Delta Alpha Pi

Delta Alpha Pi is an academic honor society founded to recognize high-achieving students with disabilities who are attending colleges (including community colleges) and universities as undergraduate or graduate students.

For more information, visit deltaalphapihonorsociety.org

Cabrini’s chapter is Beta Omega. Its purpose is to recognize and promote disability awareness and celebrate academic achievement for post-secondary students with disabilities.

Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society was founded in 2004 at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania. In 2006, the honor society became national and in 2008 was incorporated as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Purpose
Because of the negative stereotyping associated with disability, students have been reluctant to identify themselves publicly.

Delta Alpha Pi presents an opportunity to change that perception by recognizing students with disabilities for their academic accomplishments. In addition, this honor society facilitates development of skills in leadership, advocacy, and education.

The three Greek letters have specific meaning.

Delta – D for Disability, but also the triangle, symbol of strength. Members demonstrate strength as leaders on campus to help break down the barriers of negativism. Also, they serve as mentors and role models for other students with disabilities.
Alpha – A stands for Achievement. Alpha is the beginning, and academic achievement must come first. A also stands for advocacy because students must advocate for themselves before they can advocate for others. Members enhance advocacy skills for themselves and for the rights of all individuals with disabilities to be included fully in society.
Pi – P represents Pride, pride in academic achievement and in other accomplishments, not just as students with disabilities, but as members of the university community. Pi is a mathematical symbol, so Pi is an appropriate symbol for education. Members participate in activities designed to educate the community and society about disability issues and the need to apply the principles of universal design in learning.

Benefits of membership include the following:

recognition at induction dinner
a membership lapel pin and a certificate suitable for framing
an honors cord to wear at graduation
an item for your résumé
participate in campus-wide disability-awareness events
serving as a peer mentor for students with disabilities

Membership is open to both undergraduate and graduate students at colleges and universities with chartered chapters and who meet the following criteria:

All students must:

Present with a documented disability and work with one of the faculty or staff members in the Accessibility Resource Center (ARC), or self-identify as an individual with a disability
Demonstrate an interest in disability issues

Undergraduate students must have:

Completed a minimum of 24 credits
Earned an overall Quality Point Average of 3.10 on a 4.00 scale

Graduate students must have:

Completed a minimum of 18 credits
Earned an overall Quality Point Average of 3.30 on a 4.00 scale

For more information about the Beta Omega Chapter of Delta Alpha Pi, please contact:

Sara Farina - sf655@cabrini.edu or Amanda Heflin ah11005@cabrini.edu