Thinking about starting a Collegiate DECA chapter, but feeling a little overwhelmed? No worries, that’s totally normal! The good news is that it’s 100% doable, and your first year doesn’t have to be just about planning; it can also be about competing, networking and heading to CDECA ICDC! Here’s a proven guide to get your chapter off the ground and running in just a few months.
1) The “Not So Fun But Necessary” Part: Paperwork
Yep, paperwork. It's not fun, but it’s essential to start the process. There are two main types of paperwork to finish: DECA Inc. and University paperwork.
DECA Inc.
- First, find a chapter advisor from your university. Ideally, this is a professor or staff member in business or entrepreneurship; however, anyone from any department can work.
- Next, recruit at least 10 student members to officially register the chapter (use step two as a guide).
- Check if your school falls under a charter association and if any further information needs to be submitted. Visit our chartered association directory for more information.
- Once the following university requirements are complete, submit your official new chapter request form.
University
- Look into what it takes to register a new student organization on campus. Usually, this means drafting a constitution or bylaws detailing the activities of the DECA chapter. For help, contact your school's student activities office or the CDECA Executive Officer Team.
2) Build The Dream Team
Starting a chapter is not a solo mission, and you’ll need the help of a strong leadership team to make the vision come to life. So, how do you find people? Start with social media! If your university has a “Class of XXXX” Instagram page, search for students who mention DECA experience in their posts. Use the “find” function on your browser (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F) and search for “DECA.” Reach out to the students with experience and ask to schedule an informal meeting.
Here’s a message template to get you started:
- “Hey [Name of Student]! I’m [Your Name], a current [School Year] here at [School Name]! I noticed you have prior experience with DECA and wanted to reach out with an opportunity! I’ve recently founded Collegiate DECA at [School Name], with the application and compliance documents submitted. Given your DECA experience, I wanted to prioritize you for a leadership position. This is a great opportunity to build your resume with a strong extracurricular leadership position on a founding team! Let me know if you’re interested, and we can connect. Looking forward to having you on the team! Thanks!”
Once you have an initial group of at least five, schedule your first leadership meeting. Use the time to bond, plan and organize. Recommended planning includes starting a group chat, setting up a shared Google Drive, brainstorming goals, discussing recruitment and planning a photoshoot.
3) Recruit Like a Pro
Recruiting doesn’t have to be difficult; just use the multiplication effect! Ask each leadership member to talk to 2-3 friends about DECA. If five leaders each bring three people, you’ve already got 20 potential members, including the leadership team.
Next, create a social media presence (Instagram is the go-to platform for DECA chapters). Appoint a VP of Marketing, and start by following students on campus (especially business and entrepreneurship majors).
Next, create your first posts, “What is DECA,” and “Why Join DECA.” Also, consider introducing the leadership team through a post to spotlight the key contacts for the organization. Keep the momentum going by posting regularly, sharing announcements and interacting with students.
4) Host Your First Meeting
Once you’ve got your leadership team, initial members and a few Instagram posts, it’s time for your first official meeting! Don’t worry about paying members at this point; right now, it’s about gathering interest and spreading the word.
Make this event a fun and social gathering. Start with a brief presentation on DECA, upcoming events, SCDC, ICDC and other information about the year. The entire leadership team should be present to answer questions and guide the meeting. Networking games like networking bingo, pitching a product or rock-paper-scissors entourage are great ways to get members engaged and networking.
5) Schedule Competition Informational Meeting
After the first couple of meetings, host an information session on DECA competitions. Explain role-plays and what they’re like, written event requirements, simulation-based competitions and how each event is structured. It might help to divide your leadership team into career clusters and use small groups to allow students to explore their interests in depth.
At the end, a simple interest form will be distributed to gauge interest. Ideally, try to lock in event choices before winter break to allow plenty of time to prepare for competitions at the start of the new year.
Starting a Collegiate DECA chapter might seem a lot at first, but with the right plan and the right team, it’ll become an exciting and rewarding journey. You’ll get to lead, compete, grow and build a legacy brand on your campus. So, what are you waiting for? Round up your team, complete the paperwork and get that chapter rolling.
