Sigma Pi Chapter 5

What document establishes the rules by which Sigma Pi operates?

The Constitution and Bylaws.

Whose membership requirements must a prospective Sigma Pi member meet?

Sigma Pi's, his college's, and the local Interfraternity Council's requirements.

What chapter approval is required before pledging or initiation?

A favorable vote by the chapter's undergraduate members.

Who is eligible for membership according to Chapter 5?

Male students or their male relatives, alumni, or faculty or administration members of an institution of higher education.

What is a new member?

A man who has been selected and has accepted an invitation to join but has not yet been initiated.

What is a brother?

An initiated member of Sigma Pi.

What is an alumnus?

A brother who has left college.

How long does Sigma Pi membership last?

For life, with continuing responsibilities and obligations regardless of membership status.

What other Greek-letter college fraternities may a Sigma Pi brother join?

Professional or honorary fraternities.

What are three grounds for suspension or expulsion described in Chapter 5?

Failure to meet financial obligations; violation of fraternity or chapter rules; violation of applicable laws.

What is Sigma Pi's supreme governing body?

The Grand Chapter.

Who makes up the Grand Chapter when assembled in Convocation?

Chapter and alumni club delegates; past, present, and honorary Grand Officers; and Founders' Award recipients.

What are the Grand Chapter's main governing powers?

It elects officers, amends the Constitution and Bylaws, and exercises legislative authority over the fraternity.

What is the Grand Chapter's regular meeting called?

The Biennial Convocation.

How often are regular Convocations held?

Every two years.

How many votes does each chapter in good standing have at Convocation?

Two votes.

How many votes does a chartered alumni club have at Convocation if it is in good standing and represented?

One vote.

How many votes does each current, past, or honorary Grand Officer present have at Convocation?

One vote.

How many votes does each Founders' Award recipient present have at Convocation?

One vote.

How many votes does a colony have in the Grand Chapter?

None until it is chartered.

What is the minimum number of delegates each chapter must send to Convocation?

One delegate.

On what date and in what state was Sigma Pi incorporated?

July 3, 1923, in Indiana.

What was Sigma Pi's corporate name when it was incorporated in 1923?

Sigma Pi Fraternity of the United States.

What corporate name did Sigma Pi adopt after international expansion?

The Sigma Pi Fraternity, International, Inc.

Who holds governing authority when the Grand Chapter is not in session?

The Grand Council.

How many officers make up the Grand Council?

Seven.

What is a biennium?

A period of two years.

What are the seven Grand Council offices?

Grand Sage; Grand Second Counselor; Grand Third Counselor; Grand Fourth Counselor; Grand First Counselor; Grand Herald; Past Grand Sage.

What is the Grand Sage's main governing role?

Presiding officer of the fraternity and chairman of the board.

Who presides when the Grand Sage is absent or unable to perform his duties?

The Grand Second Counselor.

What is the Grand Third Counselor's role?

Financial liaison between the Executive Office and Grand Council, keeping the Council informed for financial policymaking.

Is the Grand Third Counselor the Grand Chapter's treasurer?

No. Unlike a local chapter's Third Counselor, he serves as a financial liaison rather than treasurer.

Which Grand Officer takes minutes of Grand Council meetings?

The Grand Fourth Counselor.

What are the general governing responsibilities of the Grand First Counselor and Grand Herald?

They serve as members of the board with shared responsibility for its work.

Who serves as Past Grand Sage, and why is that role important?

The immediate past president; he provides continuity to the Grand Council.

What prior service is required of a Grand Sage candidate?

At least one biennium on the Grand Council.

Who may be elected to a Grand Chapter office?

A Sigma Pi member in good standing, subject to any office-specific requirements.

What experience is customary for nominees to Grand Chapter office?

They are usually alumni with prior experience at the Grand Chapter level.

Do Grand Officers receive a salary from Sigma Pi?

No. They are volunteers and may also cover some or all of their own service expenses.

What donation requirement applies to Grand Officers?

A minimum give-or-get donation in support of the fraternity.

Must Grand Officers live in Nashville or maintain an office at the Executive Office?

No.

What central administrative office may the Grand Council establish and maintain?

The Executive Office.

What is another title for Sigma Pi's Chief Executive Officer?

Executive Director.

Who has authority to employ the Executive Director?

The Grand Council.

When did Sigma Pi adopt Policy Governance?

At the 50th Biennial Convocation in 2010.

Under Policy Governance, who establishes the fraternity's Ends policies?

The Grand Council, based on dialogue with the membership.

What do Ends policies define?

The outcomes the fraternity should achieve and how it should serve undergraduate and alumni members.

Under Policy Governance, who determines and implements the means of achieving the Ends policies?

The Executive Office staff.

What is the key division of responsibility under Policy Governance?

The Grand Council sets desired outcomes; the Executive Office staff determines and carries out the means to achieve them.

Are Grand Council members responsible only for separate administrative areas?

No. They collectively serve as a board and share responsibility for the board's activities and adherence to the Constitution and Bylaws.

What four standing committees are named in Chapter 5?

Judicial Review Committee; Ritual Committee; Alumni Leadership Search Committee; Elections Board.

What is the Judicial Review Committee's specific responsibility?

Considering requests for consideration of expulsions under Bylaw 4.

Can the Grand Council authorize additional committees?

Yes, as needed to help develop or achieve its Ends policies.

What is a province in Sigma Pi?

A geographical grouping of chapters based on proximity.

Who appoints a Province Archon?

The Chief Executive Officer, also called the Executive Director.

What is a Province Archon's term?

Two years, or at the discretion of the Grand Sage.

Is a Province Archon paid?

No. He is an unpaid volunteer.

What are the main duties of a Province Archon?

Visit chapters, improve relations among chapters, coordinate province meetings, assist headquarters administration, and support expansion within the province.

Who appoints a Chapter Director?

The Chief Executive Officer, also called the Executive Director.

What are a Chapter Director's main duties?

Promote a chapter's social and intellectual life, support compliance with fraternity and school rules, connect the chapter with headquarters, and assist and oversee chapter operations.

Where should a Chapter Director live?

In or near the college community so he is accessible to undergraduates.

How does a Province Archon differ from a Chapter Director?

A Province Archon supports multiple nearby chapters; a Chapter Director advises and oversees an individual chapter or colony.

In what year did Convocation vote to have a Chapter Director for each chapter and colony?

1974.

In what year was the Chapter Director system formally incorporated into the Constitution and Bylaws?

1976.

What are Sigma Pi's three types of subordinate bodies?

Chapters, alumni clubs, and colonies.

Which two types of subordinate bodies receive charters from the Grand Chapter?

Chapters and alumni clubs.

What is a chapter?

An undergraduate organization at or near an institution of higher learning, drawing its active membership from the student body.

How is a chapter designated when it is chartered?

It receives a Greek-letter name.

May chapters adopt their own bylaws?

Yes, provided those bylaws do not conflict with Grand Chapter rules.

What are the six local chapter officer titles?

Sage; Second Counselor; Third Counselor; Fourth Counselor; First Counselor; Herald.

How do local chapter officer titles differ from Grand Council titles?

They omit Grand, and the local officer list does not include a past president.

What six chapter committees are listed in the manual?

Scholarship; recruitment; new member education; finance; social; intramurals.

What four additional chapter committees are strongly encouraged?

Alumni relations; public relations; risk management; community service.

Who may serve as a chapter advisor?

A Sigma Pi alumnus or faculty member is preferred, but a member of another fraternity or an unaffiliated person is acceptable.

How may an alumni club's membership be organized?

By a city or geographical region, or by affiliation with a particular chapter.

What is an alumni club's primary purpose?

To continue and strengthen friendships formed during college and connect brothers from different chapters.

How do alumni clubs support undergraduate chapters?

Through advising, career guidance, recruitment, scholarships, financial and administrative assistance, and other chapter activities.

What is a colony?

An organized campus group that has joined Sigma Pi with the intention of obtaining a charter.

What rules apply to a colony?

The same campus, community, and Grand Chapter rules that apply to chartered undergraduate chapters.

What are the six colony officer titles?

President; vice president; treasurer; secretary; sergeant-at-arms; historian.

Who is listed as Grand Sage for the 2026–28 biennium in the manual?

Brian Devot.

Who is listed as Grand Second Counselor for the 2026–28 biennium in the manual?

Peter Georgantopoulos.

Who is listed as Grand Third Counselor for the 2026–28 biennium in the manual?

Bradley Poronsky.

Who is listed as Grand Fourth Counselor for the 2026–28 biennium in the manual?

Jeff Cline.

Who is listed as Grand First Counselor for the 2026–28 biennium in the manual?

Todd Griffin.

Who is listed as Grand Herald for the 2026–28 biennium in the manual?

Brad Reichard.

Who is listed as Past Grand Sage for the 2026–28 biennium in the manual?

Christian Miele.