Phi Sigma Nu (junior fraternity)
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| Phi Sigma Nu | |
|---|---|
| ΦΣΝ | |
 | |
| Founded | February 14, 1927 Crane Junior College |
| Type | Social |
| Former affiliation | NJCP |
| Status | Defunct |
| Emphasis | Junior colleges |
| Scope | National |
| Colors | Gold and Emerald Green |
| Flower | Yellow rose |
| Chapters | 14 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Phi Sigma Nu (ΦΣΝ) was an American junior college social fraternity. It was founded in 1927 at Crane Junior College in Chicago, Illinois. It established at least thirteen additional chapters across the United States before going defunct.
Phi Sigma Nu originated at Crane Junior College in Chicago as the Bachelor's Club, an informal luncheon group, in February 1926.[1] Desiring a more formal arrangement, the luncheon club became the Alpha chapter of Zeta Theta Nu fraternity on February 14, 1927.[1][2] By February 1929, Zeta Theta Nu had established three chapters.[3]
After learning that none of the existing four-year fraternities were interested in adding a chapter at a junior college, the Alpha chapter of Zeta Theta Nu reincorporated as a new national junior college fraternity, Phi Sigma Nu, in the State of Illinois on March 27, 1929.[1][2] The fraternity was founded as a non-denominational Christian group.[4]
A second chapter was chartered at Potomac State College on March 27, 1929.[4][5] This was followed by chapters of Vincennes University, the College of Marshall, and Cumnock College in 1930.[2] The fraternity was governed by a board that was elected at biennial national meetings.[6] Its officers included president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer.[6] The 1931 convention was held on July 5 in Chicago.[6]
By 1938, Phi Sigma Nu had 220 members.[5] It had fourteen chapters in 1939; many were at junior colleges and non-accredited institutions.[2] Apparently impacted by World War II, the fraternity only had three active chapters and one alumni chapter in 1940.[7][2] It was an associate member of the National Junior College Panhellenic by 1932, but was dropped from the NJCP in 1941.[8][9]
Phi Sigma Nu was reorganized at a national convention in Cincinnati, Ohio on July 11, 1949.[10][11] At the convention, the fraternity voted to move its national headquarters from the Nu chapter at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College to Zeta chapter at Rider College.[11] The national headquarters later moved to its Iota chapter at Bryant University until September 1957, when it moved to the Mu chapter at Woodbury College.[1] Phi Sigma Nu had at least thirteen chapters as of 1963.[1][2]
The fraternity lost several chapters to four-year fraternities, a change made possible as junior colleges became four-year institutions.[2] Its last known active chapter was at Bryant University; it merged with Delta Kappa Epsilon in 1991.[2]