When Pi Alpha Phi was founded in the 1920s, traditional Greek letter fraternities along with the rest of the nation, legally discriminated against men of color.

[2] Six students signed the fraternity's charter in both Chinese and English, officially establishing Pi Alpha Phi on February 1, 1929.

[1] The fraternity encouraged its members to learn Asian-American culture, heritage, and history and to share this knowledge with others.

"[8][9] The moratorium was lifted but, a pledge, Phat Nguyen, died and three others were hospitalized after a hazing incident at Michigan State University on November 19, 2021.

[15][10] The fraternity said that its chapters were unsustainable because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, declining university enrollment, and financial pressures.

[10][15] At the time of its closure, Pi Alpha Phi was the oldest active Asian-American interest fraternity in the United States.

[1] The National APIDA Panhellenic Association removed Pi Alpha Phi from its membership roles on October 13, 2023.

Their dedication to fostering academic excellence, Asian American awareness, brotherhood, leadership, and philanthropy has left a lasting mark on our fraternity and sorority community.

[1] The name Pi Alpha Phi was derived from the initials of the Greek phrase meaning "To advance through brotherly ties; the thirst for learning."

[22] The fraternity awarded the annual Herbert Gee Scholarship, named in honor of an Alpha chapter founder.