Thank you for your interest in starting a SACNAS Student Chapter. We welcome students enrolled in any community college, four-year institution, or graduate program to organize or re-activate a SACNAS chapter at your institution. A SACNAS chapter can significantly compliment an existing program serving underrepresented students in science such as MESA, MARC, MBRS, INSET, IMSD, McNairs Scholars, CAMP, LSAMP as well as adding to an existing student group such as AISES, CHE, MAES, SHPE, or Native American student association.

Benefits to starting a SACNAS Student Chapter at your school include:

• Local support for students for mentoring, academic success, personal networking and social community.
• Access to exclusive SACNAS summer undergraduate internships prior to the general SACNAS membership
• Access to graduate program application waivers and fellowship opportunities prior to the general SACNAS membership
• Access to scholarship information from Hispanic Scholarship Fund prior to the general SACNAS membership
• Opportunities to apply for funding that support chapter activities and events
• Opportunity to host and/or organize new SACNAS regional meetings

Chapter Policy

Effective organization, structure and a committed advisor lay the foundation for chapter success. SACNAS has developed a Student Chapter Policy in order to best assist students in establishing their chapter. In addition, a new Chapter Program Guide has been created to provide new and veteran chapters additional resources for success. It is recommended that individuals interested in forming a student chapter begin by reading both the Chapter Policy and Chapter Program Guide .

Chapter Application Requirements

To start an official SACNAS Student Chapter, please complete and submit the following materials to the SACNAS National Office. It is preferable to have the materials emailed to tanya@sacnas.org. However, you may mail the materials to:

SACNAS
ATTN: Chapter Program Manager
PO Box 8526
Santa Cruz , CA 95061

1. Chapter Petition – The chapter petition (PDF) includes contact information for the chapter, list of chapter officers, chapter advisor, institution information and what other student organizations, groups, or programs for underrepresented students that the chapter can work with at their institution.

2. Advisor Letter of Support – The chapter advisor (faculty member, administrator, or staff person from your institution) provides a letter of support that includes the extent of their commitment to the chapter. The letter must explain how the advisor will support the SACNAS chapter with its goals and why a SACNAS chapter is needed at their campus. Additional information such as leadership training and access to mentoring resources is also recommended.

3. Chapter Bylaws – All SACNAS chapters must have bylaws for the governance of chapter activities. A template chapter bylaws (PDF) is provided for your use. SACNAS recommends that prospective chapters view the SACNAS National Bylaws as an example and to ensure that your chapter reflects the mission and goals of the organization.
Template chapter bylaws (PDF that contain fields to fill in) Note: this type of form can only be printed if you are using free Acrobat Reader. If possible, we suggest that you scan in your complete printed version in order to have an electronic record. Otherwise the national office can provide a scanned version to you upon request.

4. Evidence of SACNAS Membership – All members of a SACNAS chapter are required to be members of the national SACNAS organization. SACNAS offers a one-year complimentary membership to any new student or advisor who has never had prior SACNAS membership.

a. Create a SACNAS profile/account through MySACNAS
(link to https://www.sacnas.org/confNew/confClient/login.asp)

b. Complete the Chapter Affiliate Membership Dues Waiver (PDF) and submit the form to the chapter advisor or president.

c. Chapter advisor or president informs SACNAS national office of new students and thus verifies their chapter participation.

d. SACNAS national office processes the memberships and informs each student of their active membership.

5. Evidence of School Recognition – SACNAS asks that the chapter register as a student organization with their school and submit that evidence to the national office. The school recognition process may be lengthy; therefore, chapters may submit the proof of recognition after all other chapter materials have been submitted. We ask that chapters note the status of the school recognition process when the chapter application materials are submitted.

Chapter Approval Process

When chapter application materials are submitted to the national office, an email confirmation is sent to the chapter advisor, president, and national liaison of its successful delivery. The Chapter Committee is then sent the materials for review. Any revisions required for the application materials is then provided to the chapter advisor, president, and national liaison. Upon receipt of any revisions, the chapter is formally approved. The SACNAS national office then provides the following for all new chapters:

• Welcome package that includes SACNAS promotional materials, SACNAS DVD, mentoring guide book, and other specialty items that may help with chapter recruitment
• Official approval letter
• Chapter start-up funds (amount is determined by annual budget for chapters)
• Presentation of the official chapter certification at the annual conference
• Official SACNAS chapter logo files
• Activation of the chapter website through www.sacnas.org

To receive advice with starting a new chapter or the chapter application materials, contact Tanya Beat, chapter program manager, at (toll free) 877-SACNAS-1, ext. 241.