By 1902, Sigma Phi Epsilon increased its numbers to 21 men. Rather than continue the small membership exclusive to Richmond College, and watch SigEp slowly die away, the Virginia Alpha Brothers decided to convert their organization to a National Fraternity. The charter was signed by all the active SigEp Brothers enrolled at Richmond College on October 18, and was recorded by the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia on October 22, 1902. Under that state charter, Virginia Alpha established chapters at five other colleges, including West Virginia University (West Virginia Beta), the last of the five still active today.

Virginia Alpha Chapter Reborn

In 1990, the academic missions of Richmond College (male) and Westhampton College (female) were combined to form the School of Arts and Sciences, uniting the two residential colleges under the title "The University of Richmond." After 4 years of suspension following the loss of our Charter in 1996, the Virginia Alpha Chapter reemerged at the University of Richmond in the spring of 2000, and completed its first full year during 2000-2001. Eighty-five members strong at the present time, Sigma Phi Epsilon has returned for good to Richmond, to reclaim the history and significance of Sigma Phi Epsilon’s Mother Alpha Chapter as well as to build a new history for Virginia Alpha for years to come.

Written by Martin Hewett