| The numbers are staggering. According to Kappa | | | | undergraduate student to graduate student; helping |
| Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., two-thirds of all African | | | | students improve their standardized test scores; |
| American men who begin pursuing an undergraduate | | | | provide sponsorship for study resources, improve the |
| degree, fail to complete that degree. | | | | graduation rate for members of Kappa Alpha Psi |
| For those who do complete their undergraduate | | | | Fraternity, Inc.; improve the graduate/professional |
| degree, even fewer go on to complete a | | | | school enrollment gap for members of Kappa Alpha |
| post-baccalaureate degree. In 2000, African American | | | | Psi Fraternity, Inc.; and to employ metrics to monitor |
| men comprised only 2.4% of Master's degrees, 2.6% | | | | and make improvements to the Achievement |
| of professional degrees and 1.9% of doctorates, | | | | Academy. |
| according to the official website of Kappa Alpha Psi | | | | Through the efforts of organizations such as |
| Fraternity, Inc. | | | | fraternities and sororities, much improvement can be |
| Nevertheless, the Kappas, a Greek-letter organization | | | | made to the achievement gap that is still prevalent in |
| founded on the principle of achievement, have | | | | American society. It is imperative that all African |
| implemented the Achievement Academy of Kappa | | | | American men and women who have successfully |
| Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. | | | | matriculated through the classrooms of higher |
| According to KappaAlphaPsi1911.com, "The | | | | education to reach back and assist those who come |
| Achievement Academy seeks to increase the | | | | after them. |
| representation of African American men, specifically | | | | From volunteering as a tutor or mentor or speaking at |
| our undergraduate fraternity members, in the nation's | | | | career or college day at a local high school, older |
| most selective graduate and professional schools." | | | | generations can make that same matriculation that |
| Despite the grim statistics, such as the fact that as of | | | | much easier for the next generation. Often, many |
| 1999 African Americans continued to score among the | | | | students from urban environments cannot afford the |
| lowest of all ethnic/racial groups on the GRE, the | | | | expensive prep courses to prepare them for those |
| entrance exam for graduate school. Kappa Alpha Psi | | | | important standardized tests like their more affluent |
| Fraternity, Inc. sees hope for progress as research | | | | counterparts. Therefore, the mentoring that African |
| indicates that from 1980-2000, African American men | | | | American students receive from organizations like the |
| experienced a 67% increase in post-baccalaureate | | | | Achievement Academy of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, |
| degree completion. | | | | Inc. can be the great equalizer of achieving |
| The fraternity seeks to increase the numbers of | | | | post-baccalaureate success. |
| African American men in top graduate programs | | | | Kappa was founded on January 5, 1911 by ten |
| through mentoring and advocacy. According to | | | | students at Indiana University, with achievement being |
| KappaAlphaPsi1911.com, the goals of the Achievement | | | | the fundamental purpose of the organization. The |
| Academy include: identifying those students who plan | | | | fraternity now consists of over 700 chapters in |
| to seek a graduate degree; surround those potential | | | | countries throughout the world. For more information |
| applicants with effective mentors; provide referrals to | | | | on the Achievement Academy visit the official website |
| effective mentors; development of long-term career | | | | of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. |
| goals; preparing college students for the transition from | | | | |