READ ABOUT THE LEGISTLATION YOUR BROTHERS PASSED AT CONCLAVE
By A.J. Collins, Alabama ‘13

At SigEp’s 52nd Grand Chapter Conclave in Phoenix in August, the Grand Chapter passed legislation increasing the academic standards of SigEp chapters around the nation, once again placing us at the forefront of the fraternity world and proving that “This Fraternity will be different.”

The resolution increases the GPA requirement for an individual chapter from 2.6 to 2.8 or the all-campus average (ACA), whichever is higher, in order to bring the overall national GPA for undergraduates to a 3.2.

Debate on the resolution was heated, as some chapters vehemently opposed an increase in standards to a level they argued could damage their ability to recruit new members and lead to potential repercussions. Other chapters desired a compromise level of 2.70 to be held until the next Conclave.

Many chapters, however, voiced support for the resolution, and the Grand Chapter even amended it from “all-men’s GPA,” as it read in the initial resolution submitted by committee, amidst comments that SigEps would be competing with women in the professional workforce, and should be subject to academic competition with them as undergraduates. In the end, the resolution was passed overwhelmingly by the voting members, consisting of chapter delegates, district governors, and National Directors.

SigEp, which had recently fallen behind Beta Theta Pi fraternity in national GPA, had perennially been in the lead among all NIC members in academic standards, and this legislation will help boost the Fraternity back into that leadership role. Additionally, the resolution complies with the national strategic plan in its goal to get all chapters above their respective ACA.

The legislation takes effect in the fall 2014 semester, giving chapters below this standard sufficient time to elevate their academic performance to achieve the new standard.

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