Pursuit of Excellence

PEP is an ongoing process that engages the entire chapter—not simply a year-end report completed by one or two officers.

Beginning of the Academic Year

After reviewing feedback and ratings from the previous year, the chapter conducts a Strategy Session to establish its direction for the coming year. Members work together to identify priorities, develop goals and action plans, and communicate those plans to alumni volunteers, campus partners, and General Fraternity representatives.

Throughout the Academic Year

The chapter regularly evaluates its progress and adjusts its plans as needed. Chapter leaders are encouraged to remain in communication with their Chapter Advisor or Alumni Advisory Board, Division Commander, Leadership Consultant, and campus fraternity and sorority advisor.

End of the Academic Year

The chapter conducts a collaborative self-assessment using the PEP Self-Assessment Guide and Chapter Self-Assessment Booklet. Officers and committees evaluate their respective areas, discuss the chapter’s performance with the membership, and compile supporting documentation.

Completed submissions are due to the General Fraternity by April 30 each year.

Summer Review and Feedback

General Fraternity staff review the chapter’s self-assessment, supporting documentation, and feedback from members of the chapter’s assessment team. Each chapter receives ratings, explanations for those ratings, and recommendations to guide future improvement.

Each of the program’s ten areas is evaluated using a seven-level scale:

Poor · Substandard · Fair · Acceptable · Good · Very Good · Excellence

Acceptable represents the Fraternity’s minimum expectation for good standing, while the higher achievement levels recognize chapters that demonstrate increasingly effective practices and results. Chapters are evaluated against established standards—not ranked against one another.

Feedback from the assessment team helps provide a more complete understanding of the chapter’s performance. The team may include the chapter’s:

• Leadership Consultant
• Division Commander
• Chapter Advisor or Alumni Advisory Board
• Campus fraternity and sorority advisor

The General Fraternity gathers this feedback directly. A chapter is not negatively affected when an assessment team member does not submit feedback.

The Pursuit of Excellence Program helps chapters:

• Establish a shared vision and measurable goals.
• Engage more members in chapter planning and decision-making.
• Identify operational strengths and areas for improvement.
• Build stronger relationships with alumni volunteers and campus partners.
• Receive consistent, actionable feedback from the General Fraternity.
• Create continuity between outgoing and incoming chapter officers.
• Work toward sustained excellence across every area of chapter operations.

Pursuit of Excellence Awards

Chapters that achieve Excellence in the required areas of a standard may receive annual recognition for:

• Excellence in Principles-Based Leadership
• Excellence in Personal Development and Membership Value
• Excellence in Operational Excellence

Rock Chapter Award

The Rock Chapter Award is Sigma Nu’s highest honor for collegiate chapters. Presented at Grand Chapter, the award recognizes chapters that consistently demonstrate Very Good to Excellence performance across the full range of chapter operations during the biennium.

Selection also considers risk management, member conduct, and the chapter’s ability to sustain excellence over time. The award recognizes achievement during a specific period rather than conferring permanent status.

Most Improved Chapter Award

The Most Improved Chapter Award recognizes chapters that make significant gains in their PEP performance during the biennium. These chapters have strengthened their operations and established momentum toward future Rock Chapter-level performance.

Chapters receiving a rating below Acceptable in one or more areas must develop an improvement plan outlining the actions they will take to address each deficiency. Improvement plans are due to the General Fraternity by September 30 and should be shared with alumni and campus advisors to engage their guidance and support.

A chapter rated below Acceptable in five or more areas may be placed in the PEP Chapter Support Program. Participating chapters receive personalized assistance from General Fraternity staff, including strategic planning, operational guidance, progress check-ins, enhanced consultations, and officer-transition support.

The purpose of this process is not simply to identify deficiencies. It is to provide chapters with a clear path, practical resources, and sustained coaching to help them improve.

All Pursuit of Excellence resources are available through the Sigma Nu Member Portal under the Pursuit of Excellence Program tile in the Resources section.

Available resources include:

Evaluation Guidelines

The Evaluation Guidelines outline the performance benchmarks used to assess chapters in each of PEP’s ten areas. Chapters can use the guidelines throughout the year to understand expectations, evaluate their progress, and identify opportunities for improvement.

Strategy Session

This All-Chapter LEAD session guides members through a collaborative planning and problem-solving process at the beginning of the academic year. The session helps the chapter establish its vision, goals, priorities, and action plans.

Chapter Improvement Plan Guidelines

These guidelines help chapters translate identified deficiencies into specific, measurable plans for improvement.

Self-Assessment Guide

The guide provides step-by-step instructions for conducting the chapter’s annual assessment session, completing the submission booklet, and assembling supporting documentation.

Chapter Self-Assessment Booklet

The editable booklet serves as the chapter’s formal annual PEP submission and must be completed and submitted by April 30.

Access PEP Resources in the Member Portal

When should a chapter begin working on PEP?

PEP begins at the start of the academic year. Chapters should review their previous ratings and feedback with their alumni leadership before conducting the Strategy Session and setting goals for the year.

Who should participate in the process?

The entire chapter should be involved. Although the Lt. Commander typically coordinates the assessment, each officer and committee should evaluate the areas connected to their responsibilities and share their findings with the membership.

How should chapters monitor their progress?

Chapter leaders should regularly compare their progress with their goals and the PEP Evaluation Guidelines. They should also discuss challenges and accomplishments with alumni advisors, the Division Commander, the Leadership Consultant, and campus fraternity and sorority professionals.

What does the annual self-assessment involve?

Near the end of the academic year, the chapter gathers to discuss its performance in each PEP area. Officers and committees complete their assigned portions of the Chapter Self-Assessment Booklet, attach relevant supporting documentation, and compile a unified submission.

How are chapters evaluated?

General Fraternity staff review the chapter’s self-assessment, supporting materials, and assessment-team feedback using established evaluation guidelines. The chapter receives a rating in each of the ten areas, along with an explanation and recommendations for improvement.

What happens when a chapter receives a rating below Acceptable?

The chapter must prepare and submit an improvement plan explaining how it will strengthen that area. Chapters with deficiencies in five or more areas may receive additional structure, coaching, and support through the PEP Chapter Support Program.

How are high-performing chapters recognized?

Chapters may earn annual Pursuit of Excellence awards for outstanding performance within one or more of the program’s three standards. Chapters that sustain Very Good to Excellence performance across the biennium may qualify for the Rock Chapter Award.