members, has more than 300 college and alumnae chapters all over the United States. College chapters may be established only in schools of music, conservatories or music departments of college and universities with accredited music curricula. Alumnae chapters may be formed by post-college members in good standing and by non-student college chapter members at the end of their academic year of initiation.
In the beginning, Sigma Alpha Iota was called a sorority. In 1926, the word "fraternity" replaced "sorority." "Fraternity," which comes from the abstract feminine Latin noun fraternitas, refers to both men and women. It has been used by all the music fraternities for many years. As a fraternity based upon a single academic discipline, Sigma Alpha Iota differs from the General Fraternity, Honor Society, and other organizations in the field of music. Members of Sigma Alpha Iota may join honor societies or social sororities, and professional fraternities in fields other than music.
Sigma Alpha Iota, with over 107,000 initiated members, has more than 300 college and alumnae chapters all over the United States. College chapters may be established only in schools of music, conservatories or music departments of college and universities with accredited music curricula. Alumnae chapters may be formed by post-college members in good standing and by non-student college chapter members at the end of their academic year of initiation.
In the beginning, Sigma Alpha Iota was called a sorority. In 1926, the word "fraternity" replaced "sorority." "Fraternity," which comes from the abstract feminine Latin noun fraternitas, refers to both men and women. It has been used by all the music fraternities for many years. As a fraternity based upon a single academic discipline, Sigma Alpha Iota differs from the General Fraternity, Honor Society, and other organizations in the field of music. Members of Sigma Alpha Iota may join honor societies or social sororities, and professional fraternities in fields other than music.