What is Delta Alpha Pi (DAPi)?
Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society was founded in 2004 at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania to recognize high-achieving college and university students with disabilities. A review of existing national collegiate honor societies revealed a variety that were based on population-specific characteristics such as: gender, ethnicity, age or veteran status, but none related to disability. Delta Alpha Pi sought to fill that void.
In addition to recognizing academic achievement, Delta Alpha Pi seeks to lessen and eventually eliminate the stigma and negative stereotyping that have been associated historically with disability. By working for an “aDAPtable world,” the members of Delta Alpha Pi challenge society to view disability as an aspect of diversity, existing on a continuum throughout an individual’s lifespan, and encourage the implementation of universal design, so that the environment (learning, physical, attitudinal), not the individual, adjusts to provide access to all individuals.
Students who become members of Delta Alpha Pi identify themselves as honor students who have a disability. By their open acknowledgment of their disability status, they serve as role models for other students with disabilities and advance the goals of Delta Alpha Pi on their campuses and in the community. By recognizing their academic accomplishments, we honor them and acknowledge their determination and perseverance.
Criteria
- Present with a documented disability and work with one of the faculty or staff members in the Office of Disability Resources, 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.
Graduate Students must have:
- Completed a minimum of 18 credits.
- Earned an overall Quality Point Average of 3.30.
DAPi at UMW
UMW’s chapter of DAPi is Zeta Mu which started in 2019. Zeta Mu holds an induction ceremony for new members every October. Please reach out to the faculty advisor for Zeta Mu, Danielle Smith (dsmith24@umw.edu) with any questions.