Department of Sociology
AKD-VCU Chapter
The Sociology Graduate Program
Delta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta,
National Sociology Honor Society
Welcome
to AKD Delta Chapter
The Greek letters AKD stand for:
anthrôpos, meaning mankind; katamanthanô, meaning to examine closely or
acquire knowledge, and; diakoneô meaning to do service. The goals of this
international honor society are to investigate humanity for the purpose of
service, to promote scholarship, and to foster fellowship among faculty
and students, both at the graduate and undergraduate levels.
Over the past eight decades, over 80,000 scholars have been initiated into AKD, and more than 490 chapters have been chartered in the United States, Canada, China, Finland, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Singapore. Its growth and development has been a contributing force in the promotion of scholarship in sociology.
For graduate students, the following specific requirements must have been met prior to the time of initiation: completion of one half year [one semester] of graduate study in sociology with a graduate GPA of B or better, and continued matriculation in a program of study leading toward a graduate degree in sociology at the host institution (Brief History of Alpha Kappa Delta,1998-2000).
The Graduate Program in Sociology at VCU has a long history of involvement with AKD. Over the years, members have organized various philanthropic, social, and scholarly activities, and have brought in guest speakers whose work is highly regarded in the discipline.
Past keynote speakers include:
|
Margaret Anderson Jessie Bernard Robert Bierstedt Clifton Bryant Theodore Caplow Lewis Coser Arleen Kaplan
Daniels
|
Amitai Etzioni
|
For the Christmas project in 2001, AKD participated in the Angel Tree Project by 'adopting' a 9 year old boy
from the Richmond Metro area. Students and faculty contributed a total of
$283 to the effort. Kendra Cover and Mike Stern, the volunteer
shoppers for this project, were able to purchase everything on his
wish-list. He received 2 shirts, a sweater, a pair of pants, a
jacket, 2 pairs of shoes, a bike, and a remote control truck!
In the spring of 2002 and 2003, AKD collaborated with a number of other groups in a service project to benefit low income women. For every 300 pounds of clothing collected and donated to Goodwill, the Richmond YMCA received a $50 voucher. These vouchers enabled clients to go to the store and shop, rather than sorting through donated items to find something for themselves. AKD members Kendra Cover, Sarah Diehl, and Mike Stern helped organize the efforts, distributing bags for students, neighbors, friends, and family to fill, and then dropping them off at Goodwill for credit.
Department
of Sociology (J. Sherwood Williams, Chair)
Lafayette Hall, 312 N. Shafer St.
P.O. Box 842040
Richmond, VA 23284-2040
Tel.: (804) 828-1026 Fax: (804) 828-1027