Chapter membership in the Risk Management Foundation (RMF) includes the following insurance and limits as required under Sigma Chi Governing Laws (ECR 6.02-i-4): General Liability Insurance.

E6.02-i-4 All U.S. undergraduate chapters are required to provide proof of a minimum of $1,000,000 general liability coverage naming Sigma Chi Fraternity/Corporation as additional insured. Canadian chapters are required to provide proof of a minimum of $1,000,000 Canadian general liability coverage naming Sigma Chi Fraternity/Corporation as additional insured. General liability insurance policy coverages for all chapters must include host liquor liability coverage and hired/non-owned auto coverage. All local groups must provide proof of general liability insurance, consistent with the requirements listed above, naming Sigma Chi Fraternity/Corporation as additional insured before they are duly installed as a chapter of Sigma Chi.

Undergraduate chapters and House Corporations participating in the RMF Property program are also provided Directors & Officers Liability coverage and Dishonesty/Bond (Crime) coverage.

House Corporation membership in the RMF (via subscription fees to the Property Program), includes General Liability coverage as described above, Excess Liability coverage for the house corporation entity and the individual volunteers, Directors & Officers Liability coverage, and Dishonesty/Bond (Crime) coverage.

Active chapters without a house (No Building Value, NBV) can obtain the coverages in the paragraph above by purchasing contents coverage for chapter owned property such as ritual regalia or composites. If the Chapter is suspended, a House Corporation can purchase our Corporate Protections Package (CPP) to obtain these coverages. 

Each chapter must provide proof of insurance as required under the Sigma Chi Governing Laws (ECR 6.02-i-4). Undergraduate chapters are afforded protection provided that the chapter is abiding by the RMF and Sigma Chi risk management and alcohol policies. Excess Liability insurance extends additional coverage to all other insureds, such as alumni advisors and other volunteers while they are acting on behalf of Sigma Chi Fraternity. Excess Liability insurance does not protect the chapters or undergraduates. 

Yes. The insurance provided as part of membership in RMF contains several important exclusions or coverage restrictions. For chapters and undergraduate officers, the insurance provided through the RMF is always excess of any other insurance. This insurance does not provide for or replace your personal insurance protection.

Insureds are only covered by the RMF’s insurance under the following conditions:

1. 1. Only while acting in accordance with Sigma Chi Fraternity and RMF policies.
   2. Only while acting in their official capacity.
   3. Only while acting within the scope of their duties.
   4. Only for their activities on behalf of the Fraternity insureds.

RMF insurance coverage is also specifically restricted or eliminated when other types of conduct are involved. These include, but are not limited to:

1. 1. Hazing of any kind
   2. Criminal acts
   3. Alcohol consumption by minors 
   4. Intentional acts/assault & battery
   5. Sexual abuse or misconduct
   6. Violations of Fraternity or RMF policies

No. This is a common question, and it is important to understand that participation in Sigma Chi athletic activities is voluntary. Members and guests assume the risk of injury and participate “at their own risk.” Claims in this area are normally covered by personal health/medical insurance.

No. The RMF insurance coverage is not an accident and health policy. Claims in this area are normally covered by personal health/medical insurance.

Yes. Chapters, chapter officers and other undergraduate members are often named in lawsuits. While not often, house corporations, their members, advisors and other volunteers have been individually named in legal actions. The Named Insureds under the RMF policy are subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations of the insurance.

You should always report any potential insurance claim to your personal insurance agent or carrier. The insurance provided as part of RMF membership is in excess of any other insurance available to you, such as your personal or parents’ automobile or homeowners insurance.

You should always report any potential insurance claim to your personal insurance agent or carrier. Where permitted by law, the insurance provided for volunteers under the RMF policy is primary and will stand ahead of your personal insurance.

No. Because of State “Automobile Financial Responsibility” Statutes, (laws that require owners or operators of an automobile to maintain primary auto insurance), the operator and owner must rely on their own automobile insurance. RMF insurance provides Hired & Non- Owned Auto coverage to other insureds that may potentially be responsible for auto accidents. This coverage is specifically in excess of any other auto liability insurance that may be available.

The RMF insurance program does not cover loss or damage to personal property–i.e. computers, bikes, books, clothing or other personal items. Usually, loss or damage to your personal property is easily insured under renters insurance or your personal or parents’ homeowners policy.

No. As with loss or damage to other personal property, your automobile is not covered by the RMF insurance program.

Total liability contributions are determined by the underwriters to the RMF insurance policy. Some of the more important factors include:

1. 1. RMF history of premiums paid to carrier versus losses paid to insureds
   2. Status and development of open claims
   3. Deductibles and coverage limits
   4. Exposures, both number of chapters and number of individual members
   5. Overall loss control response and compliance efforts

Chapter membership subscription fees are reviewed and determined in accordance with the RMF membership allocation formula. Some of the more important factors include:

1. Chapter size (as averaged over the prior school year)
2. Chapter claims history (especially, the most recent three years)
3. Chapter loss control response and compliance efforts 
4. Other risk management education activities and programming

A chapter’s membership subscription fee is calculated by taking the membership report as submitted by the chapter to the General Fraternity as of the 1st of each month from September to May (based on the previous school year). The highest and lowest membership counts are then discarded, and the remaining counts are averaged together. This average has been determined to appropriately and equitably account for the average chapter membership over the course of the prior school year.

• Reduce your exposures by strictly following the law, Sigma Chi Fraternity and RMF alcohol and drug policies, and the RMF insurance policies.
• Respond and comply promptly with loss control requirements.
• Inform in writing when your chapter hosts risk management programming and when life safety improvements are made to the chapter house or residential facility.
• Implement the Risk Management Chairman position and risk management committee into your chapter’s executive structure.
• Develop ongoing risk management efforts to provide consistent education and awareness to the membership.

• Reduce your exposures by focusing on life safety improvements, such as fire protection and alarm systems.
• Ensure all protection systems are always operating properly with consistent monitoring and professional servicing each year.
• Maintain effective security systems to protect the property and contents.
• Participate in the Life Safety/Loss Control inspection program and respond in writing to promptly confirm compliance with any loss control requirements.
• Develop and implement a short-term plan to install a complete sprinkler system.

• Yes. Although the most important factor is always your own chapter’s and the fraternity’s total loss record, the loss record of the whole fraternity world does have an effect, as well. Because the insurance marketplace for fraternities is limited, any significant catastrophe or precedent-setting legal claim can have a broad impact in this market.

• Statements for each new program year are distributed via e-mail in early August. 1/2 Payment is due in full by September 30, and the other half is due 2/28.

  If membership contributions are not paid by the due date, membership in the RMF program may be suspended and insurance coverage terminated. Without insurance, individual chapters and their members may become personally liable for any claims that might arise.

• The RMF Board of Directors reviews various aspects of the risk management program annually. Additionally, Sigma Chi Fraternity’s Executive Committee reviews the RMF Board’s recommendations annually.

• The current limits of general liability coverage for chapters and undergraduate officers are $1,000,000 Per Occurrence. The limits of coverage for all other policies and insureds are reviewed and updated annually based on market conditions. The current year Coverage Summary document can be requested here: member.services@RMFeducation.org.