Sigma Phi Epsilon was founded at Richmond College, now the University of Richmond, on November 1, 1901, on the Cardinal Principles: Virtue, Diligence, and Brotherly Love. Today, the Fraternity has grown to more than 262,000 lifetime members, including 13,500 undergraduates on 260 campuses in the United States. SigEp is currently the largest fraternity in terms of undergraduate enrollment.

Our mission statement is “Building Balanced Leaders for the World’s Communities.”

National Facts

  • Founded on November 1, 1901, at Richmond College.
  • Over the past two decades, SigEp has recruited more men than any other collegiate fraternity. Currently, over 14,000 undergraduates are members, making SigEp the largest national fraternity.
  • Maintains the highest first-year member retention rate, over 90%, of any national fraternity.
  • 255,000 lifetime members rank SigEp in the top four among national fraternities.
  • Governed by the Grand Chapter, which is composed of undergraduate delegates from each chapter, District Governors, and the National Board of Directors.
  • Maintains a full-time professional staff of over 35 people.
  • Publishes a magazine, The Journal of Sigma Phi Epsilon, which is distributed to all members for life.

National Firsts

  • First national fraternity to establish a housing trust for all chapters and create a National Housing Corporation.
  • First national fraternity to establish a traveling staff to assist chapters in effective operations.
  • First fraternity to charter a chapter in all 50 states.
  • First national fraternity Educational Foundation to build an endowment greater than $11 million.
  • First national fraternity to receive a grant from the federal Department of Education to enhance member development programs.
  • First national fraternity to provide financial assistance to brothers for graduate school through the Resident Scholar program.
  • First national fraternity to partner with the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy.

For more information about the Sigma Phi Epsilon national fraternity visit the national website at www.SigEp.org .

About Sigma Phi Epsilon - Pennsylvania Epsilon

The Pennsylvania Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon was founded at Lehigh University on September 17, 1907.  The original house was located on 704 Dakota Street in Bethlehem, PA and later moved to 61 W. Market Street, Bethlehem, PA.  In 1963, the SigEp moved into a house built for them on the Lehigh Campus in Sayre Park (commonly referred to as “The Hill”).

In 1991, Pennsylvania Epsilon had it’s charter revoked by the national fraternity, not due to any particular incident, but instead for a general decline in chapter standards.  SigEp re-colonized at Lehigh in 1994, moved back into their house on “The Hill” in 1995 and was re-charted on November 16, 1996 as a Balanced Man Chapter.  The chapter celebrated it’s centennial anniversary at Lehigh University  with a Gala Celebration to benefit SigEp’s national charity YouthAids on September 29, 2007.

Now in it’s 101th year at Lehigh University, SigEp has earned the Buchannan Cup for excellence in all areas of chapter operations (the highest achievement a SigEp Chapter can attain) five times, in 1963, 1985, 2003, 2009, and 2011.  Currently, SigEp is ranked first amongst all fraternities in GPA (3.246), the number of brothers who earned Dean’s List (24), and the percentage of brothers who earned Dean’s List (37.5%).  Also, since Lehigh has begun its Accreditation process for Greek Life, SigEp is proud to have earned nothing but silver and gold ratings.

In recent years, SigEp has run the Annual Election for Cancer Research, one of Lehigh’s biggest philanthropy events, raising over $30,000 in the past two years alone.  You can read more about our charitable endeavors on our community service page.

Lehigh’s SigEp stands out and strives to be the best because all of our brothers live up to our house vision. Our brothers are defined by our commitment to academic success, personal achievement, community involvement, and fraternal endeavors. Sigma Phi Epsilon is a place where good men enter and better men leave.