On the Starting Line: Founding a Collegiate DECA Chapter

One thing that makes the Indiana Collegiate DECA State Officer Team stand out is that each of us are chapter founders. Eric Bedrosian and Nelli McLeod founded Collegiate DECA Chapters at Butler University and Indiana University-Indianapolis, and Peyton Wormer is currently working on starting a chapter at the University of Notre Dame.

We know what it’s like to be at square one- figuring out who to talk to, where to start, and how to get people involved. Whether you’re starting a brand-new chapter or working to reactivate an old one, the process takes effort, but it’s absolutely worth it. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

1) Secure a Campus Advisor. Your first step is finding a faculty or staff member at your university to serve as your chapter advisor. This person will help guide your chapter and act as a liaison between DECA Inc., the Indiana Collegiate DECA Association and your chapter. Advisors are often found in business schools, student affairs offices, or even career development offices. Tip: Find a professional who is passionate about student development.

2) Meet DECA Inc. Requirements. DECA Inc. requires chapters to have at least 10 members and 1 advisor in order to request to start a chapter. Additionally, the chapter will have to pay dues for its student members, advisors, alumni, and professional members. Tip: To see more specifics about the requirements and chapter request process visit “Bring DECA to Your Campus” on deca.org.

3) Obtain Approval From Your University. After meeting DECA Inc. requirements you will need to secure support and approval from your university. Every university is different, but typically this approval will come from your university’s student organization office, academic school, or dean. Tip: To see more helpful information and recommendations about starting a chapter see the Collegiate DECA Chapter Leadership Guide on deca.org.

4) Submit Official Request to Start a Chapter. Once you have received approval from all appropriate parties and have met DECA Inc. requirements you can submit a new chapter request form on deca.org. Tip: Make sure you have entered the correct state/province on the request form in order for the request to be directed to the appropriate association.

5) Membership. Once you have received approval, your chapter will be given access to the DECA Membership System, where your membership roster will be entered and dues will be paid. Be sure to pay DECA Inc. dues or your members are not recognized as official DECA members. Tip: Be on the lookout for membership and registration deadlines–these can be found in the Collegiate DECA ICDC Registration Guide or the Collegiate DECA Guide on deca.org.

6) Start Building and Promoting Your Chapter. With your chapter officially recognized, it’s time to grow your membership! Host call-out meetings, promote your chapter across campus, and collaborate with other clubs and organizations to reach more students. You can also begin planning for key events like the State Career Development Conference and the International Career Development Conference. Tip: Ideas and recommendations for promoting and growing your chapter can be found in the Collegiate DECA Chapter Leadership Guide.

Indiana Collegiate DECA is continuing to grow, with new chapters starting and others

reactivating across the state. As more students get involved, there are more

opportunities to connect, compete, and develop professionally. DECA chapters bring a

lot of value to campuses by providing a space for students to build leadership skills,

explore career interests, and engage with a strong network of peers and professionals.

The State Officer Team is available to support any student or advisor interested in

starting or growing a chapter. Since each of us has experience with this process, we’re

familiar with the steps and challenges and are happy to answer questions, share

resources, or help however we can!

Written by Vice President - Nelli McLeod