Community: Starting and Maintaining your Student Group
Standing alone with a path ahead, you have the ambition to become an advocate for the arts in education. When you’re with a group with the same ambition, you will have unlimited potential to bring a positive future. On many occasions, I have been asked what the benefits are for having a student group and how to begin a student chapter within a university. A student chapter provides the opportunity to join with your peers for the purpose of achieving goals important to your group. As a group, you can do more for the community, become powerful local advocates for the arts, join in your efforts to attend annual state and national conferences, learn/reflect from each other, arrange workshops to present, and other opportunities for professional growth. Activities like these will build your resumes and portfolios to ensure the employment opportunities you deserve and a future you've earned.
I would like to offer some tips on how to create a student group in your university. The energy within your group will radiate to your surrounding community, as well as the NAEA!
1. Network and Socialize. Begin gathering a group of peers that are interested in forming a local Student Chapter. Look for individuals that crave the opportunity to participate in group events that enhance each and everyone’s professional growth.
2. Find a Mentor. Let your professors know that you are in need of an advisor to sponsor your chapter. Once you find a volunteer, discuss the role they will play as mentor and share your ideas.
3. Begin Meeting. Start having regular meetings with your chapter can gather and discuss upcoming activities that you would like to participate in. Now that you are an organization, you can begin planning fundraising activities, workshop events, social outings and other opportunities for you to grow as teachers and individuals. Try to make it a point to meet at least once a month.
4. Create a Mission. As a group, decide what your main goals are as a Student Chapter. Create a mission statement that addresses who you are as a chapter and what you want to accomplish.
5. Register your Organization. Register your newly founded Student Chapter with the NAEA Student Chapter Presidential Team. To do this, please visit http://www.arteducators.org/olc/pub/NAEA/community/community_page_32.html. Once you have registered your Student Chapter nationally, don’t forget to register through your university, and your state Art Education Association. By registering with your university, you may be eligible to apply for financial aide for big events and opportunities (conferences, etc.). By registering on the state level, you can get involved with state conferences and begin networking with other student groups directly surrounding you.
6. Put Yourselves Out There. Make your Student Chapter well known among your university and the community surrounding. Have a poster sale, organize a children’s art fair, conduct a silent art auction to raise funds for a local charity…the ideas are endless.
7. Share your Ideas with Others. As a chapter, make it a point to attend the NAEA Convention (in addition to your state conferences). There you will meet and greet students from around the country that are happy to share their ideas.
8. Keep Up the Energy. Continue meeting on a regular basis, and get as many students involved as possible. Pretty soon, you will see your Student Chapter grow into a booming community of supporters.
Starting a university chapter may be a lot of hard work, but it is also essential to maintain your chapter’s energy throughout the year. In many cases, students have graduated and stepped into the role of a full time educator, which leaves an opening behind for more fresh new faces. Here are some tips to help maintain the energy in your community.
1. It’s a Date! Make it a point to meet with your peers at least once a month. Try to set routine meeting dates on the calendar so that it is easy for everyone to remember to attend. Also try to set at least one social event and/or community service event every other month. Social events help relieve the tension and stress of everyday class work.
2. Meet with your mentor on a regular basis to brainstorm and discuss group successes. Make sure that you are meeting regularly with your mentor/advisor at least once a month to talk about the progress of your chapter and future endeavors. Your mentor has the wisdom and knowledge to push and challenge your members to rise to their ability.
3. Look for fresh new faces. Continue looking for new members that can be a part of your group. The best places to look for such members are the beginning art education courses in your program. Invite new members to join the NAEA and share their fresh and insightful ideas. Put together a presentation that informs potential members of the benefits of NAEA and visit classrooms.
4. Share and collaborate. As a chapter, make it your personal goal to attend your state conference, in addition to the national NAEA conference. Attending these events is a huge step in the growth of your chapter. Conferences allow you to share and brainstorm ideas with other chapters across the country.
5. Keep in touch with your alumni. As members begin to graduate from your program, keep their information in a database for future reference. These alumni are potential mentors and guest speakers for your younger members. I enjoy revisiting my advisor and her students to share the joys of my profession and dedication to the NAEA.
As students in the field of art education, you enter into another family of professionals who support your beliefs and share your passion for the arts. Members are always willing to share their experiences to help others grow in their professional development. Being part of your community is a key factor in our profession. You are a support beam for others in an unbreakable frame.
-Heidi O’Hanley
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