“Yes, Kappa Alpha does have a place in this postwar country of ours, for…there is a need for more training and teaching to be found in the ritual of this grand fraternity of ours more than ever before in our history.”
- The Kappa Alpha Journal, May 1946
The manpower demands of World War II made an impact on the entire fraternity system. Twenty-one KA chapters became inactive as brothers traded in their books for rifles and were shipped overseas to fight for freedom. Our remaining 39 chapters were only moderately active.
After hostilities ceased, revitalization of these chapters was a major concern of the Order. Toward that aim, a reactivation committee recommended the establishment of a training school for chapter leaders.
The first National Training School for Chapter Officers was held in Louisville, Kentucky in 1946 and has been held every year since. Later changed to the National Leadership Institute (NLI), the school continued training undergraduates from across the country.
Currently, NLI takes place every January as each chapter sends their newly elected No. I's to receive training for his office at no cost to them. January 4th - 6th marks the 63rd NLI and the continuation of excellence will continue.
The I's Leadership Institute was piloted in 2003 with 59 No. I’s in attendance. Since then, 118 attended in 2004, 122 in 2005, 124 in 2006, and 126 in 2007.
