Sigma Iota Alpha
ΣΙΑ
FoundedSeptember 29, 1990; 33 years ago (September 29, 1990)
SUNY Albany, Stony Brook University, SUNY New Paltz, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
TypeCultural
AffiliationNALFO
EmphasisLatina culture
ScopeNational
MottoSemper Unum et Inseparabilis (Always One and Inseparable)
Colors  Red
  Gold
  Royal Blue
  White as background color
  Black as background color
FlowerRed Rose
JewelWhite Pearl
MascotUnicorn and Pegasus
Chapters62 undergraduate chapters, 13 graduate chapters, and 18 colonies
NicknameSIA, Lovely Latin Ladies
Headquarters1732 1st Avenue
#20267
New York, New York 10128
U.S.
Websitehermandad-sia.org

Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Incorporada (ΣΙΑ), known as SIA, is a Latina-oriented Greek letter intercollegiate sorority.[1][2] It was founded in 1990 at SUNY Albany, Stony Brook University, SUNY New Paltz, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.[3] The sorority increases awareness of Latina culture and participates in local, national, and international community service, educational, cultural, and social events.[3] It is a member of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations, Inc. (NALFO).[4]

History

Sigma Iota Alpha was founded on September 29, 1990, by thirteen women from four colleges in New York: University at Albany, SUNY; SUNY New Paltz; Stony Brook University; and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.[3] The founders include Dora Maria Abreu, Elizabeth Coats, Tina Colberg, Eulogia Diaz, Angelica Hernandez, Teresa Herrero, Norma Porras, Miriam Ramirez, Saida Rodriguez, Grecia Sanchez, Maria Trujillo, Clara Vasquez and Dulce Williams.[3]

The mission of Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc. is "to formalize, cultivate, and foster bonds amongst each other as sisters and abide by respect, trust, communication, professionalism, and accountability."[3] Alpha Iota Sigma's goals are to increase awareness of the diverse Latino cultures, to promote leadership amongst the sisters, and to serve as "models of excellence in education and achievement amongst women."[3]

The sorority expanded and chartered chapters outside of New York state.[3]

Sigma Iota Alpha logo

Symbols

The sorority's colors are gold, red and royal blue.[3] Black and white are used as background colors.[3] The mascots include the unicorn and the Pegasus.[3] Its flower is the red rose and its gem is the white pearl.[3] Its motto is Semper Unum et Inseparabilis or Always One and Inseparable.[3]

Activities

SIA has supported several philanthropic initiatives since its establishment, promoting service on three levels: international, national, and local.[3] Notable international organizations include Children International.[3] National philanthropies include March of Dimes, the National MS Society, One Heartland, and Special Olympics.[3][5][6] Its local efforts are called Out Sisters in Action and vary between chapters.[3]

The Solidaridad, Inspiracion y Amistad Community Foundation, Inc. was created in 2004 and collaborates with the sorority to provide scholarships to Latinas and support for building communities.[7]

The R.O.S.E. Mentorship Program is a national educational initiative operated by the graduate chapters.[3][8] R.O.S.E. serves Latina women ages 14 to 18.[8] It creates community leaders by encouraging service, scholarship and personal development.[8]

Membership

Throughout the last 30+ years, Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc. has grown to include 62 undergraduate chapters, thirteen regional alumnae chapters, and seventeen colonies in the states of New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Texas, California, Kansas, Arkansas, and South Carolina. SIA was the first Latina sorority to be established in Massachusetts and Arkansas.

Chapters and colonies are composed of undergraduate, graduate, and professional women.

Notable members

Chapters

Undergraduate chapters

Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are shown in italic.

Chapter Symbol Chartered/

Range

Institution Location Status Reference
Alpha Α 1990 University at Albany, SUNY Albany, NY Active [1]
Beta Β 1992 Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY Active [1]
Gamma Γ 1992 State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, NY Active [1]
Delta Δ 1992 Western Illinois University Macomb, IL Active [1]
Epsilon Ε 1992 Adelphi University Garden City, NY Active [1]
Zeta Ζ 1992 Hofstra University Hempstead, NY Active [1]
Eta Η 1992 Pennsylvania State University State College, PA Active [1]
Theta Θ 1993 State University of New York at Old Westbury Old Westbury, NY Active [1]
Iota Ι 1993 Northeastern Illinois University Chicago, IL Active [1][9]
Roosevelt University
University of Illinois at Chicago
Kappa Κ 1993 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY Active [1]
Lambda Λ 1993 State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, NY Active [1]
Mu Μ 1993 Temple University Philadelphia, NY Active [1]
Nu Ν 1994 Union College Schenectady, NY Active [1]
Xi Ξ 1996 LIU Post Brookville, NY Active [1]
Omicron Ο 1996 Boston College Boston, MA Active [1][9]
Boston University
Suffolk University
Pi Π 1996 Harvard University Cambridge, MA Active [1]
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Rho Ρ 1996–2018, 20xx ? Syracuse University Syracuse, NY Active [1][10][a]
Sigma Σ 1996 Marist College Poughkeepsie, NY Active [1]
Tau Τ 1996 Montclair State University Jersey City, NJ;
Montclair, NJ;
South Orange, NJ 		Active [1][9]
Saint Peter's University
Seton Hall University
Upsilon Υ 1996 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Urbana, IL; Champaign, IL Active [1]
Phi Φ 1997 New York University New York, NY Active [1]
Chi Χ 1997 University of Maryland, College Park College Park, MD Active [1]
Psi Ψ 1997 Lewis University Romeoville, IL Active [1]
Omega Ω 1997 Northern Illinois University DeKalb, IL Active [1]
Alpha Alpha (Prime) ΑΑ 1998–2019 College of New Rochelle New Rochelle, NY Transferred [1][9][b]
Alpha Alpha ΑΑ 2019 Mercy College Dobbs Ferry, NY Active [9]
Alpha Beta ΑΒ 1999 Columbia University New York, NY Active [1]
Alpha Gamma ΑΓ 1999 Binghamton University Binghamton, NY Active [1]
Alpha Delta ΑΔ 2000 Stockton University Galloway, NJ Active [1]
Alpha Epsilon ΑΕ 2000 James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA Active [1]
Alpha Zeta ΑΖ 2002 California State University, Dominguez Hills Carson, CA Active [1]
Alpha Eta ΑΗ 2004 Baylor University Waco, TX Active [1]
Alpha Theta ΑΘ 2004 St. John's University New York, NY Active [1]
Alpha Iota ΑΙ 2004 Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ Active [1]
Alpha Kappa ΑΚ 2004 Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Active [1]
Alpha Lambda ΑΛ 2005 University of New Haven West Haven, CT Active [1]
Alpha Mu ΑΜ 2008 University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Dartmouth, MA Active [1]
Alpha Nu ΑΝ 2008 Pace University New York, NY Active [1]
Alpha Xi ΑΞ 2010 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL Active [1]
Alpha Omicron ΑΟ 2010 Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA Active [1]
Alpha Pi ΑΠ 2010 University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TX Active [1]
Alpha Rho ΑΡ 2010 Rutgers University-Newark Newark, NJ Active [1]
Alpha Sigma ΑΣ 2010 Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, FL Active [1]
Alpha Tau ΑΤ 2011 Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA Active [1]
Alpha Upsilon ΑΥ 2011 Texas State University San Marcos, TX Active [1][c]
Alpha Phi ΑΦ 2011 Utica College Utica, NY Active [1]
Alpha Chi ΑΧ 2011 University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Active [1][d]
Alpha Psi ΑΨ 2011 University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst, MA Active [1]
Alpha Omega ΑΩ - Reserved for deceased sisters - Memorial [9]
Beta Alpha ΒΑ 2010 Georgia Southern University-Armstrong Campus Savannah, GA Active [1]
Beta Beta ΒΒ 2011 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR Active [1]
Beta Gamma ΒΓ 2012 Stephen F. Austin State University Nacogdoches, TX Active [1]
Beta Delta ΒΔ 2013–2017, 20xx ?–2019, 2021-Present College of William & Mary Williamsburg, VA Active [1][11][12][13][e][f]
Beta Epsilon ΒΕ 2015 City College of New York New York, NY Active [9]
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Lehman College
New York Institute of Technology
Mercy College
Beta Zeta ΒΖ 2014 Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD Active [1]
Beta Eta ΒΗ 2014 Clemson University Clemson, SC Active [1]
Beta Theta ΒΘ 2016 Brooklyn College Brooklyn, NY Active [1]
Beta Iota ΒΙ 2016 LIU Brooklyn Brooklyn, NY Active [1]
Beta Kappa ΒΚ 2016 University of Central Arkansas Conway, AR Active [1]
Beta Lambda ΒΛ 2018 Texas A&M University College Station, TX Active [1]
Beta Mu ΒΜ 2020 Towson University Towson, MD Active [1]
Beta Nu ΒΝ 2014 Southern Connecticut State New Haven, CT Active [1]
Beta Xi ΒΞ April 28, 2021 Arkansas State University Jonesboro, AR Active [1][14]

Notes

  1. ^ In September 2018, Sigma Iota Alpha was suspended from the Syracuse campus for violations of the Student Code of Conduct.
  2. ^ Established at the College of New Rochelle which was absorbed by Mercy College in 2019.
  3. ^ Chapter founded in 2010 as a colony.
  4. ^ Chapter founded in 2008 as a colony.
  5. ^ Chapter founded in 2012 as a colony.
  6. ^ The William & Mary chapter temporarily lost recognition from the university in 2017 for hazing. The national sorority closed the chapter in 2019 although this decision was later reversed.

Colonies

Colony Established Institution Location Status Reference
Colony 2003 New York Institute of Technology (Long Island Campus) Old Westbury, NY Active [1][9]
Colony 2005 University at Buffalo; Buffalo State College Buffalo, NY Active [1][9]
Colony 2007 Central Connecticut State University New Britain, CT Active [1]
Colony 2010 Bentley University Waltham, MA Active [1]
Colony 2012 University of South Carolina Columbia, SC Active [1][9]
Colony 2012 University of Hartford West Hartford, CT Active [9]
Colony 2013 University of Kansas Lawrence, KS Active [1][9]
Colony 2013 Clarion University of Pennsylvania Clarion, PA Active [9]
Colony 2014 American International College Springfield, MA Active [9]
Colony 2014 California State University, Northridge Los Angeles, CA Active [9]
Colony 2016 Augusta University Augusta, GA Active [9]
Colony 2017 State University of New York at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, NY Active [9]
Colony 2018 State University of New York College at Cortland Cortland, NY Active [9]
Colony 2022 Albion College Albion, MI Active [9]
Colony 2022 McDaniel College Westminster, MD Active [9]
Colony University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Active [1]
Colony 2024 Arkansas Tech University Russellville, AR Active [1]

Regional alumnae chapters

Chapter Symbol Established Location Status Reference
Gamma Alpha ΓΑ 2003 Washington, D.C. Active [9]
Gamma Beta ΓΒ 2005 Chicago Active [9]
Gamma Gamma ΓΓ 2007 New York/New Jersey Metropolitan Active [9]
Gamma Delta ΓΔ 2007 North/Central Florida Active [9]
Gamma Epsilon ΓΕ 2007 Long Island/Queens Active [9]
Gamma Zeta ΓΖ 2008 New England Active [9]
Gamma Eta ΓΗ 2008 New York Capital/Upstate Active [9]
Gamma Theta ΓΘ 2009 Bronx/Westchester Active [9]
Gamma Iota ΓΙ 2009 Greater Los Angeles Active [9]
Gamma Kappa ΓΚ 2013 Georgia/South Active [9]
Gamma Lambda ΓΛ 2013 South/Central Texas Active [9]
Gamma Mu ΓΜ 2016 Arkansas Active [9]
Gamma Nu ΓΝ 2019 Miami/South Florida Active [9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (December 3, 2022) Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed January 2, 2023
  2. ^ "Hispanic, Latino students connect through Greek life". www.cbsnews.com. October 17, 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "About SIA". Sigma Iota Alpha. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  4. ^ "Member Organizations – National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations". nalfo.org. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
  5. ^ Ramirez, Cynthia (November 21, 2022). "Photos: SIA Fundraises for One Heartland with Fruit Cups and Hot Cocoa". The Albion Pleiad. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  6. ^ Muscari, Elizabeth (December 16, 2020). "U of A Greek Life Shows Strength During Pandemic". University of Arkansas News. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
  7. ^ "Foundation". Sigma Iota Alpha. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c "ROSE Mentorship Program". Sigma Iota Alpha. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag "Chapters". Sigma Iota Alpha. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  10. ^ Leffert, Catherine (2018-09-10). "4 SU Greek organizations sanctioned". The Daily Orange. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
  11. ^ Chiglinsky, Katherine (2013-04-16). "Serviced-based Latina sorority Sigma Iota Alpha establishes colony at the College". Flat Hat News. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
  12. ^ Smith, Sarah (2017-12-05). "SIA chapter suspended after reports of hazing: Members will lose recognition on campus, ability to facilitate events until at least fall 2018". Flat Hat News. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
  13. ^ White, Aidan (2019-10-01). "College announces closure of campus sorority, fraternity". Flat Hat News. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
  14. ^ Morris, Stan (September 28, 2021). "New Latin-Based Sorority Joins in with Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration". Retrieved 2023-01-02.
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