College of Chapters
General Information
The Curriculum
College of Chapters is Sigma Nu Fraternity's annual leadership development conference for Commanders. This interactive program focuses on leadership, skill development, and networking to ensure that each Commander has the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the essential duties of their office. This year's College of Chapters will be held in Roanoke, Virginia, at The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center.
College of Chapters begins Wednesday, January 3, 2024. Check-in will occur throughout the afternoon, and the program will begin in the late afternoon. You should plan to arrive in Roanoke no later than 2:30pm EST on January 3 and to depart any time on January 6.
Attendees
The Commander of every collegiate chapter and colony is expected to attend the entire duration of College of Chapters, in keeping with Fraternity policy. Partial attendance does not qualify.
If the Commander of your chapter at the time of College of Chapters will be someone other than the current Commander, it is the current Commander's responsibility to ensure that the incoming Commander contacts the General Fraternity and registers for College of Chapters by December 8, 2023.
The Fraternity can accommodate a limited number of second attendees. To apply to have your chapter send a second representative email cofc.info@sigmanu.org by November 17, indicating the name and position of the additional representative the chapter wishes to send. The second attendee should be an executive officer and able to attend the entire College of Chapters, and the chapter must understand and commit to paying the $500 second participant fee. Second participants will be selected by November 27 and will be provided additional instructions for registering. Travel for second participants should not be booked until the chapter has received confirmation they are approved to send a second representative.
Registration
Your registration fee for College of Chapters (excluding travel expense) has already been billed to your chapter as part of the Conclave Fee.
Collegiate member attendee registration is available here. Non-student registration instructions will be provided directly to those attendees. All attendees must register by December 1, 2023. Any registrations received after this date will be assessed a $75.00 late registration and processing fee. If you are unable to register online, please contact our office for additional support.
Please note: the registration fees cover all materials, conference fees, and lodging for the duration of the conference. Meals will be provided to participants throughout the College of Chapters. This includes dinner on January 3 and three meals on January 4 and 5.
Attire
All Commanders must be appropriately attired to attend the College of Chapters educational sessions and meal functions. Proper attire consists of dress pants (khakis or slacks), a collared shirt, and closed-toe shoes. Shorts, t-shirts, hats, caps, and sandals may not be worn to educational sessions or meal functions. Note, the College of Chapters experience includes a pilgrimage to Lexington, Va., weather permitting, at which a considerable amount of time will be spent outside. Please consult the weather forecast for the dates of the College of Chapters and pack accordingly for spending time outside during the Lexington pilgrimage.
Delegate Changes
All collegiate chapter and colony Commanders are expected to attend the College of Chapters. If, for any reason, the Commander of your chapter cannot attend, please contact the General Fraternity at cofc.info@sigmanu.org to review your options.
Cancellations
Any registration cancellation must be received in writing to cofc.info@sigmanu.org.. If you do not attend and do not provide notice of your cancellation, your chapter will not receive credit for attending.
If your chapter fails to send representation to the College of Chapters, your chapter will be placed on alcohol-free housing status until the next convention, per the Risk Reduction Policy. Additionally, the chapter will be unable to receive a rating of Acceptable or higher in the Brother Development subcategory for this year's Pursuit of Excellence submission.
Early Departures
All Commanders are expected to actively participate and remain on-site for the duration of the College of Chapters. Any Commander who departs prior to the conclusion of College of Chapters will not receive credit for attending.
Travel
Attendees driving should plan to arrive at Hotel Roanoke no later than 3:00 pm EST on Wednesday, January 3, 2024.
Attendees flying should plan to fly into the Roanoke Regional Airport [airport code ROA] by no later than 2:30 pm EST on January 3. Roanoke is a regional airport. Flight times are limited, and airfare has been known to dramatically increase as your departure date nears. Please book your air travel as soon as possible. Participants will be responsible for coordinating transportation from the airport to the hotel. Options include:
Cab fares are approximately $18.00 (tip excluded) for a one-way trip to/from the airport.
The Hotel Roanoke offers a complimentary shuttle service to/from the Roanoke Airport. Each shuttle can accommodate up to 11 passengers.
- Airport Pickup: Guests should proceed to the baggage claim area and use the complimentary phone to dispatch a shuttle. It takes 10-15 minutes for pickup.
- Hotel Departure: The first shuttle departs the hotel at 5:15 am EST, and shuttle service ends at 11:45 pm EST.
Any Commander who experiences a travel delay on his day of arrival should contact Fred Dobry at (540) 319-1393.
Accommodations
The historic Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center, located at 110 Shenandoah Ave., Roanoke, Va 24016, will host the College of Chapters.
All attendees will be provided a room at the Hotel Roanoke. Individual attendees will be rooming with another attendee in the same room as assigned by the General Fraternity The only exception is collegiate chapter representatives from the same chapter (i.e., a chapter approved to send two representatives) will be roomed together.
Participants will not need to reserve a room. Lodging arrangements will be coordinated by the General Fraternity staff following registration. Commanders should not contact the hotel directly. Reservation information will be included in the confirmed delegate packets, which will be sent by email approximately 15 days prior to the College of Chapters.
Any special room requests must be submitted in writing to cofc.info@sigmanu.org.
Parking is available on-site at $21/day for valet and $15/day for self-parking.
Schedule
The College of Chapters schedule is subject to change. Please continue to visit this portion of the Fraternity's website for regular updates to the College of Chapters schedule of events.
Questions
Check out the Frequently Asked Questions for additional information. Still have questions, contact us by phone at (540) 463-1869 or email at cofc.info@sigmanu.org.