After more than three years of petitioning and meeting with university deans and advisers, Alpha Sigma Kappa sorority may finally get what it has been working so hard for — membership in the Collegiate Panhellenic Council at Iowa State.

Alpha Sigma Kappa is a sorority for women majoring in the “hard” sciences, engineering and architecture. A member has to have a specific amount of hard science classes to be a member.

It has evolved from a student organization to a national Alpha Sigma Kappa chapter during the past three years. By March, Alpha Sigma Kappa hopes to be recognized as an associate member of the Collegiate Panhellenic Council, which would bring a new niche to the campus greek community.

“Alpha Sigma Kappa appeals to people not typically found in the greek community,” said Alpha Sigma Kappa adviser Gloria Starns.

There are no other Collegiate Panhellenic Council sororities that require women to have a specific major to be a member, said Sonja Jensen, Collegiate Panhellenic Council graduate adviser. Other greek organizations have focuses, but none require specific majors.

“Alpha Sigma Kappa has a focused mission regarding who they are and what they stand for,” Jensen said.

The major difference between Alpha Sigma Kappa and other sororities on campus is its focus on academics. Alpha Sigma Kappa plans philanthropy and social events like other sororities, but academics play a larger role in Alpha Sigma Kappa values, Starns said.

“The girls know their major is rigorous,” Starns said. “If they want to be successful, they’re going to have to study.”

Alpha Sigma Kappa President Melissa Grimsley said members know it takes a lot to be successful in a technical major.

“Members understand the time requirements of everyone’s major,” Grimsley said.

Associate chapters must go through the same process as member Collegiate Panhellenic Council chapters. The time it takes to become a member varies depending on how fast the sorority grows, Jensen said.

“Alpha Sigma Kappa decided to wait to petition for colonization in the Collegiate Panhellenic Council until they were ready to meet the standards of the council and the council was ready for a new sorority,” Jensen said.

The sorority needs three positive recommendations, from the University Committee on Fraternities and Sororities, Ames Area Alumni Panhellenic and the Collegiate Panhellenic Council, before it receives associate status.

The Collegiate Panhellenic Council requires a majority vote from the member chapters and has the final say in Alpha Sigma Kappa’s ability to join, Jensen said.

“Even if the two other committees give a positive recommendation, the Collegiate Panhellenic Council still has the power to keep Alpha Sigma Kappa from joining the council,” Jensen said.

If Alpha Sigma Kappa is invited to join the Collegiate Panhellenic Council, it only would be an associate member, because it is not one of the 26 sororities recognized by the National Panhellenic Council. This would not keep it from participating in Collegiate Panhellenic Council functions on campus, though, Jensen said.

“Alpha Sigma Kappa will still be able to vote on Collegiate Panhellenic Council issues,” Jensen said. “They won’t be less privileged than other Collegiate Panhellenic Council chapters.”

If Alpha Sigma Kappa does receive three positive recommendations, it would gain colony status, remain a colony for the next year, then would be able to petition to become an associate member of Collegiate Panhellenic Council.