NIC RECOGNIZES ILLINOIS ALPHA RLC

Travis Dittmer, Western Michigan'10

SigEp’s chapter at Illinois was recognized with the Award of Distinction at the North American Interfraternity Conference’s annual meeting on April 10. Chapter President Dalton Mellon, ’13, and past chapter president and current IFC Vice President of Recruitment Nick Fuson, ’12, represented the chapter at the meeting in Washington, D.C.

The award recognizes undergraduate chapters that are highly-functioning, comply with NIC standards, educate others of the benefits of a values-based fraternity experience, and maintain a healthy relationship with their national organization.

Three chapters received the prestigious award this year. Mellon was elated to receive the award. “We are extremely honored and humbled to receive this award,” he said. “We are all happy that SigEp has the opportunity to be recognized on a national fraternity scale.”

The chapter was nominated by Assistant Dean of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Ashley Dye. Dye manages the largest Greek system in the nation, consisting of 46 fraternities. Dye praised the chapter for its commitment to living the values of Sigma Phi Epsilon. She believed the chapter set itself apart because it, “excels on campus in many areas, including membership recruitment, membership development, academic excellence, community service and alumni support.”

Mellon was appreciative of Dye nominating the chapter. “She did all of the work on the application without us knowing and deserves much of the credit as well,” he said.

Mellon credited the Balanced Man Program for setting them apart from other Greek organizations and catching the attention of Dye. “With the Balanced Man Program, we are able to break the normal fraternity stereotype by showing that our members can develop well beyond their current potential in all aspects of life.”

Brother Mellon also graciously thanked the chapter’s Alumni and Volunteer Corporation, often the staple of a successful undergraduate chapter. Chapter Counselor Shawn Dalgleish, Illinois ’81, who accompanied the undergraduates to Washington, helped re-charter the chapter in 1996.
Dalgleish said the true success of this chapter lies in the partnerships it has created, developed and sustained. Illinois Alpha has successfully created partnerships with the university’s Illinois Leadership Center, has four faculty fellows, and has a strong relationship with the Office of Certified Housing as well as the City of Champaign.

Dalgleish elaborated, “Think about it. In today’s environment, a host institution will only publicly associate itself with other organizations that they share a convergence of vision, values and mission that has been consistently validated by years of successful partnership. Their brand is too valuable to do otherwise.” He concluded with, “It’s all about creating, developing and sustaining partnerships: host institution, faculty, volunteers, parents, vendors, communities, etc.”

Illinois Alpha’s hard work is deserving of this recognition. Many other chapters can learn from their focus on recruitment through the Balanced Man Scholarship and Residential Learning Community programming. Each semester a different class is taught for university credit in the chapter house.

This chapter is not settling, however, as Dalgleish expressed, “Across the board, our organizations should anchor themselves in a culture of continuous improvement.”

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