Who should attend Carlson?

The Carlson Leadership Academy is designed for every newly elected executive board officer. Each of the following roles participates in a customized learning track tailored to the responsibilities they'll take on throughout the year:

• President
• Vice President of Communications
• Vice President of Finance
• Vice President of Member Development
• Vice President of Programming
• Vice President of Recruitment
• Vice President of SigEp Learning Community
• Chaplain

Because each track is specifically designed for officers currently serving in these roles, elected officers are expected to attend. In most cases, replacements may not attend in their place. If an elected officer is unable to participate, please email events@sigep.net as soon as possible to discuss your options.

Leadership isn't limited to the executive board. Brothers serving as recruitment chairmen, committee members and other emerging leaders are encouraged to participate in the Growth Skills track. This interactive experience helps brothers strengthen their leadership purpose, develop communication and persuasion skills, and build confidence they can apply in their chapter, on campus and in their future careers.

Volunteer-specific education is also offered at every Carlson Leadership Academy, allowing chapter volunteers to grow alongside undergraduate leaders. You can view the full volunteer schedule on the 'Volunteer schedule' tab. 

Which Carlson will my chapter attend? Can we attend a different one?

Each chapter is assigned to a Carlson Leadership Academy based on its proximity to the host city, making travel as convenient and affordable as possible.

You can find your assigned Carlson in the table at the bottom of the 'Program locations' tab. If your chapter has a scheduling conflict and cannot attend its assigned program, email events@sigep.net as soon as possible so we can explore available options.

How much does it cost to attend Carlson?

For the eight executive board officers, registration and hotel accommodations are fully covered through a combination of the chapter's spring bill and the generosity of donors to the SigEp Educational Foundation's Annual Fund. There is no additional registration or lodging cost for these officers.

Brothers participating in the Growth Skills track pay a $195 registration fee and are responsible for their own lodging expenses. Registration includes all Saturday meals, program materials and access to the full Carlson Leadership Academy experience.

We recognize that costs can be a barrier for some. If your Alumni and Volunteer Corporation (AVC) has available funding through the SigEp Educational Foundation, we encourage you to reach out to your AVC leadership to see about funds to offset registration, travel or lodging expenses. There are also limited scholarships through the Kent B. Hickman Scholarship fund to cover the cost to attend Carlson for undergraduates who have never held an officer position, but aspire to be a future leader in the chapter. Hickman scholarship applications close on October 31, 2026 and can be found here.

You mentioned lodging is included for executive board officers. How does that work?

The Fraternity will reserve and pay for hotel rooms for your executive board officers based on the number of officers registered from your chapter.

• Five to eight officers attending: Two hotel rooms will be reserved for Friday and Saturday nights.
• One to four officers attending: One hotel room will be reserved for Friday and Saturday nights.

All hotel room charges and taxes for these rooms are covered by the Fraternity.

Can brothers in the Growth Skills track stay with our executive board officers?

Yes, if space is available.

Our hotel partners allow a maximum of four adults per sleeping room. If your chapter's executive board rooms have an open bed (for example, if only seven executive officers are attending), a brother in the Growth Skills track may stay in that room.

If no space is available, your chapter will need to reserve and pay for an additional hotel room. Please note that exceeding the hotel's occupancy limit may result in action by hotel staff.

How do I register for Carlson?

Registration opens in mid-October. Additional registration details, deadlines and instructions will be shared as they become available.

When should we arrive at Carlson? When should we plan to leave?

The Carlson Leadership Academy begins with an opening session at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, so plan to arrive with enough time to check in, get settled and enjoy dinner before the program begins.

Programming continues throughout Saturday and concludes Saturday evening. Most attendees stay at the host hotel Saturday night and travel home on Sunday, though you're welcome to depart Saturday evening if your travel plans allow.

View the full undergraduate schedule on the 'Undergraduate schedule' tab to help plan your trip.

Who should I contact if I have additional questions?

For questions about registration, please contact the Programs & Events Operations Director, Laura Curzi.

For all other questions, please contact Managing Director, Educational Programs & Events, Stacy Nicodemus.

What volunteers should plan to attend the 2027 Carlson?

All volunteers who want to grow their skills and learn how to maximize their impact should attend Facilitation School through Carlsons this year. All participants, regardless of their volunteer role, will receive hands-on training and development. 

Why should I attend Carlson as a volunteer?

Carlson is an opportunity to grow as a volunteer and a leader. You’ll gain practical skills, learn alongside volunteers from across the country and leave better equipped to mentor and support undergraduate leaders. The skills and connections you build at Carlson will strengthen your impact in SigEp while providing value you can carry into your career, community and beyond.

What will volunteer education cover this year?

Essential facilitation skills and training, applicable to your role(s) in SigEp and beyond. Participants registered for volunteer training/Facilitation School are expected to fully participate in the schedule and program, particularly given capacity limits. The volunteer schedule also includes time outside of Facilitation School activities for undergraduates and volunteers to check in during lunch and spend time with members of SigEp’s National Board of Directors in the afternoon.

Why was Facilitation School chosen as the core content for Carlson this year?

As part of our long-term approach to volunteer education, we are building learning opportunities around a defined set of competencies that all SigEp volunteers need to be effective, along with the specific skills required for individual volunteer roles. For Carlson 2027, we are focusing on facilitation, a foundational competency that helps volunteers lead conversations, guide groups, navigate challenges and create meaningful learning experiences across a wide range of volunteer settings.

To deliver this training at the level our volunteers deserve, we are partnering with outside experts rather than developing the curriculum entirely in-house. With limited HQ staff capacity, this approach allows us to leverage proven expertise and existing best practices while focusing our internal resources where they can have the greatest impact. We intentionally selected a partner that understands both volunteer development and SigEp, allowing the training to be professionally designed while remaining relevant to the situations our volunteers encounter.

The result is an investment not just in how volunteers serve SigEp, but in skills they can carry into their careers, communities and other leadership roles.

What does it cost to attend Carlson as a volunteer?

Because this year's training is so critical to volunteer success, we’re investing in greater access to Carlson in 2027: every chapter will receive two complimentary volunteer registrations, while SEC chapters may send all volunteers at no cost. Additional volunteers can attend Carlson at a discounted registration rate of $195 per person, thanks to the generosity of our Annual Fund donors.

Volunteers are responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses.

We recognize that travel costs can be a barrier for some volunteers. If your Alumni and Volunteer Corporation (AVC) has available funding, either through its operating budget or SigEp Educational Foundation volunteer support funds, we encourage the AVC to help offset registration, travel or lodging expenses whenever possible so more volunteers can participate.

When should I arrive at Carlson? And when should I plan to leave?

The Carlson Leadership Academy kicks off with an opening session at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, so plan to arrive with enough time to check in, get settled and enjoy dinner before the program begins.

Programming continues throughout the day on Saturday and concludes Saturday evening. While you're welcome to depart after the program if your travel plans allow, most volunteers choose to stay at the host hotel Saturday night and travel home on Sunday.

You can view the full volunteer schedule on the 'Volunteer schedule' tab to help plan your trip.

I can’t wait to attend Carlson! How do I register?

Registration opens in mid-October. Additional registration details, deadlines and instructions will be shared as they become available.

Who should I contact if I have more questions?

For questions about registration, please contact Programs & Events Operations Director, Laura Curzi.

For questions about lodging, please contact Managing Director, Educational Programs & Events, Stacy Nicodemus.

For any other questions, please contact Balanced Man Program Manager, Jace Joiner.

Carlson Leadership Academy is designed to help you step confidently into your leadership role, build skills you can put into action immediately and connect with brothers from across the country who are leading alongside you.

Throughout the weekend, you'll participate in role-specific training, collaborate with other chapter leaders and leave with practical tools and a clear plan to make an impact in your chapter.

Friday

6:00 – 9:30 PM
Registration & Welcome
Check in, connect with brothers arriving from across the country and get ready for a weekend focused on leadership, growth and brotherhood.

8:00 – 9:30 PM
Kick-off
Start Carlson on a high note with your undergraduate brothers and volunteers, focusing on the tools that will help you be successful in the year ahead!

Saturday

8:00 – 8:30 AM
Breakfast & connection
Fuel up for the day and connect with brothers before a full day of leadership development.

8:30 AM – Noon
Leadership development tracks
Participate in a learning experience designed for your leadership journey. Executive board officers will dive into role-specific education tailored to their position, while emerging leaders in the Growth Skills track will build foundational leadership, communication and persuasion skills they can apply immediately in their chapters and beyond.

Noon - 1:00 PM
Lunch & Chapter Time
Check in with your chapter brothers and volunteers, share lessons learned so far during Carlson, and prepare for the year ahead.

1:00 – 6:00 PM
Put leadership into action
Continue building the skills and confidence to influence others, solve challenges and create positive change within your chapter and community within your specific track.

6:00 – 7:30 PM
Closing awards dinner
Celebrate the Carlson experience with brothers from across the country during an evening of connection, reflection and celebration. Enjoy dinner, celebrate the accomplishments of SigEp chapters and brothers, and recognize select award recipients as we close out an inspiring weekend of leadership development.

Coming to Carlson 2027: Facilitation School for Volunteers

You became a SigEp volunteer because you want to make a difference—not because you wanted another meeting on your calendar. But if your efforts are falling flat, if you’re struggling to connect with college men, or if you leave meetings wondering whether anyone actually heard you, it’s time to change the way you show up.

You want to be the volunteer that students turn to as a resource, coach, and mentor. You want to bring more value than the chapter advisor you had as an undergraduate. You want to walk away from your time with students knowing you actually helped them move forward. That takes more than experience. It takes facilitation skills. This is an opportunity to build the coaching, mentoring, presenting, and facilitation skills that make you a stronger volunteer—and stronger professional.

You’ve learned the hands-on side of advising. You’ve built your professional toolkit. Now it’s time to learn how to really engage a room.

Through Facilitation School at Carlson, you’ll learn how to:

• Stop talking at students and start working with them.
• Facilitate conversations that actually go somewhere.
• Co-create better solutions with the students you advise.
• Engage young men instead of losing them with an agenda that doesn’t get to the point.
• Become the resource students want to use—not the advisor they tune out.
• Build professional skills you can use far beyond your work with Sigma Phi Epsilon.

Because when you become a better facilitator, your students get a better advisor and volunteer supporting them. And when students are more engaged, they make better decisions, take greater ownership, and ultimately create stronger chapters.

That’s how we create greater impact.

Your students should feel the difference between your old-school advisor style and your new facilitation skills. And when you complete Facilitation School at Carlson, you’ll earn a certificate to recognize a professional skill you can take with you wherever you go.

No matter your role, you'll leave Carlson with new ideas, a stronger network of fellow volunteers, and practical strategies you can put into action as soon as you return home. Space is limited, so we encourage you to register as early as you can to secure your spot!

Friday

6:00 – 9:30 PM
Registration & Welcome
Check in, connect with volunteers arriving from across the country and prepare for a weekend focused on leadership, learning and meaningful conversations.

8:00 – 9:30 PM
Kick off
Join your undergraduates in our kick-off session for the weekend!

Saturday

8:00 – 8:30 AM
Breakfast & Connection
Start the day by connecting with fellow volunteers before a full day of learning and collaboration.

8:30 AM – Noon
Facilitation School
Courtesy of a partnership with the Leadership and Training Studio and the Whitespace Group, Facilitation School is a hands-on, day-long program that gives you the opportunity to build your coaching, mentoring, presenting, and facilitation skills.

Noon – 1:00 PM
Lunch & Chapter Time
Check in with your undergraduates and fellow volunteers, share lessons learned so far during Carlson, and prepare for the year ahead.

1:00 – 3:30 PM
Facilitation School (Continued)

3:45 – 5:00 PM
Time with the National Board of Directors
Connect with national leaders, hear their perspectives on the future of SigEp, and discuss the opportunities and challenges facing today's chapters.

6:00 – 7:30 PM
Closing awards dinner
Celebrate the Carlson experience with brothers from across the country during an evening of connection, reflection and celebration. Enjoy dinner, celebrate the accomplishments of SigEp chapters and brothers, and recognize select award recipients as we close out an inspiring weekend of leadership development.

7:30 – 8:30 PM
Alumni, Volunteer & Donor Reception
Close out Carlson by celebrating the people who make this experience possible. Join fellow alumni, volunteers and donors for an evening of connection and appreciation as we recognize the incredible investment of time, talent and treasure that strengthens SigEp chapters and transforms the lives of our members.