Education & Programming

Online Programming

Enhancing the Fraternity's Educational Reach

by Alexander Pettigrew (Indiana of Pennsylvania ‘15), Director of Education and Programs

In today's day and age, it is imperative that in order to remain relevant and in a position to positively (contribute to/impact) all constituents of an organization, that the organization must continue to enhance its reach through technology. Sigma Pi is no different in that way and has consciously put in the effort to continue making significant strides allowing it to stay on par and ahead of the curve in that regard. Prior to the pandemic that changed the environment and landscape many are used to, Sigma Pi had already begun taking steps in the direction of streamlining and improving its educational reach virtually. While the Fraternity had done this through its work with Plaid, the pandemic also allowed for Sigma Pi to reevaluate its delivery when it comes to major program launches, virtual conferences and programming, and even future decision making in the form of voting and gathering. Before discussing how Sigma Pi has navigated increasing its educational reach today during Covid-19, it is important to acknowledge the steps and decisions that were made years ago that allowed for this path to be set in stone.

As previously mentioned, the work the Fraternity has done with Plaid, who focuses on individuals and organizations becoming better, has inspired and led to the creation of various educational programs. Dating back to the 2018-2019 school year, Sigma Pi released an online curriculum in the form of modules and courses which have included:

• Officer Transition Module

• Volunteer Training Module • Tightrope Health and • Safety Training • Bayard Membership Experience • Conflict Management and

Critical Thinking - Continued

Member Education

Programs such as the Officer Transition, Volunteer Training, and Tightrope Health and Safety Training Modules have offered members a standardized means of completing uniform curriculum across the country. With programs such as these, members, regardless of where they are in the world, are

able to complete the same training without restrictions. Sigma Pi has launched these modules to assist members of the organization in various capacities, which range from effective transitioning between chapter leaders, impactful leadership qualities and strategies for volunteers, and standardized health and safety training and knowhow for all members.

Continuing on with the education that has come from the Learning Management System are programs that are not modules but similar in that they are still course-based. This includes the Bayard Membership Experience and Continued Member Education in the form of courses on Conflict Management and Critical Thinking. The significance of these programs can not be understated, however as implementing them was important, but maintaining them during a time where distanced learning was put on the forefront has been critical.

With the launch of the Bayard Membership Experience in the fall 2020 semester, the Fraternity moved quickly to develop and launch its program that would allow New Member Education to be conducted outside the confines of a university or campus. With the ability to log in to the Plaid Learning Management System, members were able to complete their New Member Education Program as they navigated a new environment of remote and hybrid learning on their respective campuses. Additionally, by incorporating the Tightrope Training along with the Bayard Membership Experience, Sigma Pi was able to deliver curriculum on the following topics:

Bayard Membership Experience

The National Organization, The History of Sigma Pi, Financial Literacy & Time/Stress Management, Event Planning, Social Media, and Conflict Management, Chapter Structure, and Greek Vernacular.

Tightrope Training

The Facts about Alcohol and Other Drugs, The Culture of Drinking, Hazing Prevention and Identification, Sexual Misconduct, and Mental Health.

By providing a space to complete these types of trainings, virtually Sigma Pi has created a space where it has been able to see thousands of members complete these standardized trainings, with as many as 85% of members completing them in a given school year. Beyond delivering online programs such as those mentioned before, Sigma Pi has also taken this time to enhance its educational reach by hosting virtual events. After the cancellation of the 2020 summer convention, Convocation, it became apparent that the 2021 Mid-Year Leadership Conference would suffer the same fate if not taken to a virtual platform. The Fraternity worked diligently in finding a company that would allow for it to deliver the same high-level focus on leadership development topics that attendees received in person. Eventually, this would lead to Sigma Pi partnering with CrowdCompass, who, through the implementation of a dedicated landing page for the event along with its own application, would go on to see over 400 registered attendees for the event, with hundreds of members joining each day of the event. While not conducted on CrowdCompass, Sigma Pi has also been hosting events and spaces for members to gather by maximizing its working relationship within the Zoom platform. This has been done through two major channels, which have included the launch of both the Inaugural Back to School Virtual Summit and Leadership Speaker Series. The Back to School Summit was an event where the Fraternity was able to leverage its educational reach through a virtual means by incorporating experienced speakers within the industry to assist chapter leaders as they returned to campus for the Fall 2021 semester.

With the launch of the Leadership Speaker Series, Sigma Pi has also been able to re-involve successful alumni within their respective industries, to speak with members in these monthly Zoom gatherings. Some of these alumni have included Ken Zampese (San Diego '87), Quarterbacks Coach for the Washington Football Team of the National Football League, Nelson Farris, Senior Director, Nike, Inc., and

Alan Boehme (Cal State Long Beach

’78), Chief Technology Officer - H&M Group, among many others, with more planned for the near future. As many have navigated and continue to do so through what has been a time like no other, it is understood that technology will continue helping us propel forward. Sigma Pi is no different in this way as it has acknowledged it must continue to challenge itself to maintain relevance while also increasing its impact and enhancing its educational reach through these virtual technologies.

Celebrate Sigma Pi at Convocation!

Take Part in the 125th Celebration of the Fraternity in San Antonio, Texas

We are now just over six months out, August 1720, 2022, from a truly historical and monumental moment as Sigma Pi will celebrate its extensive 125 years of history. This time, our Fraternity convention will combine both the 55th and 56th Biennial Convocation allowing members from across North America to come together and live out our mission as we continue to inspire, promote, and support the lifelong development of our brothers.

Whether you are a delegate, general attendee, or spouse of an attendee, there will be programming available for you throughout the event. Virtual business sessions focused on bylaw votes will take place in July 2022 to ensure those are completed prior to Convocation. Those in attendance will have the opportunity to attend the Sigma Pi Golf Classic as the week begins on Wednesday, August 17th, while also attending the kickoff reception later that evening. On Thursday, business sessions will begin where the Fraternity will be able to discuss and reflect on decisions relevant to the future of Sigma Pi. That day will also include a spouse/partner outing for those who will not be attending the business sessions that afternoon. Later on that night, attendees will be able to explore the beautiful scenes of San Antonio, Texas along its historic Riverwalk. The River Walk, a world-renowned 15-mile urban waterway, is a San Antonio treasure and the largest urban ecosystem in the nation where you will be able to partake in sightseeing, shopping, food, and fun. Friday will include educational sessions where keynote speakers are brought in to join the attendees as well a luncheon that afternoon where the history and future of the organization is put on full display. The day will continue with the election of the Grand Council, followed by the installation of those newly elected officers, and close with the Grand Council Reception and 125th Celebration Banquet. The event will conclude on Saturday with members and friends of Sigma Pi experiencing a thrilling day at Six Flags while enjoying the celebration of our Fraternity. We hope you will plan to join us that week as Sigma Pi commemorates it’s brotherhood with family oriented excursions, opportunities to reconnect with other members, and convention wide educational programming like never before. Stay tuned as Sigma Pi continues to release more information on this convention as it will be one that goes down in history!