SigEp’s reputation as a leading fraternity is driven by our never-ending pursuit of excellence. Few chapters know this better than Illinois Alpha at the University of Illinois.

The chapter twice applied for and received grants from the Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation to enhance its SigEp Learning Community. As a result of the assistance Illinois Alpha received years ago, it has redefined fraternal excellence at the University of Illinois. Today, the chapter holds for-credit courses in its facility and introduces brothers to innovative programming through partnerships with the Illinois Leadership Center, campus career center and other organizations.

In honor of the help it received and to provide resources to other chapters seeking to make similar improvements, Illinois Alpha established the Pay It Forward Grant. At the 2019 Conclave in Houston, the grant was awarded to Wyoming Alpha at the University of Wyoming.

The transformation of Wyoming’s chapter home into a true living-learning community is nothing short of impressive. The group embraced SigEp’s substance-free facilities policy two years ahead of the August 2020 deadline. To create a physical space that aligned with this new philosophy, the chapter dismantled its DJ booth, turning its party space into a chapter meeting room. And thanks to a strong relationship with university officials, brothers received desks and chairs for their study room from the school and are currently working with the university to develop new programming.

Their efforts, with the support of a live-in academic advisor, have produced positive results. The chapter’s GPA is three-tenths of a point above the all-campus average, and it’s been the top fraternity in grades for four straight semesters.

As a result of all this hard work, Wyoming recently earned accreditation as a SigEp Learning Community. It was also recognized as a Chapter Home of the Year at this year’s Carlson Leadership Academy and named the University of Wyoming’s IFC Chapter of the Year.