Re-Colonization

The General Fraternity’s Role

The following information provides a summary of the re-colonization process. The process is divided into four phases, each taking place during a specific timeframe and focusing on specific components, goals, and objectives. Whether establishing a new colony where no chapter has existed or re-establishing a prior chapter, the process is the same.

 Phase I – Colonization Preparation (3-6+ months before arrival)

  • The General Fraternity (“GF”) traditionally likes to confirm expansion projects 3 – 6 months in advance.

  • The GF works with alumni leaders, University officials, and student leaders (IFC) to confirm the project.

  • A staff man (“project manager”) is assigned to the project.

  • The project manager is responsible for advanced planning efforts:

    • Identifying, training, and cultivating the alumni advisory board (AAB).

    • The AAB will be separate from the House Corp and Alumni Chapter. It will have separate advisors and a separate operating structure.

    • Establishing our social media and website platforms.

    • Ensuring all appropriate tax forms (990) are completed.

    • Finalizing our marketing collateral and outreach strategies.

    • Confirming housing for himself and the other staff who’ll be on site.

    • Conduct some preliminary recruitment/interest efforts.

  • Establish an appropriate timeline, in coordination with the House Corp, for the future colony members to return to the chapter home. The GF’s preference is for the colony members to operate “out” of the house for at least a year, potentially more.

 Phase II – On-Site Colonization Effort (Semester One)

  • The project manager will arrive on-site approximately 2 weeks prior to the start of recruitment.

  • The project manager will remain on-site for the entire semester.

  • A team of staff members will provide support during the recruitment effort.

  • Recruitment will take place for 2 – 4 weeks at the beginning of the semester.

  • Following the recruitment effort the project manager will coordinate The Ritual Candidate Induction Ceremony

  • The Colony members will then begin building, under the supervision of the project manager and AAB, their operational infrastructure;

    • Establishment of bylaws

    • Election of officers

    • Appointment for committees

    • Establish a chapter meeting schedule

    • Develop/adopt a budget

    • Develop appropriate procedures/protocols for operations o Establish goals towards meeting the chartering criteria

  • The project manager and AAB will coordinate various educational workshops for the colony members (LEAD, etc.).

Alumni’s Role

Phase III – Ongoing Development, Training, Chartering (Semester Two and beyond)

  • The project manager from the General Fraternity will depart after the first semester

  • The colony and AAB should be operating in a completely self-sufficient state by this time.

  • The colony will be responsible for recruiting, retaining, and educating new members.

  • The colony will focus the majority of its effort on meeting the Chartering Criteria.

  • The Chartering Criteria were adopted from our Pursuit of Excellence standards (Collegiate Members – Pursuit of Excellence – Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc.)

    • In order to gain consideration for charter, the colony must be performing at a level of “Excellence” in the 10 subcategories of operational assessment.

    • These criteria will be provided to the colony members and AAB and they will develop a strategy for working towards meeting the “Excellence” criteria/standards.

  • All charter requests must be approved by the High Council (Board of Directors), per The Law Of Sigma Nu fraternity.

 Phase IV – Working Towards Rock Chapter

  • The goal of the colonization is not to charter – it’s to become a Rock Chapter.

  • When the colony charters they will be operating at a Rock Chapter level, based on the Pursuit of Excellence criteria.

  • The chapter must now sustain this level of operations, with support from the AAB, for a period of two years in order to be considered for the Rock Chapter.

  • The Rock Chapter is awarded bi-annually at Grand Chapter.