National Pan-Hellenic Council

The University of Maryland is host to the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), which is composed of the nine historically Black Greek-Letter Organizations. Affectionately known as the "Divine Nine or D9," eight of the nine chapters are currently active on the campus. Each of these organizations was founded during a time when Black students were systematically denied access to higher education and excluded from full participation in campus life at many institutions, particularly land-grant universities like the University of Maryland.

Land-grant universities were instituted with the passing of the first Morrill Act in 1862. This legislation allowed for the appropriation of land to U.S. states and territories for the establishment of collegiate institutions for the study of agriculture. In 1890, the Second Morrill Act (officially known as the Agricultural College Act of 1890) was passed to provide additional funding for states, especially the southern states, with either established segregated institutions or racially exclusive admissions. Most states, including the state of Maryland, opted for a separate institution for its Black residents. It is within this context that Black collegians experienced higher education and created their own Greek-lettered organizations.¹

NPHC organizations are distinct in their deep, lifelong commitment to community service, academic excellence, and cultural uplift. They maintain robust alumni engagement through graduate chapters and regional/national networks that support mentorship, career development, and community advocacy well beyond the collegiate years.

Visit our NPHC Student Leadership page for more information on the current leadership of the NPHC and the Chapter President listing of each organization.

NPHC History

On May 10, 1930, on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C., the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) formed with the purpose and mission of “unanimity of thought and action as far as possible in the conduct of Greek letter collegiate fraternities and sororities, and to consider problems of mutual interest to its member organizations.” The chartering organizations included Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. joined the council in 1931, and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. followed in 1937. Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. joined the NPHC as its ninth member in 1997.

NPHC at the University of Maryland

Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. was chartered at UMD in 1971 and became the first Black Greek-Letter fraternity on campus (they later joined the NPHC in 1997). The following year, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. became the first NPHC fraternity officially chartered at the university. Over the next several years, all nine NPHC organizations established chapters at UMD:.

• Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc., Nu Chapter: August 13, 1971
• Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Epsilon Psi Chapter: January 25, 1972
• Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Chi Delta Chapter: March 10, 1973
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Eta Epsilon Chapter: October 14, 1973
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Kappa Phi Chapter: January 26, 1974
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Theta Nu Chapter: March 2, 1974
• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Iota Zeta Chapter: April 27, 1974
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Theta Theta Chapter: September 21, 1975
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Eta Beta Chapter: April 3, 1976

The University of Maryland chapter of the National Pan-Hellenic Council was formally chartered in 1976. Today, NPHC organizations at UMD continue to thrive through close collaboration among collegiate members, graduate chapters, and alumni, further strengthening the legacy and impact of Black Greek-Letter organizations on campus and beyond.

To learn more about the NPHC at UMD, visit: https://umcpnphc.wixsite.com/umdnphc