How to Start an Alumni Chapter
The CSUN Alumni Association supports volunteers who want to create new alumni chapters. Chapters often begin with a small group of passionate graduates and backing from a campus program or department.
Chapters can focus on academic affiliation, special interest, cultural identity, or geographic region. They may offer networking and professional development, fundraise for scholarships and university initiatives, or serve as social hubs for fellow Matadors.
Follow these steps to start your own chapter:
Contact the Alumni Association office to begin exploring your ideas for a new alumni chapter!
Hannah Labra, MBA
Alumni Chapter Associate
Phone: (818) 677-7580
hannah.labra@csun.edu
Visit our Chapter Leadership Resources page for resources and guidelines.
Get in touch with 10-15 alumni you know within your personal network who are interested in providing volunteer leadership for the chapter and have approximately 5-10 hours a month to dedicate to the chapter.
Each new volunteer leader would need to commit to being actively involved on the leadership team/board for one year to begin to lay the foundation for the new chapter (e.g. the purpose, annual goals, events, membership recruitment etc.)
Identify a faculty or staff member to serve as the official department or program liaison/advisor between the alumni chapter and official sponsoring CSUN entity.
Members of the founding committee will serve as the chapter officers until formal elections can take place the following cycle.
Contact the Alumni Association office for support in generating interest among those in your selected constituency group and to help set a date, time and place to hold a meeting.
Facilitate a meeting with all the stakeholders (e.g. volunteers, faculty, student representatives, and Alumni Chapter Associate) to determine roles and functions for each alumni volunteer and establish chapter mission and goals.
The Officers shall include a President, two or more officers, faculty/staff advisor, and additional committee members for a total of 10-15 volunteers. The President must have completed a minimum of 12 units at CSUN.
Determine the unique purpose and mission for the new chapter. The chapter mission and goals should align with the Alumni Association mission and goals to fostering lifelong connections among alumni, students, and the university community. <hyperlink to Alumni Association Page that shows the mission>
Refer to Chapter Leadership Resources page for sample leadership roles and additional resources.
Implement two events, (one Fall and one Spring) to establish need/desire and interest from the volunteers and constituent base for a formal chapter. The purpose of these 2 events is to establish:
- The functionality of the chapter leadership.
- The working relationship between the volunteer leaders and the department/faculty liaison.
- The interest and attendance from the CSUN community, alumni base and students.
Please fill out THIS EVENT PROPOSAL FORM three months or more prior to preferred event date. Large events such as galas, conferences and reunions will require a minimum six-month lead time.
Prior to completing the form, determine type of event, purpose, preferred date, location, and time, anticipated expenses and revenue, marketing needs (broadcast emails, social media, etc..) and estimated number of attendees.
Supplemental event/program funding during the chapter’s first two years can be requested from the CSUN Alumni Association to assist with start-up costs. Requests will be reviewed and approved on an as needed basis.
Contact the Alumni Chapter Associate for sample budgets, approved vendors, and additional event planning resources.
Hannah Labra
Alumni Chapters Associate
(818) 677-7580
hannah.labra@csun.edu
Draft and submit a formal charter petition, chapter bylaws, and volunteer agreement forms to the CSUN Alumni Association Board of Directors for review and approval.
CSUN Alumni Association Chapter Petition
Upon review, the Alumni Association will convene a committee to review the charter petition and make a recommendation to the Board of Directors in the granting of a charter. The petitioning chapter will be afforded the opportunity to speak on their own behalf before the formal vote of recognition by Alumni Association.
Charters will be reviewed on congruence with the mission and values of the university and of the Alumni Association and established chapter rules and regulations. A two-thirds vote is required of the Alumni Association Board of Directors for recognition. Formal privileges and responsibilities will commence.