Now if you want to talk about fraternities making big moves for their members in 2021 you are going to need to talk about this. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. just struck a partnership with The Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine that will waive application fees, provide tuition discounts and streamline the admissions process for Alphas.

The five-year agreement with The Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine will allow financially active members of the fraternity to apply and enroll in the school’s online master’s programs in areas like community health sciences, environmental health sciences, and health administration.

“Advancing educational and professional outcomes for Alpha Phi Alpha Men in the field of public health will undoubtedly improve health outcomes and resilience in the communities we serve around the world.” said Dr. Willis L. Lonzer, III, General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. “Alpha Phi Alpha Men are men of distinction who have a long track record of service and advocacy for the downtrodden. The recent global pandemic and its disproportionate impact on communities of color is a great reminder of the need for more professionals of color in field of public health and we are confident that this partnership with Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine will positively impact the field and our communities.”

Under the agreement, Tulane will develop a pipeline program for undergraduate members of Alpha Phi Alpha, to prepare them for graduate and professional school, which the Fraternity will promote with its members and encourage their participation. 

All application fees will be waived for financially active members of Alpha Phi Alpha. “Participating students will enjoy tuition discounts that will increase based on the number of fraternity members who enroll, according to the agreement,” a press release issued to Watch The Yard by Alpha Phi Alpha stated.

“This is a positive step for both institutions and aligns with our school’s goal to become the most diverse school of public health in the country,” said Dr. Thomas LaVeist, dean of the school and Weatherhead Presidential Chair in Health Equity. “We are thrilled to be in partnership with such a well-respected fraternal organization.”

According to the Alphas, “This exclusive partnership is the first of its kind with any National Pan-Hellenic Council organization, which represents the nine historically African American Greek-lettered fraternities and sororities, as well as any Greek-lettered organization overall.”

“Diversity is not just a buzzword here,” said Dr. Alicia Battle, associate dean for online programs at Tulane. “We’re not trying to check off a box to make sure we have every race and ethnicity represented. What we are trying to do is to make sure that our students and therefore our graduates represent the communities that are touched by public health every day. It makes a communities being helped after a disaster, for example, or during a pandemic. It’s also important that we have more men involved in the field because, let’s face it, men make up half the population. Men are impacted by infectious diseases and disasters and workplace safety concerns, and we need more men in the public health workforce.”

Members can learn more about the programs at publichealth.tulane.edu.

Share this if you know an Alpha who should apply.