ABOUT THE FRATERNITY

Alpha Sigma Phi is not interested in only becoming the fraternity of choice, for this perspective unnecessarily narrows our recruitment efforts to those inclined to go Greek. We instead, will be focused on appealing to a broader base of undergraduate men, thereby competing directly with other activities and organizations on today's campuses. By so doing, we help to ensure that we attract and recruit the very best and brightest undergraduate men.

MISSION

to provide values-driven brotherhood experiences through life.

VISION

to Better the World through Better Men.

PURPOSE

to Better the Man, through the creation and perpetuation of brotherhood founded upon the values of character: Silence, Charity, Purity, Honor, Patriotism.

MOTTO

to Better the Man.

We are a Fraternity founded upon the values of character. Our Values, once secret but made public in 2005, are what make us unique. Our Values call us to better ourselves through our actions and words. These are the values that we espouse:

He has the strength to embrace silence and the will to build an interior life founded upon an honest desire to truly listen to others. Trust in silence transcends the gulf that is created when men feel the need to compete in action or rhetoric. He is introspective and self-reliant.

He is charitable in the broadest sense of the word. A man who strives for a life of charity and service is more patient, kinder, and more forgiving of the flaws of others. A charitable man sacrifices of himself to help others and seeks no recognition in return. He is humble, reverent, and generous.

He consistently strives for purity of mind, body, and soul. The man who is pure of thought, word, and deed does not shrink from adversity or lofty goals. There is no self-pity, rationalizations, or apologies. He is moral and a gentleman in the finest sense of the word.

He lives a life of personal integrity, thereby accruing honor. An honorable man lives up to promises made to others and to himself. A man of honor is not vain, and is willing to endure scorn or ostracism rather than conform to the pressures of peers, superiors, or the fashion of the day. He is ethical, honest, and trustworthy.

He loves his country, remaining consistently engaged in its affairs. He seeks to know his country and to pass that knowledge on to others. He is devoted to the principles of personal freedom, justice, and civic responsibility embedded in the U.S. Constitution that have made our country. He is loyal, proud, and humble.

Thus our purpose is to Better the Man through the creation and perpetuation of brotherhood founded upon the values of character: Silence, Charity, Purity, Honor, and Patriotism.

For more than 100 years a group of men called the Grand Council have convened to conduct the Fraternity's business in between Grand Chapter (the Fraternity's biennial business meeting). These men set the vision that will be carried out by the Fraternity's Staff, undergraduates, and volunteers.

Members of the Grand Council are volunteers with respect to their service on the board; they are not compensated for the time to prepare for or attend meetings or other official activities they perform. 

Undergraduate Grand Council members are reimbursed for or provided travel, meals, and lodging expenses at meetings. The term of service of undergraduate members is two years or until 120 days after graduation. Alumni members of the Grand Council are elected to four year terms and may not be elected to serve more than two consecutive terms. Vacancies on the Grand Council between Grand Chapter are filled by nomination of the Grand Senior President with approval of the Grand Council members.

FRATERNITY CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS

The first constitution, which established the Alpha Chapter at Yale University, was written by Louis Manigault (the Fraternity's principal founder) in 1845. The first national constitution was adopted in 1907, when Marietta and Yale came together to form the National Fraternity. Since then, the Fraternity's Constitution and Bylaws have been updated continuously. Traditionally, this happens at the Fraternity's biennial Grand Chapter.

GRAND COUNCIL POLICY MANUAL

The Grand Council of Alpha Sigma Phi operates under the Policy Governance Model. Policy Governance is an integrated set of concepts and principles that describes the job of any governing board. It outlines the manner in which boards can be successful in their servant-leadership role, as well as in their all-important relationship with management. Unlike most solutions to the challenge of board leadership, its approach to the design of the governance role is neither structural nor piecemeal, but is comprehensively theory based. The following manual was developed by the Board and contains the adopted policies and procedures. The manual is reviewed on a regular basis by the Grand Council.

POSITION STATEMENTS & RESOLUTIONS

The Position Statements and Resolutions below were passed at Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Grand Chapters over the years.

Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity is a company with a President and Chief Executive Officer and a Chairman of the Board of Directors. In Alpha Sigma Phi, the Board of Directors is known as the Grand Council and the Chairman of the Board is known as the Grand Senior President.

The Grand Senior President presides over biennial Grand Chapters and special meetings of the Fraternity. He also presides over all meetings of the Grand Council. At such times as the Grand Council may direct, and during periods of vacancy of the office of Chief Executive Officer, the Grand Senior President will be the principal executive officer of the Fraternity, and will supervise and direct all of the business and affairs of the Fraternity. Since becoming a national fraternity in 1907, Alpha Sigma Phi has had a Grand Senior President. The following men have served Alpha Sigma Phi as Grand Senior President.

Our Anti-Discrimination Policy reads:

Alpha Sigma Phi’s Constitution stipulates that no chapter shall permit discrimination in membership selection, initiation, chapter operations, or other activities of the Fraternity based on any individual’s race, color, creed, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.

Alpha Sigma Phi’s core values, as expressed through our ceremonies, constitution and policies, each express the concept of inclusiveness and respect for all persons.

Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity is an organization based on mutual respect, trust, and honesty where an environment of acceptance and brotherly love exists within the walls of our Fraternity.

The value of such inclusiveness has never been greater given the rich diversity of our campuses and communities. Where inclusiveness is not about diversity for the sake of political correctness, but where inclusiveness is a values-based choice, a decision made because it is the right decision to make based on who we say we are as a brotherhood of men.

Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity, both at the local and international level, is actively working to promote diversity in our membership and will oppose all acts of harassment and discrimination.

It is the continuing position of our Fraternity that membership privileges are open to any qualified man of character without consideration of ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, physical ability, international origin, age, family status, or cultural background.