We talk a lot about recruitment in SigEp, as it’s one of the most important things we do as fraternity men. The quality of the men we bring into our organization greatly affects all other aspects of chapter life.

Many SigEp chapters have found value in determining their optimal size – the measure of a chapter’s manpower that provides the best experience to its members.

Establishing a goal for optimal size provides consistency over the long-haul. As officers transition, they will all be able to work toward the benchmark. Sustaining an optimal size is easier on the chapter and its budget than falling into a cycle of rapid growth and decline.

Committing to an optimal size also allows for long-term recruitment planning and helps alumni-volunteers and Headquarters staff to support the goals and direction of the chapter.

In the next few weeks, your chapter will complete the SigEp Periodic Membership Report (PMR). The PMR is SigEp’s annual census, measuring the Fraternity’s membership as of March 1, 2012. While completing this report, consider where your chapter is in relation to your optimal size. If you haven’t determined an optimal size, here are questions to discuss with your fellow officers, alumni-volunteers, and regional director:

• What is the 10-year historical manpower for our chapter?
• How many men on campus have a GPA above our minimum standard? Above a 3.5?
• How do we compare to other fraternities on campus? Are we big enough to compete?
• How would more or fewer members impact our ability to be leaders on campus?
• How do we compare to SigEp chapters at peer institutions? (Your regional director can help with this.)
• What benefits can come of the financial resources gained from having more members?

From this optimal size, you can chart a course to achieve this goal. This number can also help determine recruitment goals now. After setting an optimal size, a very simple math equation can help us determine how many men are needed in recruitment each year.

Say a chapter’s optimal size is set at 115 men , and membership stands at 85. It can be difficult and intimidating to try and make up that growth in one year. Simple math dictates that the chapter can be there in three years if it grows by 10 men each year– a very attainable goal. Therefore the 2012-2013 manpower goal should be 95 men.


Use the following equation to determine a 2012-2013 recruitment goal:

95 ’12-’13 Manpower Goal
-85 Current manpower
--------
10 Subtotal
+15 # of Graduating Seniors
+5 Attrition*
--------
30 ’12-’13 Recruitment Goal

*Remember to consider that some of your members will transfer, leave the Fraternity or be expelled. Account for that in recruitment goals.

From this recruitment goal, chapters can identify the number of potential new members to target and develop a recruitment and Balanced Man Scholarship plan. This reasonable yearly target is one of the many advantages to identifying an optimal size for the chapter.

Chapters will grow and shrink over time. The size of a chapter and quality of the members it recruits drives both the depth of its resources and the value of the experience. Understanding the optimal size for a chapter will help you set attainable recruitment goals that allow you to provide the best fraternity experience on campus.

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