The Pursuit of Excellence Program (PEP) is Sigma Nu Fraternity’s chapter assessment, standards, and improvement program. Unlike traditional “minimum standards” programs, the Pursuit of Excellence Program is designed to be a year-round planning, evaluation, and improvement program. These pages provide a full overview and details of the program’s structure, as well as resources designed to help chapters excel in pursuit of our mission.
Pursuit Of Excellence Program Summary
This summary document explains the program in greater detail and provides a full listing of the program’s standards, criteria for excellence, and available resources to achieve excellence.
Pursuit of Excellence Program Resources
Chapter Self-Assessment Resources
Part of the Strategic Plan adopted by the Fraternity’s High Council in November of 2000, was to develop a set of “minimum standards” for chapter performance. The High Council appointed an Ad Hoc Committee to recommend minimum standards for the adoption by the 60th Grand Chapter. In 2006, a committee was appointed to review the Pursuit of Excellence Program. This committee put forth changes to the program based on the following assumptions:
- The Pursuit of Excellence Program should set a standard that drives our undergraduate chapters and the entire organization toward the realization of the Fraternity’s vision "Excelling with Honor."
- Standards should be set to assess our chapters in their alignment with the mission of the Fraternity.
- It is vital that the program includes a viable feedback mechanism whereby chapters can utilize information from the assessment to drive the organization forward toward excellence.
- The Pursuit of Excellence Program should align with the Rock Chapter criteria and work in support of the Fraternity’s strategic initiatives under the Strategic Plan.
Three categories of chapter operations were agreed upon for measurement:
- Values-Based Leadership
- Service and Philanthropy
- Campus Leadership
- Values Congruent Environments
- Personal Development and Membership Value
- Intellectual Development
- Candidate Development
- Brother Development
- Alumni Development
- Operational Excellence
- Recruitment and Manpower
- Chapter Operations
- Governance and Accountability
Chapters are annually evaluated in each subcategory. Annual evaluations take the form of a chapter self-assessment which is supplemented by feedback from an assessment team of advisors and staff. In the final assessment, each subcategory is evaluated on a seven point scale from poor to excellence. The full rating scale is provided below.
| Poor | Substandard | Fair | Acceptable | Good | Very Good | Excellence |
A rationale for each rating is communicated to the chapter along with recommendations for improvement. Chapters receiving an overall level of excellence for one of the three standard areas are recognized for the Pursuit of Excellence in that standard and chapters which maintain an overall level of excellence for a period of three years or more are recognized as Rock Chapters.
All chapters of the Fraternity are required to submit documentation for the Pursuit of Excellence Program each year. Chapters should utilize the Self-Assessment Guide to complete the Chapter Self-Assessment Booklet by April 30.
Failure to submit by April 30 will result in a suspension of the chapter. This suspension prohibits the chapter from hosting, co-hosting, sponsoring, or participating in any events with alcohol.
If after a period of six months the chapter has still not submitted documentation, all activities of the chapter will be suspended.
Chapters receiving an achievement level below "Acceptable" in a subcategory must submit a plan of action for improvement in that area to the General Fraternity.
Pursuit Of Excellence Program – Chapter Improvement Plan Guidelines
