Sigma Kappa's Theta Psi chapter was established at Penn State in 1991. It has since enjoyed a reputation as one of the premiere campus organizations for women and currently boasts a membership of involved campus women. Sigma Kappa boasts a GPA that is above the all-women's average at Penn State. Sigma Kappa considers high scholarship serious business. The chapter's Vice President of Scholarship continually encourages members to strive for academic excellence. The progress of new members is monitored closely to insure that all are adjusting well to college- level work. Sigma Kappa has a strong mentoring program so that our new members benefit from the experiences of our older sisters. Furthermore, all members who contribute to the chapter's academic success are recognized at special chapter events.Sigma Kappa's calendar is a busy one and includes a wide variety of activities. Traditionally we have weeklongs with our Homecoming and Greek Sing partners in the fall. Our annual formal, the Sigma Kappa Violet Ball is held every spring. In addition to these events, Sigma Kappas have an exciting social calendar. Socials are held throughout the year with different fraternities. We also host a "Parent's Weekend" in the spring semester.The chapter meets weekly with two meetings each month devoted to programming designed to nurture and develop friendships and enhance the personal development of the sisters. Other activities include attending Penn State football games, living together on the floor, going out to dinner after meetings, as well as sisterhood events. Sigma Kappa members are involved in other campus, Greek, and local organizations. For example our sisters are involved in USG, Lion Scouts, Academic clubs and societies, THON and many other areas within Penn State's organizations. The chapter participates in Greek Week, Greek philanthropies, and Panhellenic programs. We are also enthusiastic supporters of Penn State's athletic teams and programs.Service to the Penn State community is a Sigma Kappa tradition. Whether we are volunteering in the community or canning for THON, Sigma Kappa's are always there in full force.

The American fraternity system is the outgrowth of the human desire to band together. The fraternity system has worked in conjunction with higher education for over two hundred years and is uniquely American.Phi Beta Kappa, founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary as a social and literary society, was the first college fraternity. Thirty years later, during the Anti-Mason movement, it was forced to reveal its ritual and became a scholastic honorary. The objectives and philosophy of purpose of Phi Beta Kappa became the model for future fraternities. Other characteristics adopted by fraternities and sororities were a degree of secrecy, an initiation ceremony, oath of allegiance, a motto, a badge, a seal, passwords, a tradition of high idealism, and strong bonds of friendship. Since the founding of the first Greek-letter organization, the American college fraternity system has proven to be one of the most durable institutions in association with higher education.Early women students were reluctantly admitted to colleges and were looked down upon by professors and male students alike. During this period of change for women, they were insulted, boycotted, and denied a share of the more prized college rights. They were courageous and determined to make a place for women in the collegiate world. This feeling inspired the formation of sororities on the basis of scholarship, friendship, mutual interests, and ideals.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.

In 1904, Delta chapter was installed at Boston University. Elydia Foss of Alpha chapter had transferred to Boston and met a group of women who refused to join any of the other groups on campus. When asked if Sigma Kappa was a national organization, Elydia replied, "No, but it is founded on a national basis." Elydia then took the necessary steps to make Sigma Kappa a national sorority and it was incorporated in the state of Maine on April 19, 1904. The new status as a national sorority made Sigma Kappa eligible to join what was then called the Interfraternity Conference, now known as the National Panhellenic Conference.