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National History

Sigma Phi Epsilon

“This fraternity will be different, it will be based on the love of God and the principle of peace.”

-Brother Carter Ashton Jenkins

• Sigma Phi Epsilon was founded on November 1, 1901 on the campus of Richmond College, VA by Brother Carter Ashton Jenkins and eleven other founding fathers. Today, with over 250 chapters distributed throughout the nation in all 50 states and over 246,000 lifetime members, SigEp is the largest undergraduate fraternity in America.

• Sigma Phi Epsilon is supported by the Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation . The Foundation was founded to help develop the scholarship, leadership, citizenship, and personal potential of SigEp undergraduates. The Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation provided over $1 million to Sigma Phi Epsilon in program support and scholarships in 2001.

• The twelve founding fathers of Sigma Phi Epsilon based the philosophy of the fraternity on the Cardinal Principles of Virtue, Diligence and Brotherly Love. Like the founders of our national organization, the founding members of our chapter were dedicated to upholding these ideals. By fostering Virtue, Diligence and Brotherly Love, our chapter has been able to grow and contribute to the University community. Last year alone we contributed over 800 hours of community service in the Rochester area. In fact, the New York Xi chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon has repeatedly been recognized by our national headquarters and the University of Rochester administration for our scholarship, citizenship, service and programming.

The National Fraternity

• Founded on November 1, 1901, at the University of Richmond.
• Composed of 240 chartered chapters and 17 chapters in the process of meeting chartering criteria (Sigma Epsilon Chapters) across the United States.
• Boasts the largest undergraduate membership, presently over 14,000, of any men’s collegiate fraternity for the last two decades.
• For 21 consecutive years, SigEp has been selected as the fraternity of choice by college males through their decision to join.
• 5,300-5,600 men choose to join annually (based upon the last 10 years).
• Maintains the highest first-year member retention rate, over 90%, of any national fraternity.
• 246,000 lifetime members rank SigEp in the top four among national fraternities despite founding 38th in chronological order of 64 national fraternities; presently boasts the largest living alumni population.
• Governed by the Grand Chapter, which is composed of undergraduate delegates (by an 85% margin), District Governors, and National Board of Directors.
• Guided between Grand Chapter meetings by volunteers known as the National Board of Directors.
• Maintains a full-time professional staff of over 35 people.
• Publishes quarterly magazine, The Journal of Sigma Phi Epsilon, which is distributed to all members for life upon joining.

A Fraternity of Firsts

• First major national fraternity to abolish membership restrictions based upon race, religion, or creed, five years before America’s civil rights movement.
• First national fraternity to establish a housing trust for all chapters and separate National Housing Corporation aimed at supporting housing excellence.
  First national fraternity to establish a traveling staff to assist chapters in effective operations.
• First fraternity to charter a chapter in all fifty states.
• First national fraternity Educational Foundation to build an endowment greater than $11 million.
• First national fraternity to receive a grant from the federal Department of Education to enhance member development programs.
• First national fraternity to provide financial assistance to brothers for graduate school through the Resident Scholar program.
• First national fraternity to partner with the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy in order to create substance abuse education programs for members.

 

Local History

NY Xi

• Founded April 19, 1986

• Dave Abrams was influenced to establish a SigEp chapter at the University of Rochester by Ben Creighton of Ohio Gamma while camping in the Adirondacks.

• The first chapter meeting was held in Crosby dormitory.

• The first retreat was held in Letchworth State Park.

• NY Xi was located in Gilbert, later Lovejoy dormitory.

• NY Xi implemented the Balanced Man Program in 1996.

• NY Xi is currently located on the third floor of Wilder Tower.

• NY Xi currently holds the second highest GPA for SigEp chapters nation wide at 3.55

• NY Xi is currently 62 members strong, of which 13 are new members