Membership help
The important process of selecting new members is something each chapter is charged with annually. It is of the utmost importance that the chapter take on this responsibility with great care, as the future of their chapter depends on it.
Since students are only qualified to be a member during their senior year, it is likely that not selecting a new chapter could not only cause your chapter to be placed on national probation, but also increase the odds that it will not exist in the coming year.
Passing the torch to new members by way of selections is a time-honored tradition that has existed since the inception of Mortar Board. It is vital to read the Membership Selection Handbook from cover to cover and use the resources available on this page for additional assistance.
If you have questions or concerns at any time, contact the National Office or your section coordinator.
National Mortar Board brochure: a great tool
Mortar Board brochures are available, free of charge, to each chapter. These are great for displaying at informational tables during the selections process!
To request your brochures, simply e-mail mortarboard@mortarboard.org with the following information:
- School name
- Mailing address
- Quantity requested
- Name of chapter representative requesting brochures
Don’t have time to request the shipment? Print a high-resolution version yourself or take a peek at what you’re ordering online today.
Increase your applications with the "10 in '10" initiative
For the 2009-2010 academic year, chapters are being presented with a “10 in ‘10” challenge to make a goal that will increase the number of applicants for each chapter by 10 percent.
While this goal is related to membership, it is also closely affiliated to campus visibility. By utilizing various publicity tactics, from holding more campus events to publicizing the chapter on Facebook, campus visibility can be attained in a number of ways. For visibility tips, please review the Officer & Advisor Handbook or view this help page.
Based on the numbers reported by your chapter in 2009, Mortar Board hopes that your chapter will make it a local goal to increase campus visibility and membership recruitment, and therefore receive 10 percent more applications. If you do not know the number of applications received in 2009, please contact your section coordinator or the National Office.
- Increase 50 applications to 55
- Increase 75 applications to 83
- Increase 150 applications to 165
- Increase 200 applications to 220
According to Article VI, Section 1.2 of the Mortar Board Bylaws, "the maximum membership of a collegiate chapter shall be 50 members or 1.5 percent of the student body with junior standing, whichever is greater." Your chapter is encouraged to calculate its maximum number to use as a goal. You may also decide to petition to exceed that membership goal**.
** If receiving more applications means that your chapter feels comfortable selecting a larger class, please be sure to submit the Petition for Chapter Size Exception.
Know the proper dues amount
The national fee for each member to join Mortar Board was $60 for the 2008-2009 academic year. At the 2009 Mortar Board National Conference, delegates voted to increase the membership fee to $75 for members selected for the 2010-2011 academic year (meaning they will be selected during the current membership year, 2009-2010). The local chapter may also charge additional
fees for operational purposes. Additionally, each chapter must pay a $200 conference fee each year to help offset the conference costs.
