New Adviser Webinar: Chapter Management Basics

National Honor Society and

National Junior Honor Society

New Adviser Webinar: Chapter Management Basics

August 26, 20217 pm ET

Presented by: Elancia Felder, Senior Program Manager



History

The Honor Societies are programs administered by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP.)

NHS was established in 1921.NJHS was established in 1929.

Each chapter selects new members based on the pillars of Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character. Citizenship serves as the 5th pillar of membership for NJHS.



Due to the pandemic, many chapters must change the way they handle important aspects of chapter management, such as selection, induction, meetings, etc.

This webinar will provide an overview of the basic necessities of managing an Honor Society chapter, as well as how to adapt to the requirements of virtual learning, social/physical distancing, with an emphasis on student and staff safety. We will also discuss the resources available to Honor Society advisers and members throughout the year.



The Role of the Honor Society Adviser:

▪ Provide direct, day-to-day supervision of the chapter.

▪ Serve as a liaison between faculty, administration, students, and community.

▪ Maintain active files on membership and financial transactions.



Adviser

Resource

Center







• Chapter Bylaws

• Chapter Personnel

• Create & Publish Selection Procedures

• Select and Induct New Members

• Member Obligations

• Chapter Meetings

• Service Requirements

• End-of-Year Report

Necessities of Honor Society Chapter Management



Each chapter must create its own set of local bylaws.

▪ Bylaws should include information concerning selection of members, chapter elections, officer duties, schedule of meetings, dues, etc.

Constitution reference: Article 16

Sample bylaws are provided in the ARC



Chapters may need to adjust their bylaws to accommodate the changing learning environment.

▪ This may include one or more of the following: lowering the cumulative GPA, adjusting service requirements, and holding virtual meetings.

▪ Changes require the approval of the faculty council and principal.

▪ Edits can be emailed to [email protected] for review and questions.

mailto:[email protected]



All chapters are required to have the following personnel available to manage the chapter:

▪ One or more faculty members to serve as the Honor Society adviser.

▪ Five faculty members to serve on the faculty council.

▪ Principal/headmaster/head of school to address appeals and approve chapter policies and decisions.

Reference: Articles 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the NHS and NJHS Constitutions.



Drafting selection procedures is the responsibility of the five-member Faculty Council with the assistance of the adviser.

• These procedures are subject to the principal’s final approval.

Reference: Article 7, Article 9, section 3

A sample selection procedure is found in the ARC



As with the bylaws, adjustments may need to be made to the local selection process.

• These adjustments may include using online selection forms, extended deadlines, and virtual meetings of the faculty council.

• The national office has drafted an Adviser Flex Guide to assist advisers with making changes to the selection process.



All chapters are required to publish a description of their selection procedure in an official school publication.

▪ Publishing a description of the selection process helps to prevent complaints from students and parents, and other issues which may arise due to lack of information.

▪ The lack of available published information is the #1 complaint received by the national office.

▪ Make sure that this information is published – either on your school's website, or other means that is readily available to both parents and students.

▪ If changes have been made to the selection process, be sure those are communicated in writing to parents and students.



Candidates become Honor Society members when inducted at a special ceremony.

▪ The details of the ceremony (program, timing) are determined at the local level.

▪ To assist chapters with conducting virtual ceremonies, we've developed a set of virtual resources in the Adviser Resource Center.

▪ Recommendations for the traditional ceremony are provided in the Adviser Resource Center and Handbooks.

▪ An informal induction can be held later for students unable to attend due to illness, personal emergency, or other legitimate conflict.

Reference: Article 8, Section 4



▪ Advisers are responsible for reviewing student members for compliance with the standards of the chapter and fulfillment of their membership obligations.

▪ Member responsibilities and obligations should be outlined in the chapter bylaws.

▪ If a member is unable to attend meetings due to a legitimate conflict, (in whatever format they are offered), chapters can determine what other benefit the member can provide.

Reference: Article 6, Section 3

Reference: Article 13



Each chapter is required to perform at least one group project per year. Each member is required to perform their own individual service that reflects their own talents and interests.

• Chapter policies should clearly define what does/does not constitute service for your chapter.

Reference: Article 14



Service – Individual Service and Group Service Projects

Students may not be able to perform in-person service activities, and chapters may not be able to hold traditional group projects and meetings this year. Virtual service activities and meetings are acceptable.

Chapters have much flexibility here. You can extend the deadlines, freeze the hours as they stand now and credit members for what they've completed thus far, or reduce the number of hours/activities required for this year.

This is also an opportunity to allow your members to present new solutions to providing service during this time.



Service – Individual Service and Group Service Projects

We offer the following virtual resources to help chapters adapt their service requirements to accommodate social distancing and other limitations:• https://leadasap.ysa.org/gysd/#ideas• https://www.pointsoflight.org/virtual-volunteering-opportunities/• https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/living/story/virtual-volunteering-

ways-volunteer-home-time-coronavirus-69741410

In addition to these resources, chapters can consider these virtual group service activities:• Tutoring• Emails or card writing campaigns to nursing homes, first responders.• Virtual buddies with nursing homes. • Virtual mentoring with elementary/middle level students.

https://leadasap.ysa.org/gysd/#ideas

https://www.pointsoflight.org/virtual-volunteering-opportunities/

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/living/story/virtual-volunteering-ways-volunteer-home-time-coronavirus-69741410



▪ The End-of-Year Report will be open between mid-April - June 30 each year.

▪ Email notification will alert advisers to complete the survey.

▪ Reminders will be included in the Advise Magazine, Honor Society News, and on the website.

Reference: Article 6, section 2



The NHS Scholarship

▪ Established in 1946.

▪ This scholarship awards 600 scholarships totaling $2 million.

▪ There are three award categories: National semifinalist - $3,200, National finalist - $5,625, and one National Winner - $25,000.

▪ Application process will open on October 1 at 9 am and will close on December 1 at 1 pm Eastern Standard Time.

▪ Webinars providing an overview of the application process will be held on September 14 (advisers) and September 16 (students.)



NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award

▪ Established in 2015.

▪ Awards 500 middle school students (NJHS members) with a $500 529 college savings accounts to jump start college savings.

▪ Accounts are held by Ascensus and The New Mexico Education Plan.

▪ Applications process will open in January 2022.

▪ Webinars providing an overview of the application process will be held on December 9 (advisers) and December 14 (students and families.)





Websites: www.nhs.us and www.njhs.us

Questions?

Email our Customer Care Center: [email protected] or [email protected]

Customer Care Department: 800-253-7746

Always identify yourself as an adviser or principal.

http://www.nhs.us/

http://www.njhs.us/



NHS and NJHS are programs of NASSP.

Documents

New Adviser Webinar: Chapter Management Basics