Fraternity’s Oklahoma State chapter among the first to participate in Distance Leadership pilot certificate program
Candidacy for accreditation? Check.
Enrollment and program launch? Check.
Sigma Chi International Fraternity and the Sigma Chi Leadership Institute achieved another milestone moment on Feb. 9 as Ryan Jeffries, OKLAHOMA STATE 2023, placed ink to paper and became the first member to enroll in the Sigma Chi Leadership Institute (SCLI) Distance Leadership Certificate during a virtual signing ceremony with SCLI and Fraternity leadership.
SCLI is currently in accreditation candidacy within the Middle States Association-Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools, a worldwide leader in accreditation for certain secondary and post-secondary non-degree granting institutions, so this milestone was one for the history books.
“When I was being recruited to the (Gamma Delta) chapter, the brothers of Sigma Chi were telling me about SCLI and the opportunities with its programs,” says Jeffries, who was joined by Consul Jack Palla, OKLAHOMA STATE 2022, at the signing. “It’s great to see this coming to fruition today and we’re honored to be first chapter [participating in an SCLI certificate pilot].”
“We’re excited to be a part of this,” says Palla, who joined Jeffries in enrolling into SCLI. “The energy within our chapter is top notch and we will do everything we can to make [Sigma Chi] proud.”
Jeffries and Palla will make additional history alongside many of their Oklahoma State chapter brothers, joining within the Distance Leadership Certificate with brothers from Gettysburg College, Saint Louis University, Clarkson University, Syracuse University, University of California-San Diego, University of Saint Thomas and Loyola University (Chicago) to become the first Sigma Chi members to work toward and earn certificates through SCLI’s inaugural pilot within their accreditation candidacy.
“From the moment we extended an invitation to the brothers of Gamma Delta to participate in this historic Distance Leadership pilot certificate launch, Ryan, Jack and others within the Oklahoma State chapter were quick to step up and commit to this endeavor,” says Sigma Chi Leadership Institute Chairman Mike Greenberg, ILLINOIS WESLEYAN 1982. “These brothers, and those from our participating pilot chapters, will help transform the future of Sigma Chi and help redefine Greek-letter leadership.”
Following SCLI’s formal acceptance as a candidate for accreditation by the Middle States Association Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS) on Dec. 22, 2021, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, Sigma Chi became the first Greek-letter organization to offer accredited leadership certificate programming to its members.
Starting with the Distance Leadership pilot and the launch of the Foundational Leadership pilot in February 2021, Sigma Chi members will be able to earn certificates, credentials and micro-credentials through SCLI leadership curriculum that will enhance, evolve and demonstrate a mastery of important leadership and social skills.
“We are setting the bar high for what it means to be a Fraternity man,” says Sigma Chi’s 71st Grand Consul Steve Schuyler, ARIZONA 1979.
To mark the historic moment, the pen and enrollment agreement form used by Jeffries will be placed among a new section within the Chuck and Kim Watson Museum of Sigma Chi at International Fraternity headquarters located in Evanston, Illinois, to recognize the present and future Fraternity milestones.
