Sigma Chi Fraternity
MEMORANDUM
Date: May 17, 2003
To: Members of the 2003 Grand Chapter
cc: Sigma Scholarship Committee
From: Joe W. Martin (Houston ’76)
Chairman, Sigma Chi Scholarship Committee
Subject: Report of the Scholarship Committee
The past year has been a very rewarding and productive year for the Scholarship Committee. As directed
by the Executive Committee, the Scholarship Committee conducted an inaugural Academic Performance
Improvement Program (APIP). The program is the result of Grand Consul Carlson’s direction to develop
support programs to help those chapters falling below the minimum academic standards. All indications
are that the APIP is having a positive impact on the academic performance of the participating chapters.
Objectives
The APIP Objective, as defined by the Scholarship Committee, is “To assist specified undergraduate
chapters in implementing a defined, broad-based scholarship program in order to significantly improve
the academic performance of its membership.”
The APIP Program
For the “pilot” APIP program five chapters with GPAs below 2.50 were invited to participate in the
program. The program began with an orientation conducted just prior to the 2002 Workshop at Murray
State University. The orientation was devoted to the identification of and brief introduction to the many
learning tools and resources available to assist undergraduates. At the end of the orientation each chapter
delegation prepared an action plan to improve their chapter’s academic performance. The action plans
ranged from conducting “time management” training programs to creating scholarship funds to finding a
Faculty Advisor.
During the Fall 2002 semester the chapters worked to implement the academic improvement action plans.
A member of the Scholarship Committee was assigned to serve as a mentor to each chapter.
The feedback from the participating chapters throughout all phases of the APIP has been very positive.
Three of the five chapters improved their academic performance when compared to the previous
semester, all of them exceeding a 2.5 GPA. A Consul from a participating chapter said, “I am confident
that these steps we have taken will greatly improve our chapter’s GPA.” A Chapter Advisor from a
participating chapter said, “It helps that they (the chapter) know some arm of the Fraternity is assuring
that GPA requirements are being met.”
Areas For Improvement
• The purpose of the orientation at Workshop was to outline the elements of the APIP to the chapters.
Additionally, the orientation was to help identify areas of improvement specific to the chapters
attending. The orientation was well received by the attending chapters as documented in the Attendee
Feedback Survey conducted at the end of the orientation. Future orientations should include a 30-
minute introduction to “Time Management”.
• There should be greater emphasis during the orientation on the need for and benefit of a Faculty
Advisor. As part of the APIP the Chapter Advisor should assume responsibility to help identify a
Faculty Advisor.
• The Chapter Advisors should attend the orientation along with the APIP chapter members.
• The Leadership Consultant chapter visits should be scheduled for the Fall Semester for the APIP
chapters.
Recommendations
• The Executive Committee has approved the APIP to be continued for the Fall 2003 semester. Five
chapters have been selected to participate.
• It is recommended that the 2003 APIP follow a similar format and protocol to that of 2002
implementing changes and improvements as indicated throughout the past year.
• It is recommended that the Chapter Advisors and Faculty Advisors be requested to attend the APIP
Orientation prior to the opening of the BLTW and that their expenses to do so be paid.
• It is also recommended that the APIP chapter Scholarship Chairmen be invited to attend the BLTW.
• Finally, it is recommended that the Leadership Consultants visit the 2002 as well as 2003 APIP
chapters during the Fall ’03
In Summary
Overall, the trial APIP was fairly successful. The participating chapters were aware of their poor
academic performance and admitted quite readily that their scholarship programs were inadequate.
The program still needs to be improved. It needs to become more robust and more easily applied and
facilitated. This will be the challenge of the Scholarship Committee. However, there remain four key
elements of a scholarship program that are consistently found in all good scholarship programs. They are:
1. Elect a Scholarship Chairman who is a responsible upperclassman. Set realistic expectations for him
and have him focus on two – three improvements (preferably some type of a “mentor” program, a
scholarship banquet and one “study habits” training program – time management).
2. Get a Faculty Advisor who can connect the chapter to all of the learning assistance programs
available through the host institution.
3. Pledge young men with academic skills and help them establish good study habits through the pledge
program.
4. Establish some scholarship fund either locally or through the Foundation.
This formula is relatively well known and rather simple to define, yet difficult to implement and to
sustain. Academic performance is the result of establishing a “good academic environment” within the
chapter.
During the last several years Sigma Chi has established quantitative academic standards and new
undergraduate scholarship assistance programs. The development and implementation of the APIP is yet
another major step in Sigma Chi’s effort to strengthen the academic performance of our members.
The Scholarship Committee expresses its sincere thanks to the Leadership Training Board and the
Workshop Committee for their contribution to the APIP concept and orientation. The Scholarship
Committee also wishes to thank the Executive Committee and the Foundation Board of Governors for
their continuing support and encouragement.
Respectfully submitted,
Joe W. Martin
On behalf of the Scholarship Committee