Sigma Phi Epsilon - ME Alpha

From the first time you thought of a fraternity, you may have recollected thoughts of Animal House and out-of-shape C-student "frat-boys." SigEp is the fraternity that is working to change the rules of fraternity membership while going back to the core values on which SigEp was founded over 100 years ago in 1901. SigEp focuses on the Balanced Man Project where a member learns to commit to: 1) A lifelong commitment to learning and academic excellence, and 2) Universal respect for self and others.

Sigma Phi Epsilon is the nation's largest fraternity in terms of undergraduate membership. For the past two decades, more men have joined SigEp than any other college fraternity.

SigEps are proven winners. Be part of the winning team- SigEp is the only national fraternity to increase in undergraduate membership over the last two decades. Be a part of an organization where 255,000 men pass the torch to you- the next generation of the American college fraternity.

Sigma Phi Epsilon is the fastest growing and the most recognized fraternity at the University of Maine.

On May 4, 2002, SigEp at UMaine was chartered as Maine Alpha, successfully passing the most rigorous chartering standards in the fraternity world with, "One of the top chartering applications ever received by the National Headquarters," according to our expansion director.

SigEp has a long history at the University of Maine, dating back to the 1940s. After a brief abscence, SigEp made a comeback in 2000 with just four determined men. The chapter now has a total of 73 undergraduate brothers, leading all other fraternities on campus. Our members believe that if we offer quality, we will have quantity. Over the last decade, we have earned many accolades from the University of Maine Administration, including the 2001 National League Fraternity Intramurals Championship, the 2001 Most Improved Fraternity Award, the 2002 Fraternity Campus Involvement Award, the 2002 Fraternity Traditionalism Award, Fraternity of the Year Award in 2003, ’05, ’07, ’08, and '09, the 2006 Community Service Award, the 2008 and 2009 BC Kent Intramural Award, as well as maintaining the highest fraternity grade point average virtually every single semester that SigEp has been on campus. In addition, SigEp has brothers who are Varsity Athletes, Student Senators, Student Orientation Leaders, Senior Skulls, Sophomore Owls, and nearly all of our brothers belong to at least one other campus organization.

Sigma Phi Epsilon is different.

We pride ourselves on being different. Being different allows us to set the precedents, stay one step ahead of everyone else, and to relish our leadership status in the fraternity world. We aim to set the standards of Greek letter membership for the 21st century. SigEps believe that the concept of undergraduates organized based on friendship will never become an obsolete idea - but the way those friends interact change through the times.

Sigma Phi Epsilon chapters demolish the "frat boy" stereotype through focusing on the development of a sound mind and a sound body.

"Sound Mind / Sound Body" are hardly catchphrases for the UMaine chapter of SigEp fraternity. It is a way of life for us: "Spirit Healthy, Body Healthy" can mean so many things for us.

A member of SigEp has access to intense year round multi-sport intramural competitions, automatic registration into the RecSports Fitness 2000 program, and the chapter house workout room. Alcohol is strongly prohibited from the chapter house, and the food available at the chapter house promotes healthy eating through a variety of nutritious foods.

To develop the mind, the chapter house makes use of a Sound Mind grant made possible by our National Headquarters' Educational Foundation. These funds allow us to recruit a faculty fellow, furnish a chapter library, and to wire the chapter house for a high speed internet network. The National Headquarters also provides student loans and National-level scholarships based on academic improvement, highest chapter GPA, and national level of competition scholarships, which has been won by a past member of Maine Alpha.

Sigma Phi Epsilon's Balanced Man Program appeals to undergraduates because it concentrates on individual and chapter development. In particular, the BMP focuses on mentoring, campus and community involvement, and the Ritual.

The BMP is a four-year membership development program sensitive to the needs of members at varying stages of their college career. Through the BMP, a member of SigEp is expected to harness the tools given to them to allow them to excel in the classroom, on the playing field, and in leadership roles. SigEps find making social connections easier and can explore a wealth of opportunities that they thought never existed.

Okay, what's the bottom line concerning membership and cost?

Membership requirements:

Must show a work ethic towards keeping your mind and body in shape.
Exhibit enthusiasm, be well-mannered, and cultured.
Be a gentleman involved on campus - we encourage taking leadership roles in other campus organizations.
Minimum of a 3.0 undergraduate GPA or graduating high school with honors.

National Fraternity Initiation Costs:

A one-time $275 lifetime membership fee that is used by the National Headquarters to support its programs and initiatives. Upon membership, you will receive a membership card, Balanced Man pin, Lifetime Responsibilities of Brotherhood book, "The Quest" academic planner and calendar, and a SigEp intramurals T-shirt. The National Headquarters uses funding in part from lifetime dues and the Educational Foundation to send undergraduate brothers to leadership seminars worldwide.

Several leadership seminar opportunities include (all expenses paid by HQ): the EDGE new member experience; The Biennial National Conclave; the Carlson Leadership Academy; the Frank Ruck Leadership Institute in Richmond, Virginia; and the Balanced Man Quest to Athens, Greece

Local Chapter Dues:

$75 for your first semester as a SigEp are used for the local operations of the chapter.
$275 every semester following your first.
This money is used to fund the local chapter's dry social events, composites, HQ fees and insurance, buy office and other supplies, and to fund local retreats and trips.

Local Chapter House Parlor Fees (out-of house brothers only):

No Parlor fees are payed during your first semester as a SigEp
$200 every semester after your first are used for the local operations of the chapter house, such as paying general utility bills, for food, and for cooking services.
This money is used to defer the costs of general wear and tear on the chapter house by out-of-house brothers, utility usage, and to fund free brotherhood dinners before the brotherhood meetings on Monday nights.

Local Chapter House Rent (for live-in brothers only):

$3000 a semester is used for the upkeep of the chapter house, running the chapter house, provide utilities and services, and for other HQ/Maine Alpha Alumni Board fees. This rate is highly comparable to on-campus living and should be approximately $850 less per semester when you consider the $100 communications fee and the dorm damage bill by semester's end.
These funds are also used for the long-term planning of the fraternity financial interests as well as for the extravagant programming otherwise not able to be covered by local chapter dues, such as socials, road trips, and retreats.
Live-in brothers enjoy private high-speed Internet connections, a private phone line, a private cable line, other utilities (heat, electricity, and hot water), 24/7 kitchen access, coin operated laundry access, and professional meal preparation Monday through Friday.
A 54" HDTV in the living room complete with couches, a game room complete with foosball, table tennis, pool table, and a TV, a dining room, a kitchen with a walk-in refrigerator, a library with a computer cluster, outside deck, weight and conference room, a private brothers only room, a storage RAM, along with 33 single bedrooms are some of the excellent features of the chapter house.
The three top perks of the house over the dorms are the 33 single rooms in 3 different wings, each with standard dormitory furniture provided (bedframe, mattress, dresser, and desk), the full-kitchen and cook provide meals right inside the chapter house which means no more walking to bad food at the commons, and continuous break and year-round housing unlike the dorms as well as summer boarding.

Description of the Chapter House:

The chapter house is situated at 375 College Avenue, Orono, ME 04473, with a public phone number of (207) 866-7755. The current SigEp chapter house was constructed in 1957 with outhall added in 1968, and has undergone many renovations and cosmetic improvements. We moved into our chapter house from the basement of Oxford Hall in April of 2001. The chapter house is located almost directly across College Avenue from the Alfond Arena and is the first Greek House on the right of College Avenue entering the campus from I-95 Exit 51.
SigEp maintains a policy to keep its chapter housing competitive with the dorms but to not to overly undersell the dorms in order to avoid the "frat-boy" stereotype. We moved into our chapter house during the fall of 2001. Much work has been put in the chapter house over recent years, and the brothers are proud that the chapter house is competitive with the dorms in every facet.

Sounds good to me, how can I find out more?

There are many ways to contact the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. Most easily is by filling out the form in the "Contact Us" tab at the top of the page.

You may want to conduct further research on our websites at the following addresses:
www.umainesigep.org
www.sigep.org

Another way to learn about SigEp is to monitor the SigEp Events FirstClass conference within the main Sigma Phi Epsilon FirstClass conference. This will allow you to learn of weekly events that all recruits are invited to attend. Contact Daniel Gerges, our Vice President of Programming, via FirstClass if you would like more specific details of a certain event.

Our Vice President of Recruitment, Mark Rucci, is available on FirstClass to help recruits learn more about the opportunities Sigma Phi Epsilon offers. Mark can also inform you of appropriate meetings or events that may be geared more towards allowing recruits and brothers to get to know each other in a fun environment.

The red door of the chapter house is always open to brothers, alumni, and men of good character. Perhaps the best way to meet the undergraduate brothers is a simple chapter house tour.

If you see a brother wearing the letters of

Sigma Phi Epsilon - ME Alpha

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