FAQs about Maintaining an Active NSSLHA Chapter
How does the National Office help the local NSSLHA chapter?
The national NSSLHA office provides local chapters with:
- Membership Recruitment Materials: In the fall and spring of every year the National Office mails every NSSLHA chapter national NSSLHA membership applications, national NSSLHA posters, and other resources from ASHA. Chapters should distribute this material to students during monthly meetings or post materials on the information board in the department.
- Access to Resources for Professional and Academic Development: Once a month the National Office sends the local chapter announcements of publications, brochures, and materials available from ASHA or other sources. Also included in these announcements are deadlines for scholarship programs or leadership opportunities available to students.
- Technical Assistance in the Maintenance and Operation of the Local Chapter: National Office staff is available to assist local officers with questions that arise relative to the operation of the chapter and to develop resources to assist chapters in providing services to students.
- Verification and Maintenance of Affiliate Relationships: National Office staff is responsible for recruiting communication science programs to affiliate with the national association and maintaining the certification of local chapters.
How does a chapter maintain national chapter status?
Local chapters must recertify annually with the National Office to remain in good standing. Annual recertification is important to keep track of the names of the current officers and the name of the chapter advisor, and it is a good reminder for members to keep up with their national membership.
By October 31 of every year, the local chapter must submit a Chapter Recertification Form outlining the current address information for the chapter as well as listing the current chapter advisor and chapter officer information.
To remain in good standing the chapter must retain a chapter advisor that is a current member of ASHA and chapter officers that are current members of national NSSLHA.
What happens if a chapter is not in good standing with the National Office?
Local chapters that are not in good standing with the National Office lose access to all privileges and resources that are available from the National Office.
A chapter that is not in good standing cannot:
- Receive regional project grant funds.
- Nominate or be nominated for the NSSLHA Honors program.
- Nominate a student for a regional councilor position.
- Receive recognition for charitable contributions.
- Participate in chapter recognition programs.
What happens if the chapter does not have an advisor who is a current member of ASHA?
A local NSSLHA chapter operating with an advisor who is not a current member of ASHA is not in good standing. The advisor must join or renew membership in ASHA immediately to keep the local chapter in good standing.
Until the National Office receives confirmation that the advisor has retained membership in ASHA the chapter will be listed as status "pending" for one year.
After one year, the chapter will be listed as a chapter not in good standing with the National Office.
What happens if the chapter does not have chapter officers who are current members of national NSSLHA?
A local NSSLHA chapter operating with officers who are not current members of NSSLHA is not in good standing. At a minimum, the chapter president and vice president must maintain membership in the national association. All chapter officers must maintain membership in the national association to keep the local chapter in good standing.
Until the National Office receives confirmation that the officers have retained membership in the national association, the chapter will be listed as status "pending" for one year.
After one year, the chapter will be listed as a chapter not in good standing with the National Office.
What are the desired operating procedures for every local NSSLHA chapter?
The local NSSLHA chapter should be a place where students can come for information sharing, networking, and emotional and academic support. Following are some suggestions for standard operating procedures for local chapters:
- Maintain a Contact List of All Students Enrolled in the CSD Program. Local chapters can use this information to recruit students for membership at the local and national level or just to keep students informed of events and activities happening in the department. Chapter can also use this list to enroll students that are not members of national NSSLHA for a complimentary subscription to News & Notes.
- Collect E-mail Addresses of All Students in the CSD Program. Use this list to communicate deadlines and announcements to students. Also use this as a method of reporting summaries of meeting highlights.
- Create a Chapter Web site. Host Web chats with faculty or use the Web site for study groups or as a way to promote the chapter locally and nationally.
- Regularly Host a Networking Event with Potential Employers or Experts in the Field. Invite potential employers to visit the chapter and meet with students or invite faculty or CSD professionals to talk about recent trends in the profession. Invite university staff from the admissions office, financial aid office, or the career planning and placement center to speak to students about applying for graduate school, financial aid, or resume writing and job interviewing skills.
- Organize Social or Community Activities. Plan a fundraising event in support of the "NSSLHA Loves" program. Use this event to educate the public about the profession and the cause being supported.
- Promote the Professions by visiting high school career fairs; speak to classes, counselors, and at career fairs; distribute brochures at your own high school during vacation; drop off materials at sororities, fraternities, and clubs; submit articles about the professions to school or local newspapers.
- Stay Connected to the National Office. Chapters should remember to recertify annually with the National Office to ensure that students in your program continue to receive the benefits and resources available from NSSLHA and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
Nominate students and faculty for the NSSLHA Honors Program. Make regular contributions to the NSSLHA newsletter, News & Notes. News & Notes is a good vehicle for promoting the chapter on a national level and establishes this chapter as active and successful among your peers. Be certain to distribute the materials and information that you receive from the national office and ASHA to the students. Students want to feel that they are a part of something that matters.
- Promote Membership in the National Association. Let students know that it is important to be active at the local (NSSLHA chapter), state (state association), and national (NSSLHA) levels.
Send e-mail once a month to remind students to join the national association. Every officer in your chapter should know the benefits of membership in the national association and should share those regularly with students.
Help students see that by joining the national association they receive the same benefits of a full ASHA member at a fraction of the costs. Encourage students to take advantage of this great deal while it is affordable.
What can the local chapter do to recruit more students?
Following are some suggestions which may be adopted by the chapter membership committee or a special committee established for recruitment purposes:
- Make Membership in NSSLHA a Premium in Your Chapter. Establish discounts and preferences for students that are members of the local or national NSSLHA. Set a differential in the price of admission to chapter activities and events for students that are members of the local chapter and national organization. Limit consideration for awards and rewards to students that are members of the association. Students won't value NSSLHA membership if the chapter doesn't.
- Ask Faculty Members to Distribute NSSLHA Membership Applications to Students During the First Regular Class of Each Semester. Or ask your faculty to allow the NSSLHA officers to speak to students about NSSLHA at the end of one of their classes for a minute or two.
- Partner with a Local Restaurant, Video Store, Campus Store or Bookstore and Arrange Discounts for NSSLHA Members in Exchange for Free Advertisement for the Establishment. Structure the relationship such that anyone showing a NSSLHA card can receive a 5 %-10 % discount on purchases. Then agree to host an event in their store, or post their advertising materials throughout your department, and/or thank them as a sponsor every time you have a social event.
- Combine Meetings with Fun Social Activities or Hold Meetings in Interesting Venues. Hold a meeting in a bowling alley and then after the meeting invite students to stay around for a game. Or, find a restaurant with a separate dining area and hold a working meeting. Even finding space in a speech & hearing clinic and then having the chapter participate in a volunteer activity after the meeting are some ideas that have worked.
- Encourage Students That Are Not Interested in Joining Loca or National NSSLHA to Sign Up for a Complimentary Subscription to News & Notes. Collect the names of students in your program that have expressed an interest in the local and national NSSLHA chapter but are not willing to join. Offer them the opportunity to affiliate with NSSLHA by receiving a copy of the NSSLHA Newsletter, News & Notes. Once the student starts to receive the materials, they will start to inquire about benefits. When the student learns that you must be a member of NSSLHA to receive certain benefits, they will be more inclined to join.
- Do Not Limit Recruitment Activities to Students in the Audiology and Speech Programs. Market Membership in NSSLHA to Students Enrolled in Linguistics and Special Education Courses. Sometimes, individuals who are searching for a major may take Linguistics or Special Education courses and not even be aware of Communication Sciences and Disorders; this is a good way to recruit more students into the field. Again, at least several days before the class ask the professor for permission to speak at the end of class.
- Set up a NSSLHA Table in the Campus Center, Lobby or Other High-Traffic Area of Your School. Enlist recruiters from your chapter who would be willing to sit at the table for an hour or two each day. Display copies of NSSLHA publications and list the benefits of membership.
- Allow Students to be Members Without Having to Attend Meetings. With the demands on everyone's time maybe students shouldn't be expected to attend meetings. Some chapters have found success by holding regular meetings two to three times a year and then having officers or committees meet more frequently to plan events and to discuss policy. Event details and announcements that need to be shared with students can be communicated through e-mail or postings on the chapter Web site.
How can the chapter get faculty and students to work together?
One local chapter reported that they offered all faculty members in their department free honorary memberships in the local chapter. As members, the faculty was allowed to attend events and activities at the same rate as a NSSLHA member (which was usually free) and many on the faculty were encouraged to come to the socials to mix with the students.
Another way students and faculty can work together is by encouraging faculty members to host small chapter events or meetings at their home, if space and opportunity allow. Often when students are allowed to visit with faculty outside of the academic setting, the student feels more comfortable to socialize and network.
Inviting faculty to speak to NSSLHA members about their experiences early in the profession is another way to bring students and faculty together. Students enjoy hearing stories about the success and pitfalls of being a new professional and professionals love to share their stories. There is a wealth of experiences among professors. Bringing them to talk with students will go a long way in building relationships between faculty and students.
How can the chapter improve its visibility on campus and reach out to the community?
One method of improving visibility of a chapter on campus is through articles in the school newspaper, participating in fundraisers that include the rest of the campus, and participating in campus-wide activities.
Remember that whenever the chapter participates in a social or community outreach activity, make sure to notify the local newspaper or TV station and national NSSLHA. There is nothing wrong with people knowing who is behind the good work that is taking place in the community. Let your NSSLHA chapter get the credit.
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