Three Steps to a Successful Membership Campaign
Recognition of academic excellence is Phi Theta Kappa's primary mission. Chapters that effectively communicate the importance of recognition, as well as the benefits and opportunities of membership, are rewarded by enhanced membership acceptance. A successful membership campaign not only fulfills the Society's mission, but results in a solid base of members - the cornerstone of a successful chapter.
To ensure a successful membership campaign, a chapter advisor and officer team must first focus on planning early in the academic term, so that all parts of an effective membership campaign come together.
1. Use technology to your advantage.
PAM, Phi Theta Kappa's online Personal Assistant Manager for advisors, will guide you through the membership campaign process and ensure that you don't miss a critical step.
PAM offers an online enrollment feature that many chapters have found extremely beneficial for two reasons. First, it removes the responsibility for collecting fees and processing applications from the advisor. Second, it increases the chapter's outreach potential to online students and part-time students who are rarely on campus, ensuring that all eligible students have an opportunity to be recognized.
To utilize the online enrollment feature, chapters must obtain a file of eligible students from the college registrar or data processing center and load it into PAM. Then simply include the unique passcode PAM creates for each eligible student in the invitation letter or on the mailing label.
If you have not yet explored the labor-saving conveniences of PAM, get started at https://www.ptk.org/pam/login.do. For technical assistance and assistance in securing a file of eligible students from your college, contact the PAM Help Desk at 800.946.9995, ext. 3561.
2. An appealing and informative invitation letter is essential.
Today's college students won't take the time to read lengthy text, so be sure your letter focuses on the important aspects of membership in as few words as possible. Include Phi Theta Kappa's NEW redesigned Membership Benefits Brochure.
Most importantly, consider your audience. Start with one of the sample invitation letters available at http://www.ptk.org/advisor/forms/invletter.htm and modify it to fit the student demographic at your college.
After invitation letters are mailed, follow-up with eligible students is critical. In some cases as many as three contacts are needed to obtain a response - so supplement your letter of invitation with an email reminding students about your orientation, or gather your chapter officers and members to phone students. Successful chapters have found that this personal contact works!
The orientation for eligible students may be your only opportunity to meet potential members face-to-face. Students of today are very diverse, lead busy lives and juggle many commitments. Plan multiple orientation meetings at different times of the day to ensure more students can attend. Consider a night orientation for evening students. Provide nametags to facilitate introductions, and include refreshments. Explain the benefits of membership, stress the importance of the recognition and emphasize that participation is voluntary. Use Phi Theta Kappa's "Good as Gold" video and leave time for questions.
3. Awareness is the key.
Phi Theta Kappa offers several ideas for raising awareness of the importance of membership on your campus. New this spring at http://www.ptk.org/advisor/ads.htm are downloadable newspaper advertisements - perfect for your college newspaper - and downloadable PowerPoint slides for use on video screens around your campus.
Don't forget to cultivate faculty awareness and support. A Phi Theta Kappa survey found that students are 12 times more likely to accept membership if they are encouraged by one of their professors or another college faculty member.
To reach out to faculty and educate them on the importance of recognition through membership, Phi Theta Kappa has developed a special Faculty Flyer, found at http://www.ptk.org/chapters/facultyflyer.pdf. Provide this easy-to-print flyer to faculty members along with a list of eligible students, and ask them to encourage students in their classes to take advantage of the recognition Phi Theta Kappa provides.
You may also ask your college administrators to present the benefits of Phi Theta Kappa during the first faculty meeting of the school year.
Following these simple steps will lead to a successful spring membership acceptance campaign for your chapter. For assistance with planning your spring membership campaign, contact the Membership Services Department at 800.946.9995, ext. 3557.
