ΣAE Fraternity

Are You a TRUE Gentleman?

Recruitment Teaser Video

Look for ΣAE events throughout the semester!
For more info please contact our Recruitment Chair:
Jarrod Sharp at (903) 736-6753 or jarrod.sharp@texaszeta.net

Joining a fraternity is a unique opportunity in your college career. It is an important decision from which you will gain some of the closest friends you have ever met, become a part of something truly larger than yourself, and make an impact that will last long after your graduation from UT Tyler. As you visit these organizations, remember that all of the men you meet may eventually become your Brothers. Brotherhood is the most dedicated form of friendship men can know.

Should you decide that Sigma Alpha Epsilon reflects your personal standards for brotherhood, there will be several steps you will take on your path to becoming a full, initiated Brother.

Accepting your bid: After you first meet us and get to know the Brothers of the Chapter (and vice versa), the Chapter will hold an election on whether to extend you a formal invitation to join; this invitation is called a bid. If the Chapter votes in favor of extending you a bid, you will shortly thereafter be presented with a bid card requiring your signature. Once you accept and sign this bid card, you will then be invited to begin your journey to membership at our Formal Pledging Ceremony.

Formal Pledging Ceremony: All men who accept and sign their bids must first undergo the Formal Pledging Ceremony. During this ceremony, you will be sworn in as a Pledge Brother (often shortened to "Pledge") and take an oath to protect the Fraternity's ideals and secrets. The Formal Pledging Ceremony is your first exposure to the Ritual of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, the most sacred element of our Fraternity. This is also the first time you will be assembled with all of your fellow Pledge Brothers, men on the same path as yourself; you and your fellow Pledge Brothers are collectively known as a Pledge Class.

Pledgeship: After the ceremony, you will undergo a semester-long period known as pledgeship. This is a time for you to integrate yourself into our brotherhood, as well as a period for us to evaluate your dedication and make certain you are sincere in becoming a contributing brother in the Chapter. As part of your pledgeship you will be partnered with a Big Brother, a current Brother held in high regard by the Chapter who will serve as your friend, mentor, and advocate. Halfway through your pledgeship you will attend a weekend Pledge Retreat camping trip with the full Brotherhood.

Pledge Education: The Pledge Education program -- which instructs your Pledge Class in SAE's history, ideals, and expectations of brothers -- is the main component of your pledgeship. This program is overseen by the Pledge Educator, an Executive Officer who will serve as your teacher and representative to the Chapter. Pledge Education meetings, which include a range of activities, discussions, and evaluations, are typically held once per week. All Pledges must memorize and recite from memory our Fraternity's creed, "The True Gentleman," as a part of the Pledge Education program.

Initiation: At the conclusion of the semester, all men who have successfully fulfilled the requirements of the Chapter's Pledge Education program will be initiated by undergoing our full Ritual. This experience marks a man's completion of the journey to full Brotherhood in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. The Ritual is a powerful experience, and a man's Initiation will be one of the most memorable days of his life.

Hazing: The Texas Zeta Chapter of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity holds a zero tolerance anti-hazing policy. Hazing and humiliation are forms of abuse that weak fraternities try to substitute for real, true Brotherhood. We know that hazing is unpleasant, and since we didn't have to go through it, we don't believe you should have to either.

Grades: Incoming freshmen and transfer students must be in good academic standing with the University of Texas at Tyler to become members. Returning UT Tyler upperclassmen must have a minimum GPA of 2.3 to become members. Brothers in good standing are expected to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.3 throughout the duration of their college careers.

Non-discrimination policy: Our Chapter believes in the ideal of "strength in diversity." Membership in the Texas Zeta Chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon will never be denied on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, or sexual orientation.