In 1776, the first Greek letter fraternity was founded. Phi Beta Kappa was founded by a group of William and Mary students in Williamsburg, VA. The basic founding principle of Phi Beta Kappa was to offer an outlet for students to further their philosophic knowledge, as well as provide a social outlet for the students of William and Mary.

"Phi Beta Kappa, like Sigma Nu, was organized for those with ability, ambition and serious purpose in life." wrote Dick Vaughn, author of Sigma Nu’s timeless essay The Way of Honor.

Sigma Nu seeks members who have a serious purpose in life, as well as an ambition to succeed in whatever they do. Sigma Nu offers a collegiate experience that will further his ambition and ability to succeed during his time in school as well as his experience that will come following his collegiate career.

- Fraternity/sorority membership improves learning gains due to higher levels of student engagement.

- Membership in a fraternity or sorority is associated with greater involvement in curricular and co-curricular activities, promotes student learning and development, and leads to greater satisfaction with the college experiences.

- The largest positive effects were generally found for first-year students, both in satisfaction with college and in academic gains.

Sigma Nu exists to cultivate and develop ethical leaders. An education is the most important part of that formula. Your son is a student first, and a Sigma Nu second. To ensure this is happening, Sigma Nu, in accordance with the North-American Interfraternity Council, has minimum standards that hold chapter's accountable to achieving a chapter-average GPA at or above their respective campus' All Men Average GPA.

The Gamma Xi chapter also offers study hours for members and has a library in the house to provide a quiet study area for members.

Not only does Sigma Nu provide lifelong bonds and friendships, we provide the tools necessary to be prepared to be successful in life after college. Our LEAD Program teaches our undergraduate members important skills, such as networking, interview and resume building skills and crisis management, to name just a few. By participating in Sigma Nu’s educational curriculum, your son will be equipped to be successful both in college and in his life after.

Sigma Nu will also provide an opportunity for philanthropic activities and community service. The Gamma Xi chapter requires a minimum number of community service hours from their members.

Sigma Nu also has an extensive network of alumni available to provide opportunities and mentorship to our members.

A common misconception about fraternity life is that hazing is an accepted component of joining a fraternity. Sigma Nu is unique in the fact that we were founded as a protest to rebel against the common practice of hazing at the Virginia Military Institute. That principle still holds true today.

The Fraternity engages in significant efforts to educate our collegiate and alumni members on the importance of creating and implementing a values-based new member experience based on the Fraternity’s LEAD Program and devoid of hazing.

Should a member have an experience otherwise, Sigma Nu provides an anti-hazing hotline and email address to anonymously report acts of hazing. These services are available not only to our collegiate members, but to you as well. Should you believe that your son is being hazed, we encourage you to contact us 24 hours a day by calling the hotline at: 1-888-NOT-HAZE or by sending an e-mail to: anti-hazing@sigmanu.org.

-75% of fraternity members demonstrate strong satisfaction with their overall student experience.

-Nearly half of fraternity members serve in other campus leadership roles.

-Fraternity members experience stronger retention and persistence to graduation.

-Fraternity members leverage their networks, with almost half stating that another member helped them find an internship or job and provided them with career advice.

-Fraternity members are more involved in co-curricular activities, and membership promotes student leadership and development and satisfaction with the collegiate experience.

-Fraternity members show significantly higher learning gains than their peers in their first year of college.

-Fraternity members spend significantly more time volunteering, mentoring, and doing other types of service work, and they feel like they belong in their communities.

-If they had to do college over again, more than 8 out of 10 fraternity members would re-join their organizations.

-83% of members indicate stronger leadership confidence due to their fraternity membership.

-Fraternity alumni find jobs more quickly after graduation and are more engaged in the workplace.