A P R I L 2 0 2 6
Spring
News from the
Meeting
The Sigma Phi alumni leadership gathered this spring for a wide-ranging meeting that touched nearly every dimension of the chapter's future, from dollars raised to doors that need replacing. The headline, though, was unmistakable: the chapter is preparing to come home.
Funding today | Endowing tomorrow
The Capital Campaign launched in February has already pulled in $804,000 in donations, a strong start for an effort still in its early days. Behind the scenes, the search for a new Account Manager is underway. Leadership is also taking a longer view, exploring estate gifts as the most promising way to grow the Permanent Endowment Fund (PEF). A full endowment strategy is being developed and will be presented at the Fall Meeting. In the meantime, regional alumni dinners and naming opportunities are both being pursued to widen the base of support, and Curtis Bartosik C'84 has stepped forward with interest in leading a proposed Leadership Institute.
Return to 1 FPL
The recolonization plan has a target: returning to the chapter house at 1 Forest Park Lane in the third week of August 2027, pending final approval from University VP Ryan Lombardi. Several pieces are already in motion.
Local recruiting coordinator Greg Monty and the professional firm Phired Up are both under contract.
Rush participation throughout the 2026-27 academic year has been approved, and the chapter is working with the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life to determine how it will take part in the four-day formal recruitment period aimed at freshmen in January 2027.
On a housekeeping note, a letter has been drafted to address unauthorized use of the Sigma Phi name.
From renovations to reoccupancy
Before the chapter can reoccupy the house, several upgrades have to be completed first. The basement multi-use room needs renovating, and that work is already on a defined timeline, with design scope due by September 1, 2026, and construction set to begin in mid-May 2027. Certain kitchen appliances, notably the combi oven, also need replacing before move-in. A separate set of projects is anticipated over the next several years rather than ahead of reoccupancy: replacing window sills, upgrading the laundry room, installing a new fire door, and refreshing the outer deck.
Lessons for lasting success
Jayson Davis of Phired Up joined remotely, laying out best practices for rebuilding a chapter that endures. He encouraged the chapter to downplay party culture in favor of formal dinners, to build a robust bidding process, to communicate proactively with parents, and to align housing and meal costs with Cornell's own rates. To support these goals, he recommended a structured curriculum spanning all four years, with an emphasis on life skills, civility, and leadership development. Surveys and student trend data from OSFL will help shape the recruitment approach.
A word from OSFL
The meeting welcomed a special guest in Stephanie Baldwin, Director of Cornell's Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life. She offered an overview of fraternity and sorority life on campus, walked through the rush process, and spoke to the specifics of how Sigma Phi will participate in the next academic year.
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