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Commander

This officer resource page curates the many General Fraternity resources pertinent to your position to provide an overview of available tools. It is recommended you take time to review the resources below to familiarize yourself with relevant expectations, guides, and resources.

Manual

Law and Risk Reduction Members Area Trial Code Strategic Planning Health and Safety
LEAD Program College of Chapters Pursuit of Excellence Officer Transitions Best Practices Library  

Manual

Office of Commander Manual

The Commander's Manual has been written as a user guide for the position. Officers are encouraged to review the introduction for an explanation of the manual and how it is organized. Officers should then conduct the included self-assessment of competencies for the position; and then spend time reviewing the areas they're not familiar with, have questions about, or are looking for best practices.

Important Due Dates UPDATED for Fall 2023

This quick reference sheet covers the regular paperwork and billings chapters need to submit to the General Fraternity. Major events are also included.

Law and Risk Reduction

The Law of Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc.

The Law is the Fraternity's constitution. It sets membership requirements, standards of conduct, and the framework for the operation of all entities of the Fraternity, including collegiate chapters. The Law also includes the Trial Code - a set of due process rules and procedures for disciplining initiated members.

Risk Reduction Policy

Along with The Law of Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc., the Risk Reduction Policy provides our constituents with specific policies on areas such as the education of initiates and candidates, activities of the chapter, premises of the chapter, and hazing.

Risk Reduction Resources

These resources focus on assisting the chapter as a whole through education and accountability. Take a moment to look through these resources and consider how they could positively impact your chapter.

Anti-Discrimination Policy of Sigma Nu Fraternity

As adopted by the 67th Grand Chapter (2016, San Diego, California)

No member of Sigma Nu Fraternity shall discriminate, with respect to fraternal decisions, on the basis of race, religion, creed, sexual orientation, disability, age, and/or national origin.

Updating the Members Area

Members Area Instructions for the Commander and Recorder

An overview of the Members Area for the Commander and Recorder. This document includes instructions for each of the Members Area functions the Commander and Recorder control. More specific how-to instructions for updating the chapter’s roster and other information can be found in the documents below.

How to Update the Members Area

Step-by-step instructions with website screenshots make updating the Members Area easy.

Trial Code

Trial Code Procedures

A tutorial on correctly and effectively utilizing the Trial Code.

The Visual Trial Code

A visual, step-by-step guide to properly completing Trial Code procedures.

Combined Notice of Complaint and Trial Notice

This document combines the Notice of Complaint and Trial Notice needed to complete the Trial Code procedure.

Strategic Planning

The following resources exist to support the chapter in the strategic planning process. 

Strategic Planning and Action Plans Overview

This resource provides initial guidance and support for the Chapter Strategic Plan Template and the 10 PEP Action Plans. The overview provides resources for developing a strategic plan and creating S.M.A.R.T. goals for a chapter's operations.

Chapter Strategic Plan Template

This resource serves as a helpful guide for the development of your chapter's strategic plan. This template complements work completed through the PEP Strategy Session and the Strategic Planning LEAD Session.

PEP: Action Plans - The following PEP: Action Plans were created to support chapters in developing a comprehensive plan for achieving Excellence in each of the 10 subcategories of the Pursuit of Excellence Program. Each plan facilitates the establishment of officer and committee expectations, tasks, goals, and operational strategies. The Commander and Lt. Commander should work with the chapter's officers to ensure that the appropriate officers and committee members complete each action plan and that they support the mission, vision, and purpose of the chapter's overall strategic plan.   

 

Health and Safety

Mental Health Resource for Officers

This resource offers an interactive, online program – Behind Happy Faces Advisor Resource Series – to equip officers and volunteers to understand how to care for the mental health of themselves and their members. The Advisor Resource Series comprises five 5-10-minute online modules that can be completed in one setting or spread out over as many sessions as you would like.

We Have A Situation

Many of the most important decisions a chapter must make do not necessarily present themselves in a formal chapter setting, but rather on the weekends or during special campus sporting and alumni events. How to handle situations that could potentially alter the future of a chapter and its members is a pressing issue. This collection of "white papers" addresses common alcohol-related topics and instances that chapter leaders and members face on a potentially regular basis and at most, if not all, colleges and universities.

Crisis Management Plan Template

This resource provides chapters and officers with a structured template to create their own Crisis Management Plan. The Commander should work with other officers to make sure that chapter members are aware of the chapter's plans for knowing who to contact and how to respond in a crisis situation.

CommunityEdu

What you need to know to have your members participate in this proven effective course. Members will experience a personalized, confidential experience that addresses healthy behaviors and effectively deals with their peers' behaviors. 

CommunityEdu FAQ

Answers to everything CommunityEdu – what it is, who should complete it, when it needs to be completed, how the chapter will benefit, and details about the financial incentive policy.

The LEAD Program

Strategic Planning
Quick access to the All-Chapter LEAD session and resources. 
Goal Setting
Quick access to the All-Chapter LEAD session and resources.
Officer Transition
Quick access to the All-Chapter LEAD session and resources. 
Delegation
Quick access to the All-Chapter LEAD session and resources. 
Accountability
Quick access to the All-Chapter LEAD session and resources. 
Effective Meetings
Quick access to the All-Chapter LEAD session and resources.
All-Chapter LEAD

College of Chapters 

College of Chapters Resources

A link to the most recent College of Chapters Resources. This includes the Core Sessions, the Breakout Sessions, and the Chapter Group meetings.

Pursuit of Excellence 

Pursuit of Excellence

Everything you need to understand the program and put your chapter on the road to excellence.

Officer Transitions

Officer Transition Resources

Compilation of resources to assist collegiate chapters with elections and officer transitions.

Officer Transition Checklist 

Outgoing officers should use this checklist so they know what to prepare and provide for their successors.

Officer Binder Checklist

This checklist will guide new or outgoing officers on the preparation of the Officer Binder/Notebook, an important resource for the officer transition process.

New Officer Goal Setting

This resource should help new officers hit the ground running and aid them in establishing their goals and acquiring the necessary resources to be successful during their term.

The Art of Delegating

Introductory strategies for sharing the workload, empowering others, and getting things done.

Best Practices Library

Best Practices Library

This library includes activities, programs, processes, and practices that result in or lead to excellent performance. Practices were collected from Sigma Nu chapters across North America of every size, institutional type, and region of the country. The best ideas and practices that could and should be replicated by other chapters are found here.

The library allows users to sort through ideas, examples, and templates. Best practices are sorted by area of operations (as defined by the Pursuit of Excellence Program) and subcategorized by type (e.g., accountability ideas, events, finances).

© 2015-2022 Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc.
9 North Lewis Street, P.O. Box 1869, Lexington, Virginia 24450
Phone: (540) 463-1869 | Fax: (540) 463-1669 | Email: headquarters@sigmanu.org

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