Sigma Nu Institutes

General Information

Sigma Nu Institutes will be held on Saturdays during January, February, and March at a number of locations across the country.

The Sigma Nu Institutes are designed for training specific officers, namely:

Each chapter/colony within reasonable driving distance to an institute should send representatives - Lt. Commander, Treasurer, Marshal, LEAD Chairman, and Recruitment Chairman & 1-2 committee members - to an institute of their choosing. Alumni specific programming will also be offered at each location. Corresponding alumni/volunteers (i.e. Chapter Advisors, Alumni Advisory Board Members, Division Commanders) are encouraged to attend an institute in their area. Commanders are welcome to attend, but as the institute program builds off of the College of Chapters curriculum, they are not expected to be present.

Our goal is to provide a positive learning environment where participants can grow and improve as officers, reach their potential as chapter leaders, and more fully understand and utilize the resources provided by the General Fraternity

2019 Sigma Nu Institute Locations

Campus	Location	Date
University of Mississippi	Oxford, Miss.	January 26
University of North Texas	Denton, Tx.	January 26
University of Central Florida	Orlando, Fla.	February 2
Washington and Lee University	Lexington, Va.	February 2
University of California, Irvine	Irvine, Calif.	February 9
Eastern Michigan University	Ypsilanti, Mich.	February 9
University of Tennessee	Knoxville, Tenn.	February 9
Columbus State University	Columbus, Ga.	February 16
Drury University	Springfield, Mo.	February 16
Thomas Jefferson University - East Falls Campus	Philadelphia, Pa.	February 16
University of California, Davis	Davis, Calif.	February 23
University of Illinois	Champaign-Urbana, Ill.	February 23
Colorado State University	Fort Collins, Colo.	March 2
Washington State University	Pullman, Wa.	March 2

Registration

Registration for the 2019 Sigma Nu Institutes is now live. Collegiate and alumni/volunteer participants can register for their preferred Institute here.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do the Sigma Nu Institutes take place?

The 2019 Sigma Nu Institutes are scheduled to take place on Saturdays from the end of January through early March. Specific dates and locations can be referenced in the table above. Each Institute is scheduled to begin promptly at 12:30 p.m. and end by 6:00 p.m. Participants are encouraged to arrive by 12:00p.m. for check-in and to receive their program materials.

Who should attend the Sigma Nu Institute?

The Sigma Nu Institute’s curriculum is designed to assist with the officer transition process and learning curve that accompanies taking on new positions of chapter leadership. Both newly elected and mid-term officers will benefit from the program through increased exposure to, and education on, the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully and effectively perform their duties. During the Institute, officer specific training will be provided for chapter Lt. Commanders, Treasurers, Marshals, LEAD Chairmen, and Recruitment Chairmen. Each institute will also provide alumni/volunteer specific programming for area alumni/volunteers (i.e. Advisors, Alumni Advisory Board members, Division Commanders).

Can other officers attend the Sigma Nu Institute?

Absolutely! The Institutes are open to interested Sigma Nu members and alumni/volunteers. While certain portions of the curriculum will be specific to the five officers mentioned above, the training provided will benefit all participants. Some recommended additional participants for the chapter to consider are related committee members (i.e. Marshal Committee, Recruitment Committee, LEAD Committee, and Finance Committee), Recorders, and Chaplains. Commanders are also welcome to attend, but as the Institute program builds off the College of Chapters curriculum, they are not expected to be present.

How do I register for a Sigma Nu Institute?

The 2019 Sigma Nu Institute registration page is now live. Participants can register for their preferred event by completing the provided form. Each participant is expected to complete his own registration for the event so that institute materials can be prepared appropriately.

Is there a registration fee to attend?

No. There is no registration fee to attend the Sigma Nu Institute and chapters/colonies are not limited on the number of participants that can register.

Will lunch or dinner be provided?

No. Participants attending the Sigma Nu Institute should plan to eat prior to arriving for the Institute. Snacks, such as chips and cookies, will be available for participants throughout the event though it is not recommended to treat this as a substantive meal alternative. The institute will conclude in time for participants to get dinner on their own before traveling home from the institute location.

Is there a dress code for the Sigma Nu Institute?

The dress code for the Sigma Nu Institute is casual. Khaki pants and a collared shirt are recommended.

Where can I find a campus map, driving instructions and the room location for the Institutes?

The following table has been provided which should direct you to campus information including a campus map and driving/parking directions. Hyperlinks have been provided in the "Map/Directions" column. By clicking on either "Map" or "Directions" you will be taken to the respective campus map and driving directions for each location.

Location	Map/Directions	Building and Main Room
University of Mississippi	Map/Directions	Lamar Hall - 126
University of North Texas	Map/Directions	Business Leadership Building - 070
University of Central Florida	Map/Directions	Student Union - 221 (Garden Key Rm)
Washington and Lee University	Map/Directions	Science Addition - 214
University of California, Irvine	Map/Directions	Social Science Plaza A - 1100
Eastern Michigan University	Map/Directions	Student Center - 300
University of Tennessee	Map/Directions	Student Center - 169
Columbus State University	Map/Directions	Frank Brown Hall - 1304
Drury University	Map/Directions	Trustee Science Center - 10
Thomas Jefferson University - East Falls Campus	Map/Directions	Tuttleman Center - 108
University of California, Davis	Map/Directions	Giedt Hall - 1001
University of Illinois	Map/Directions	TBA
Colorado State University	Map/Directions	Football Stadium - 1203
Washington State University	Map/Directions	TBA

What do we do in the case of inclement weather?

With the Sigma Nu Institutes taking place during the winter months, it is reasonable to expect that inclement weather may impact the Institutes. As each Institute date approaches, our staff will be paying close attention to the weather and will be sure to notify registrants if there are any changes to the scheduled events. Registrants should monitor their email leading up to the day of the Institute and can expect to hear from the General Fraternity staff by early morning on the day of the event, at the latest, if there are to be any event cancellations. In the event that there are cancellations, the General Fraternity staff will do its best to accommodate a rescheduling of the event and will work with area chapters to select a date that works best for our participants and host chapter.

Also, personal safety is imperative for all of our participants. Chapters should not take risks if there are concerns about making it safely to an Institute location. Please let the General Fraternity staff know if your members experience any concerning conditions that may prevent attendance.

What if no one from our chapter attends?

The "Acceptable" criteria for the Brother Development subcategory of the Pursuit of Excellence Program stipulates that chapters attend all available regional Sigma Nu programs. Sigma Nu Institute locations have been planned to be available to most chapters and there are approximately 143 of our 163 chapters and colonies within 300 miles of at least one institute. This being said it is understandable that a conflict such as distance, a competing event, or inclement weather, might arise that could prevent a chapter from attending. In these cases there is no penalty for a chapter not attending as long as the chapter/colony notifies our staff in advance of the event. If you are aware of a conflict that would prevent participants for your chapter from attending please make the General Fraternity aware by contacting Scott Smith, Director of Leadership Development, at scott.smith@sigmanu.org.

If you have any additional questions regarding the Sigma Nu Institute, please contact Scott Smith, Director of Leadership Development, at (540) 463-1869 extension 350 or at scott.smith@sigmanu.org.