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 Student Center
ACHCA recognizes that today's long-term care students are tomorrow's long-term care leaders. To help you get the most out of your student membership, ACHCA has established on-campus student chapters at colleges and universities around the country. The chapters elect officers, invite guest speakers, and undertake community service projects throughout the year. Some chapters raise funds to send student members to annual meetings. Call ACHCA at (202) 536-5120 or email
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to find out where student chapters are located, or how to start one yourself. Click Here for more information on becoming a student member. Student Chapters Why Form a Student Chapter
Student chapters are the focal point for the exchange of information between student members and the national chapter. Student chapters were formed with the purpose of providing a network for students in long-term care related curriculum to meet, exchange ideas and advance the goals of the American College of Health Care Administrators on a local level. These goals include staying current on long-term care administration issues, expanding long-tem care administration knowledge and helping to shape the current and future environment of long-term care administration. By participating in an ACHCA student chapter, students demonstrate to faculty and employers that they are committed to long-term care. How to Form a Student Chapter
In order to form a student chapter, students from the same campus must: Contact the National Office or ACHCA chapter nearest you for names of members who may be willing to serve as chapter liaisons. Make appointments with faculty members in order to solicit their interest in becoming advisors. Submit the completed application, student chapter bylaws, and a member roster to: Anita Bell, Office Coordinator
12100 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 130
Reston, VA 20190
PH (703) 234-4125
FAX (866) 874-1585
Suggestions for Recruiting Student Members Recruitment of potential student members is an important activity that should be emphasized at the beginning of each semester. Careful planning is the secret of a successful membership drive. Your membership committee may adopt the following suggestions or a special committee established for student recruitment purposes: Ask the chair of the appropriate department for a list of graduate and undergraduate students in fields related to long-term health care, gerontology, or health services administration. Develop an “ACHCA FACT SHEET” which focuses on your local state chapter and student chapter. Use the attached sample as a guide and distribute to all students in health administration, long-term care, or gerontology programs at your school. Set up an ACHCA table at a busy, visible spot on campus and staff it with committed volunteer recruiters. Contact the national office for membership recruiting materials. Request membership materials from the Headquarters Office for distribution to all interested students. Plan a stimulating meeting early in the year and invite all interested students to attend. Print flyers announcing meetings and events. - Plan an introductory social event. Make certain plenty of Active ACHCA members will be on hand to greet students and answer questions.
Utilize the department bulletin board for posters and chapter meeting notices. Publicize ACHCA in the campus newsletter. Make extra copies of your local newsletter and distribute to all potential student members.
NOTE: Be sure to ask the college or university administration office about any special procedures for distributing literature on campus. Some colleges and universities have strict policies for outside chapters. Student Chapter Leadership
An ACHCA student chapter is guided by the by-laws it adopts and by its officers, committee chairs, ACHCA chapter liaison and faculty advisor. With good leadership, the success of a chapter is almost assured. Therefore, it is essential that leaders be selected carefully. ACHCA National Bylaws require that each student chapter have a faculty advisor who must be a member of ACHCA and a local ACHCA chapter liaison. The faculty advisor should be someone who demonstrates an enthusiastic interest in both student activities and in ACHCA and is willing to devote time and guidance to meeting the needs of the students in the chapter. Once named, the faculty advisor and chapter liaison should be kept informed of, and invited to participate in, all student chapter activities. The chapter liaison’s guidance should be sought on all policy matters. The chapter liaison and faculty advisor serve as links between the students and professionals in the field. Their guidance in planning and developing activities is vital. They can provide suggestions for meetings, speakers, films, discussion topics, fund-raising activities and other projects. Student Chapter Officers
President - Serves as the catalyst of the student chapter. Presidents should be “idea persons” who can generate the interest and impetus to keep the student chapter alive and working. The President’s duties include selecting others for responsible positions, stimulating members and ensuring projects are completed properly and promptly.
Vice-President – Should work closely with the president, be aware of all activities and programs and be ready to step in whenever the president is unable to perform assigned duties.
Secretary – Has an important and exacting task that includes enlisting the aid of committee chairpersons in assembling information and drafting reports. The secretary has the ultimate responsibility for preparing and keeping records and handling correspondence. A large and active student chapter may wish to divide the work between a recording secretary and a corresponding secretary.
Treasurer – Must ensure that the student chapter’s finances are in order and accounted for, while ensuring that all possible sources of revenue are explored. The treasurer might want to consider special fund-raising events to finance programs and activities. The treasurer must obtain the approval of at least one other designated officer before expending student chapter funds. Student Chapter Committees
The actual planning and development of activities and programs are performed by committees established for specific purposes. Committee chairs are usually appointed by the president. To keep the interest level high, involve as many members as possible on committees. Membership – to recruit members and keep membership records. Education – to plan meetings and other educational programs including procuring speakers, assigning research topics and arranging for films. Service Program – to plan service projects for the chapter, such as volunteering in long-term care facilities and in facilities for the mentally or physically challenged. Publicity – to keep members aware of student chapter activities through newsletters, bulletin boards and reminder phone calls. Publicity chairs should also publicize events open to nonmembers for the greatest possible participation in student chapters. Fund-Raising – to plan fund-raising events needed to finance activities and programs. Nominating – to prepare a slate of candidates for the election of officers. Hospitality – to organize social activities and make refreshments available at meetings.
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Membership 
