Sigma Phi Epsilon -
University of Tennessee Chapter Alumni
University of Tennessee

Balanced Man Program

SigEp’s Balanced Man Program (BMP) provides the structure, support and guidance required for today’s student to fully utilize the 90 percent of college they spend outside of classroom walls.

Based on equal rights and responsibilities for all members, the program’s progressive challenges provide brothers the opportunity to grow and fine-tune skills they can’t get in the classroom. Alumni, volunteers and university faculty and administration serve as mentors in the program, providing accountability and support.

BMP programming helps young brothers strengthen their character. It enables our young men to build leadership and communication skills and develop healthy, lifelong relationships.

The Balanced Man Program was created so that SigEp chapters across the nation could provide the ultimate fraternity experience. Chapters that take full advantage of this program will:

  • Understand the philosophy of the Balanced Man Program and implement those tenets in the experience.
  • Have brothers who understand the philosophy and want to bring that philosophy to life in order to support fellow members.
  • Define a process for the Balanced Man Program to be implemented on your campus.
  • Provide quality programming that teaches invaluable skills that set your members apart from their peers.   

This one page guide shows the major points of the program. There is more information on the SigEp Headquarters site.

Also, check out our Balanced Man Program FAQ page.

Equal Rights and Responsibilities - All members are brothers

SigEp was founded on the philosophy of love. Our Founders believed brotherly love must be given in order to be received. Implementing equal rights and responsibilities is the ultimate expression of brotherly love. It allows us to share brotherly love with all members of the chapter. Creating equal rights and responsibilities will:

  • Develop stronger leaders as members have responsibilities and are engaged in chapter operations earlier in their experience.
  • Teach all members that respect must be given in order to be received.
  • Ensure all members are contributing during their entire undergraduate career.
  • Give new members ownership in their experience and get them involved the day they join.
  • Eliminate tiers and build brotherhood throughout the entire chapter.
  • Maximize the talents of every member of the chapter.

Continuous Development - Personal growth throughout life

Our Founders set out to build a Fraternity that constantly added value to the lives of its members. They believed in development throughout life, not just in college. They were committed to developing habits of curiosity and lifelong learning. Today, many chapters only provide development opportunities for their new members. However, college men need to develop throughout their entire undergraduate experience
to be successful in life after college. Additionally, members pay for every year of this experience and deserve a product in return. This tenet was reaffirmed in 2011 at Conclave when the undergraduate delegates to the Grand Chapter passed legislation endorsing a continuous development experience at every chapter. Implementing continuous development will:

  • Push our members to learn and grow during every step of their undergraduate experience. 
  • Provide learning opportunities not afforded inside the classroom.
  • Keep SigEp relevant throughout college raising the retention of the chapter.
  • Separate SigEp from every fraternity on campus, making a chapter more appealing to potential new members.
  • Ensure our graduates are better-prepared and better employees than the average student.

Accountability — Committing to SigEp’s high standards

Membership in Sigma Phi Epsilon is reserved for men who meet our high expectation. To retain that membership, men must continually uphold the standards of being a brother in SigEp throughout their college career. Brothers are expected to participate in the chapter experience to improve themselves, their chapter, their campus and their community. Sigma Phi Epsilon’s oath of obligation outlines these high expectations for a brother. Challenging our members to achieve more and holding them to these expectations will:

  • Help our members make the most of their fraternity experience.
  • Instill a lifelong habit of responsibility.
  • Raise the performance of the chapter by helping each member reach their full potential.
  • Prepare members for the accountability that comes in life after college.

Living the Ritual — Incorporating SigEp’s values into everyday life

SigEp’s Ritual was created to be a guide for living the best life. Our Founders believed the Ritual is most effective when it is lived, when its core messages are applied in our everyday lives. They believed the Ritual should not be viewed only as an event acted out on rare occasions. The lessons of the Ritual are intended to impact our lives, beyond the secrets that describe those lessons. Living the Ritual will ensure:

  • Members develop a moral compass for the rest of their lives.
  • Brothers are reminded of our purpose as an organization.
  • Brothers have regular, consistent exposure to the Ritual.
  • The chapter destroys negative stereotypes associated with fraternities by making values-based decisions.

Mentoring— Maximizing personal growth through guidance and support

College men need support and guidance to make the most of the opportunities available to them. Moreover, the Fraternity is not an individual journey and positive relationships maximize a brother’s development. Experience as both a mentee and mentor in college allows individuals to be prepared to mentor over the rest of their life. Mentoring within the chapter will:

  • Provide brothers someone to encourage and counsel them.
  • Expose members to unique perspectives, cultures, personalities and experiences.
  • Ensure members maximize their experience by learning from the mistakes of others.
  • Strengthen brotherhood within the chapter through healthy relationships.
  • Teach an invaluable skill set that will help members be better brothers, friends, coaches and spouses.
  • Engage alumni and volunteers.