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Starting Your Engines: It's CDECA Recruitment Season

  • Writer: Indiana Collegiate State Officer Team
    Indiana Collegiate State Officer Team
  • Jul 14
  • 3 min read

Summer break is already halfway over, and if you're thinking, “I can't wait for Collegiate DECA to be back in full swing!” - you're not alone. We couldn’t agree more. For those of you in chapter leadership, now is the perfect time to start gearing up for recruitment season. Here are a few ways your officer team can hit the ground running this summer and carry that momentum into the fall semester:


1) The Club and Organization Fair: The campus org fair is a tried and true way to engage more than just freshmen. Work with your student activities office to secure a prime spot this fall. Most schools provide the space, so now’s the time to start planning your display. Got a glass showcase? Bring it. Chapter-branded merch? Make sure your members wear it proudly during the fair, even if they’re just passing through. The goal: make DECA impossible to ignore


2) Freshman Business Class Presentations: One of the most effective recruitment methods we've used at Butler is presenting in first-year business courses. It’s a great way to connect the dots between what students are learning in class and the real-world skills they’ll develop through DECA’s competitive events program. Reach out to professors you’ve had before, or if your chapter is just starting, connect with your school’s business dean to find the right classes to target in those first few weeks.


3) Media Campaigns: It may seem simple, but don’t overlook the power of staying active on social media before the school year starts. Now is the perfect time to tease upcoming events, highlight chapter achievements from last year, and showcase what your members are up to this summer. Stay visible and let incoming students see the value of being part of your chapter.


4) Bring on the Speakers: One of DECA’s biggest draws for non-competitive members is the access to professionals. Use that to your advantage by organizing a speaker series featuring local business owners, alumni, and industry leaders. For added value, consider offering exclusive Q&A or networking time for paid members before opening the session up to the wider campus audience. It’s a great way to spotlight the benefits of full membership while still bringing in a crowd.


Although all of these tactics are important, there are some other key reminders to help your chapter grow. Make sure that your marketing message for your chapter includes non-competitive membership opportunities or non-business major collaborations. While DECA is known to many as a business organization, DECA can be for anyone who wants to hone in on their leadership skills and to build their resume.


In addition, make sure your chapter is active on campus. No matter what your members are out doing, have them wear merch during freshman orientation when possible, and make sure to highlight the impact your chapter has on campus to the community of incoming students. Start by finding your freshman “Class of XXXX” pages to see which students may have prior DECA experience and get the conversation rolling.


Indiana Collegiate DECA is ready to see how your chapters Go the Extra Mile this year! It all starts right here and now in the prime of recruitment season. Best of luck, and always remember to reach out to your Indiana Collegiate DECA state officers for any questions.


Written by President - Eric Bedrosian

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