Association Planning: Goals & Bylaws

Like chapters, associations must establish goals and bylaws.  Without one the other is impossible.  Goals provide achievable objectives and allow the association to maintain a supporting role to chapters.  Bylaws provide the guidelines that create a working body out of the group of individuals within the association.

Both should center on the purpose of alumni:

The purpose of Phi Theta Kappa Alumni is to support the people, programs and priorities of the Phi Theta Kappa Society.  Alumni have valuable contributions to make to Phi Theta Kappa.  Through alumni support, the integrity of the Society’s programs and service will be protected and new programs and services can be developed and offered in the future.

See  a template of Goals & Bylaws for:

1. Regional Alumni Associations,
2. Community Based Alumni Associations and
3. Senior Institution Based Alumni Associations.

Each change to an association’s bylaws must be approved by Headquarters.  Bylaws can be faxed to 601-987-5477 or emailed to alumni.office@ptk.org.    For questions about your current or future bylaws and goals, contact Courtney E. Taylor at 601-984-3577.

Chartering Resources

Steps to chartering an Alumni Association

Use the chartering checklist and chartering guides for help with each step:

• Region & Community-based Association Chartering Guide (in pdf format)
• University-based Alumni Association Chartering Guide (in pdf format)

1. Recruit potential members All association charters require a minimum of 15 members.  For Regional & Community Based Associations, five charter members can be new graduates; while the other 10 should have been out of community college for 5+ years.  University based Associations have no time requirement for members.  Submit the Member Search Form for help finding fellow Phi Theta Kappans.
2. Find an Advisor Regional & Community based Associations should find an advisor or co-advisor who can work with the Association.  University Based Association advisors are often staff members working with transfer students, but can also be faculty.
3. Association Planning: Goals & Bylaws All Associations can use the template for Association goals and bylaws.
4. Plan and Host Chartering Ceremony Using the script template, you can plan a memorable event.  This script can help in the future when inducting new members to your Alumni Association.

For questions about chartering an Alumni Association contact Courtney Taylor at 601-984-3577.