Nu Alpha Kappa

Nu Alpha Kappa is an American collegiate Latino Americans|Latino]-based fraternity. Nu Alpha Kappa was founded on the campus of California Polytechnic State University in 1988. Nu Alpha Kappa was a charter member of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations. It is now a member of the North American Interfraternity Conference.

History

The fraternity began with fifteen friends at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, California who wanted to create a club for Hispanic students at the predominantly Anglo campus. Initially, the group called itself "Naco", after Spanish slang for a person who gets along well with everyone.
This became Nu Alpha Kappa on February 26, 1988. The fraternity was established based on a commitment to "Carnalismo" or brotherhood, the search for knowledge, and the retention and pride of culture. Eleven of the original organizing friends became the fraternity's founders, including:A second chapter was established at San Jose State University in 1989, followed by a chapter at San Diego State University in 1990. Its first chapter outside of California was chartered at Colorado State University in 1999. However, the majority of its 28 chapters are in California.
The fraternity's national headquarters is in Roseville, California.

Symbols

The name ΝΑΚ was selected to represent the "nac" sound in Xinaco. Xinaco, a Nahuatl word used by the Olmecs, describes "an educated, amiable individual whose personality and charisma transcends and enlightens all cultures and social".
The fraternity's colors are red, white, and bronze. Its mascot is XiNAKo. Its motto is "Men of Mind, Men of Culture, Men of Pride."

Philanthropy

Nu Alpha Kappa supports the National Marrow Donor Program and its Hispanic/Latino Stem Cell and Marrow Initiative in California, Colorado, and Nevada. Its other charity is the NAKLand Children's Carnival.

Chapters

Collegiate chapters

Nu Alpha Kappa has established collegiate chapters in California, Nevada, and Colorado. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters and institutions are in italics.

Chapter	Charter date and range	Institution	Location	Status
Founding		California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo	San Luis Obispo, California	Active
Alpha		San Jose State University	San Jose, California	Active
Beta		San Diego State University	San Diego, California	Active
Gamma		Sonoma State University	Rohnert Park, California	Active
Delta		California State University, Stanislaus	Turlock, California	Active
Epsilon		California State University, Fresno	Fresno, California	Active
Zeta	– 201x ?	University of California, Santa Barbara	Santa Barbara, California	Inactive
Eta		Santa Clara University	Santa Clara, California	Active
Theta		California State University, Chico	Chico, California	Active
Iota		California State University, Sacramento	Sacramento, California	Active
Kappa		University of California, Davis	Davis, California	Active
Lambda		University of California, San Diego	La Jolla, California	Active
Mu		Colorado State University	Fort Collins, Colorado	Active
Nu		University of California, Riverside	Riverside, California	Active
Xi		California State University, Monterey Bay	Seaside, California	Active
Omicron		University of Nevada, Reno	Reno, Nevada	Active
Pi		California State University, Northridge	Northridge, California	Active
Rho		University of California, Los Angeles	Los Angeles, California	Active
Sigma		University of Northern Colorado	Greeley, Colorado	Active
Tau	– 20xx ?	California State Polytechnic University, Pomona	Pomona, California	Inactive
Upsilon	– 20xx ?	University of Nevada, Las Vegas	Paradise, Nevada	Active
Phi	– 2015	National Hispanic University	San Jose, California	Inactive
Chi		California State University, San Marcos	San Marcos, California	Active
Psi		University of California, Irvine	Irvine, California	Active
Omega				Memorial
Alpha Alpha	– 20xx ?	University of California, Berkeley	Berkeley, California	Inactive
Alpha Beta		San Francisco State University	San Francisco, California	Active
Alpha Gamma		Metropolitan State University of Denver	Denver, Colorado	Active
Alpha Delta	– 202x ?	University of San Diego	San Diego, California	Inactive

Alumni chapters

The ΝΑΚ National Alumni Association was officially established in 2014. Following is a list of the Nu Alpha Kappa alumni chapters. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are in italics.

Chapter	Institution	Status
Fresno State Alumni Association	California State University, Fresno	Active
UCSD ΝΑΚ Alumni Association	University of California, San Diego	Active
NAK Riverside Alumni Association	University of California, Riverside	Active
Iota Chapter	California State University, Sacramento	Active
Kappa Chapter	University of California, Davis	Active
Beta Chapter – ALAS	San Diego State University	Active
Tau Chapter Alumni Association	California State Polytechnic University, Pomona	Active
San Jose State Alpha Alumni Association	San Jose State University	Active
Delta Chapter Alumni Association	California State University, Stanislaus	Active
Gamma Chapter	Sonoma State University	Active

Member and chapter misconduct

Nu Alpha Kappa has faced multiple allegations of hazing, misconduct, and policy violations across several of its chapters. In 2015, the University of California, Santa Barbara chapter was shut down following reports of hazing and sexual assault allegations against members of the fraternity. The chapter was among three Greek organizations at UCSB that lost university recognition due to violations of student conduct policies, including allegations of providing alcohol to minors and fostering an unsafe environment within fraternity-sponsored events.
In 2020, the San Diego State University chapter was placed on interim suspension as part of a broader crackdown on Greek organizations following allegations of alcohol-related violations and hazing. The university's investigation later found that members of Nu Alpha Kappa at SDSU were guilty of theft, leading to the chapter's suspension in early 2021.
In 2023, the San José State University chapter was issued a cease and desist order, temporarily halting its operations due to alleged violations of university policies. While details of the allegations were not publicly disclosed, the order was part of a broader review of fraternity and sorority conduct at the university.
In 2025, the University of California, Riverside chapter was placed on interim suspension due to hazing allegations.