Start and Strengthen Your Chapter

Create a Team that Can Make a Difference!

A vital and active PHR student chapter can foster lifelong advocates for health and human rights. Use these tips for starting and sustaining a strong chapter.

Just Starting up?

Learn the Basics of a PHR student chapter

For a group to be recognized as a PHR student chapter, a few basic requirements must be met. They are:

1. Obtain official university recognition
2. Become recognized by PHR
3. Host at least one awareness raising or advocacy event per semester.

The first steps of starting a chapter:

• Most important: Contact PHR to let us know you would like to start a chapter.
• Designate a chapter chair or co-chairs.
• Identify a faculty advisor to help your group secure funding, liaise with other faculty and administration, supply ideas, help in the continuity of the chapter from year to year, and possibly institute formal health and human rights courses at your school.
• Find out how to become an officially recognized student group at your school. Usually you can do this by contacting the Student Activities or Student Life office and drafting a formal chapter charter.
• Start membership recruitment!

Form a Core Group

Most chapters start off with a small but dedicated few. Start from your own contacts; ask your friends to get involved in this critical work. Approach faculty who teach relevant topics and attend relevant events to reach out to attendees. Try posting a classified ad on a student webpage, a bulletin space, or via an email burst to your student body, looking for "a few good activists."

Consider reaching out to other schools/departments within your University system. If you are at the medical school, connect with the school of public health and/or the school of nursing. For example, the Boston University School of Medicine and School of Public Health recently created a joint chapter.

Host an Introduction Meeting

Encourage attendance by providing an informal informational session—free food definitely helps! Structure your meeting and provide substance, but be open to attendees' input. (See Host an Introduction Meeting for more information.)

Receive Official School Recognition

You will most likely need to work with the office of Student Life or Student Activities to become an officially recognized student group. Although it can be a challenge to navigate the bureaucracy, keep in mind that the mission of the office is to help students like you enrich university life by having groups like PHR on campus.

Here are a few pointers to guide your way:

• Be on top of all the paperwork involved in starting a new chapter; get all required forms in on time.
• Communicate your reasons for wanting to start a chapter.
• State how your chapter will positively impact your institution's academic goals.
• Network with other student organizations to gain support.
• Gain the support of a faulty member or department at your institution.
• Discover what resources are available.

Completing paperwork in a timely and efficient manner is particularly important. In addition, gaining the support of other organizations and faculty on campus will also significantly assist you in establishing and sustaining a strong chapter.

Identify a Faculty Advisor

When identifying a Faculty Advisor, you will want to clearly communicate the role you would like them to play in your chapter. Here are few general guidelines.

Role of PHR Faculty Advisor:

• Help the chapter become an officially recognized student organization by the university administration.
• Offer advice and support for obtaining funding for speakers and student activities.
• Participate in chapter's meetings whenever possible and receive PHR email updates.
• Facilitate access to university and community resources.
• Become a member of PHR.
• Help facilitate transfer of chapter leadership from year to year.
• Promote institutional engagement of PHR with other members of faculty and staff.
  
  

Receive PHR Recognition & Support

To be recognized by PHR, you must complete the Student Chapter Registration. In addition to this basic requirement, we recommend you and other members of your core group sign up to receive PHR newsletters, action alerts, and invitations to various opportunities. Students can also become members of PHR at the discounted membership fee of $15. Through this vehicle, all your members will feel connected to PHR and the issues and be more informed chapter members.

The Student Program Team consists of the Student Program Coordinator, Danielle Fox, dfox [at] phrusa [dot] org or 617-301-4234, and the Health Action AIDS Student Organizer, Pete Witzler, pwitzler [at] phrusa [dot] org or 617-301-4243, who are specifically dedicated to supporting student activity.

Create a "buzz"

You need to publicize your chapter in order to recruit members. Here are some ways to get your name out there:

• Poster or art displays
• Class presentations (See Recruit for a sample "class wrap")
• Ad on school web pages
• Distribute fliers to relevant school departments and mailboxes
• Table at school fairs or relevant events

The goal of creating a presence for your chapter is to build membership, so remember to bring sign-in sheets and provide timely, friendly follow-up to any sign-ups.

Additional Tips

Once you have recruited chapter members, it's important to retain them. Establish an inclusive atmosphere and provide opportunities for education and action, as well as leadership development opportunities. You can find additional tips on starting or strengthening your chapter by reading these guides: Recruit, Facilitate a Meeting, and Develop Resources.

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