During 2012 Grand Council in Cleveland on June 29 to July 1, the Fraternity unveiled its new online interactive pledge education resource, which is now available to all of its 240 undergraduate chapters.
The online Sigma Chi pledge education system is designed to address the challenges of Magisters and to compile the best practices of the pledge programs from the Fraternity’s undergraduate chapters by giving chapters new ideas for pledge activities and ceremonies. The new system can be reached here.
Without changing the model pledge program foundation, Sigma Chi has provided a consistent, enhanced curriculum framework. The goal is for Magisters to spend more time developing brotherhood and passion for Sigma Chi with their pledge class instead of scrambling to prepare their meetings and struggling to design lesson plans and quizzes.
The Fraternity’s goal right now is to get as many chapters using the system as possible. Using the pledge education system is voluntary for chapters this year, but beginning at 2013 Balfour Leadership Training Workshop, its usage will be required.
“We need all those chapters out there using this, so that they can give us feedback [on the pledge education system] about what they like, what they don’t like, where they feel there needs to be changes, what can be more easily understood, what can be more effective or what can make this process flow better,” says Northwest Province Grand Praetor and Order of Constantine Sig Dan Mathewson, PUGET SOUND 1986, who was chosen to be chairman of the Pledge Education Committee by 67th Grand Consul and Order of Constantine Sig Dennis Santoli, CASE WESTERN 1967.
The new online pledge education system will:
provide a scheduling tool and chapter rosters;
feature online pledge exams and pledge forms;
offer a best practices database for pledge activities;
store past pledge programs from each chapter;
showcase multimedia featuring Fraternity leaders sharing their experiences;
and provide resources for reducing your pledge program risk.
For Magisters, instructions and tips about how to run a pledge program are built into this system. Magisters have the ability to set up a pledge program schedule and submit required forms to Sigma Chi International Headquarters. They can also grade pledge quizzes and the final exam online.
For pledges, the use of the Norman Shield pledge manual will still be required, but it will be complemented with videos, suggested activities and historic resources. Weekly quizzes and progress reports allow for the Magister to better work with pledges on mastering the material to pass the final exam.
Anyone with questions regarding the pledge education system, or if any Magisters would like to provide feedback about the system, please contact Executive Assistant and Benefits Manager Dan Bradley, PUGET SOUND 2006, or Lead Developer and Order of Constantine Sig Jon Miller, OKLAHOMA STATE 1966, at headquarters@sigmachi.org.
