The Balanced Man Project
The Balanced Man Program is a return to the values and principles on which Sigma Phi Epsilon was founded. The program, as initially envisioned and in practice today, addresses the following chapter needs:
• Sustained involvement of older members
• Extensive commitment to service learning and campus involvement
• Greater understanding of the values articulated in the Fraternity’s Ritual
• The development of Sound Mind and Sound Body programs
• Increased focus on leadership practices
• Opportunities for experiential learning
• Need for quality mentorship within our chapters
• Equality of all members from the first day of joining SigEp
History
In 1989, SigEp was the largest national fraternity in the country. Despite this impressive national growth, we were faced with a multitude of issues regarding substance abuse, poor retention of members, declining academic performance, and increasing issues with risk management and hazing.
During Sigma Phi Epsilon’s 1989 strategic planning process, the Strategic Planning Committee adopted the vision statement, Building Balanced Leaders for America’s Communities. In 2001, that vision statement was amended to read, Building Balanced Leaders for the World’s Communities.
To ensure the Fraternity achieved its vision in undergraduate chapters, a committee of Fraternity leaders gathered to develop a new membership development program that would focus on continuous development, mentorship, and the development of healthy lifestyle habits. At the 1992 Grand Chapter Conclave in Washington, D.C., SigEp’s undergraduate delegation voted to implement the Balanced Man Program.
Effectively Operating the Balanced Man Program
The Balanced Man Program is based on continuous, single-tier development divided between four challenges. Balanced Man Program chapters will have the opportunity to participate in four challenges that progress throughout their entire college experience.
• Members in the Sigma Challenge will focus on time management skills and chapter orientation.
• The Phi Challenge will help emerging leaders develop leadership skills and gentlemanly behavior.
• The Epsilon Challenge provides members opportunities to tackle leadership positions within the chapter and campus community, as well as develop a sense of civility.
• Lastly, members in the Brother Mentor Challenge will focus on their experience after college and will begin developing professional skills for the working world.
Values and Vision
The Balanced Man Program is a unique program that continues to lead the fraternity world in relation to member development. Other fraternities have tried to utilize the Balanced Man Program in order to build their own programs. However, the BMP remains a unique experience in a number of ways:
• New members in Balanced Man Program chapters are extended all of the rights and privileges of membership. Furthermore, there exists no point at which a chapter member is finished with meeting the expectations of membership. Members are fully integrated from the day they join and are held accountable for continued leadership and involvement throughout their journey.
• The BMP uses experiential learning, Sound Mind and Sound Body programming, and service learning in addition to a chapter’s current programs to create a strong development program.
• Mentors help members make decisions and set goals. These mentors are recruited from both the undergraduate chapter and the surrounding community.
• Balanced Man Program chapters can recruit new members year-round because of the self-paced development framework of the challenges.
For more information on the Balanced Man Program, please visit www.sigep.org/development.
** This information is a revised version of "The Balanced Man Program Overview" from www.sigep.org **