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Selection P-E-R-F-E-C-T-I-O-N
You can have a successful selection in seven easy steps.
You can find more information on these steps in the Membership Selection Handbook, but these are the basics for a perfect selection:
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Plan – Planning is such an essential part of this process! You got a great start on your planning with your CAP. Now you can start to solidify your strategies and the specific steps you will take throughout selection.
Engage – Engage your chapter members in this process. Talk to them about their own selection. Why was it important? What are the great things you have experienced together so far? Build enthusiasm for your chapter’s legacy. You will need your entire membership involved in this process, so get them involved early!
Reach out – You will find TONS of great tips on how to recruit members in the Membership Selection Handbook. Just keep in mind that recruitment is not limited to students. The faculty and staff on your campus can be a great resource for you! They know the stellar students in their departments. Just think about how great it would feel to be nominated for membership by the faculty and staff of your program!
Formulate – Don’t worry, this doesn’t really involve math. This is all about your chapter determining who your ideal candidates really are. Of course, you will select based on our Society’s ideals of scholarship, leadership and service. But take the time to discuss, as a group, what that means to your chapter. Find helpful discussion questions and topics in the Membership Selection Handbook.
Elect – This is when you will really get down to business. Find the steps and procedures to make your selection run smoothly in the Membership Selection Handbook. Choose a date for your chapter’s selection meeting. Make sure to give everyone ample notice, as all members must be present. Remember that selection is absolutely, 100% confidential. Results must not be discussed outside of your chapter.
Check – Now that you’ve selected your members, you will need to fill out an Official Membership Report (OMR) and submit it to the National Office. This is a vital step in the process! You may not tap new members until your OMR is approved by the National Office.
For the sake of everyone’s sanity, you should turn it in at least two weeks prior to your tapping. This is a quick process and we can generally turn around your OMR within 48 hours.
Tap – Tapping day is SO MUCH FUN! You will get to see the excitement and surprise on your new members’ faces when you arrive. Tapping is not the same as initiation, but is a step that occurs after a candidate applies and has been selected, but before being formally initiated.
It is simply a way to publicly (and memorably) let candidates know that they have been chosen to become Mortar Boards. The phrase “tapping” comes from literally tapping a new member with a mortarboard to signify selection for membership. Tapping is a great way to be visible on your campus. Make your tapping worthy of your chapter and of Mortar Board!
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Additional tips for what will happen after tapping:
- Collect membership fees prior to initiation. Students are not official members of Mortar Board until their information has been reported and fees have been received.
- Host a memorable initiation ceremony for your new members.
- Remember that all chapters are held to the policies dictated in the governing documents of the organization. Specifically, it is vital to read the Bylaws Article III Section 1 regarding collegiate membership.
- Complete your selection process before February 25. This ensures that you have adequate time to transition and train your new members and officers. Don’t forget to make sure all outgoing officers complete responsibilities before graduation so new officers are not left uninformed.
How to get in touch with eligible candidates
So you know that candidates must be in the top 35 percent of their class and have at least junior standing (they must have at least one semester/term to serve as an active member prior to graduation). How do you get to these students to invite them to apply?
Ask your registrar for a list of eligible students. If the registrar’s office cannot provide you with these names, it may be able to send out an email message to these students on your behalf. The easiest and most cost-effective way to contact prospective members is via email.
Ask faculty and staff for recommendations. As mentioned above, faculty and staff can be a valuable resource for you! Actively publicize your selection season to them. Send them emails or put notices in the faculty newsletter. Make it easy for them to find a nomination form!
Word of mouth. Word of mouth can be one of the most powerful and effective ways to recruit new members. People listen to people they trust. Ask your members and advisors to put the word out to their personal networks. Make presentations to other student organizations. Are there Mortar Board alumni on your campus? Get them involved in your recruitment.
General publicity. Fliers, chalking, banners and information sessions are all important parts of publicizing Mortar Board to the general student body.
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