Created at the 160th Convention of Alpha Delta Phi in August 1992, the Alpha Delta Phi Society was founded as a solution to a two decade long division in Alpha Delta Phi over the inclusion of gender limitations in the Constitution. As the Alpha Delta Phi Constitution specifies a membership restriction to only male members, the "coeducational" chapters found themselves in a constitutional dilemma that required many years to resolve.

The Alpha Delta Phi Society was created by the then existing five coeducational chapters of Middletown, Brunonian, Columbia, Stanford, and Bowdoin. These five chapters withdrew from Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity and formed the "Society". The Society maintains separate officers, constitution, by-laws, Convention, and operations. The relationship between the Fraternity and the Society is elaborated and protected by Fraternity Constitutional provisions and an Agreement that was accepted by both organizations and unanimously endorsed by the 160th Convention of Alpha Delta Phi.

As the environment of higher education evolves, it is hoped that, some day, the Fraternity and Society may once again join within Alpha Delta Phi.