Sigma Nu Institutes

General Information

Sigma Nu Institutes will be held on Saturdays during January and February at locations across the country. Register now or continue reading to learn more about the program.

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

2020 Sigma Nu Institute Locations

Campus	Location	Date
University of South Florida	Tampa, Fla.	January 25
Texas Christian University	Fort Worth, Tx.	January 25
California State University, Los Angeles	Los Angeles, Calif.	February 1
Jefferson University - East Falls Campus	Philadelphia, Pa.	February 1
Washington and Lee University	Lexington, Va.	February 1
Arizona State University	Tempe, Ariz.	February 8
Georgia Institute of Technology	Atlanta, Ga.	February 8
The University of Alabama	Tuscaloosa, Ala.	February 15
Illinois State University	Normal, Ill.	February 15
Case Western Reserve University	Cleveland, Oh.	February 22
Missouri State University	Springfield, Mo.	February 22
Colorado State University	Fort Collins, Colo.	February 29
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Boston, Mass.	February 29
Washington State University	Pullman, Wa.	February 29

Registration

Registration for the 2020 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?

Sigma Nu Institutes are scheduled to take place on Saturdays from the end of January through February. 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. Chapter 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 2020 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. Registered attendees will also receive a confirmation the Thursday of their selected Institute with logistics reminders.

Location	Map/Directions	Building and Main Room
Tampa, Florida	Map	Northwestern Mutual Building (1511 N. Westhore Blvd - park in garage)
Texas Christian University	Map/Directions	Brown-Lupton Union - Ballroom D
California State University, Los Angeles	Map/Directions	University Student Union - Theatre
Jefferson University - East Falls Campus	Map/Directions	Tuttleman Center - 108
Washington and Lee University	Map/Directions	Science Addition - 214
Arizona State University	Map/Directions	Greek Leadership Village Community Center - Ballroom 208
Georgia Institute of Technology	Map/Directions	Klaus Advanced Computing Building - 1443
The University of Alabama	Map/Directions	Lloyd Hall - 120
Illinois State University	Map/Directions	State Farm Hall of Business - 357
Case Western Reserve University	Map/Directions	Rockefeller Hall - 301
Missouri State University	Map/Directions	Glass Hall - 101
Colorado State University	Map/Directions	Football Stadium - 1203
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Map/Directions	Building 36 (Fairchild) - 144
Washington State University	Map/Directions	Center for Undergrad Ed (CUE) - 318

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 some locations. 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 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 140 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) 319-4692 or at scott.smith@sigmanu.org.