Our Sigma Tau Gamma Founders envisioned a college fraternity that pursued “the highest ideals of manhood, brotherhood and citizenship.” Having just returned from the battlefields of France and Germany, they witnessed first hand the worst and the best of human behavior.

They valued fellow soldiers who exhibited courage, conviction and selflessness, and called that manhood. They valued companions who exhibited empathy, loyalty and mutual support, and called that brotherhood. They valued friends and strangers alike who endured every measure of hardship, including the loss of life, for the greater good and called that citizenship.

The Brothers of Sigma Tau Gamma, seeking to live the vision of the Founders, set a code. They expressed their code using six Principles: Value, Learning, Leadership, Excellence, Benefit, and Integrity.

Life-Long Journey Begins As Associate Member

The Path of Principles is a life-long journey in pursuit of the Principles of Sigma Tau Gamma that begins as an associate member.

Associate members receive the Path of Principles Record. It is a book that serves as a guide and personal journal.

We begin the journey with fellow associate members. Over the first four weeks we learn about our chapter, our Fraternity and our university. We explore our understandings and viewpoints about personal health and wellness, financial management and scholarship. We make commitments to ourselves in each of these areas and begin to track our behavior.

We also begin exploring the meanings of the Principles. We consider how they will apply in our lives. At the end of the first four weeks, we are initiated as full brothers in Sigma Tau Gamma. We have all the rights of a brother, including the right to attend and vote in all chapter meetings. But, we must complete the next four weeks of the program to earn the right to hold elective chapter office.

During the second four-week block we job shadow a chapter officer. We learn how a Sigma Tau Gamma chapter works. This we need to know because soon we will be leaders in our chapter.

We set personal leadership goals, and continue to track our journey with regard to health and wellness, financial management and scholarship. We continue to grow in our understanding of the Principles.

At the conclusion of the eighth week, we take our place as leaders in our chapter. We are also well on our way to establishing ourselves as leaders on campus, both in and out of the classroom.

As upperclassmen and alumni we follow the Path of Principles

The Path of Principles Program offers to those with ample initiative, seventeen steps to the highest levels of leadership, service and brotherhood in Sigma Tau Gamma.