Proposal-201102-vpad-01
- National Council Proposal
- Council Member Name: Sarah Cantwell
- Council Position – Proposal Number: VPAD 01
- Date of Proposal: February 4, 2011
- Objective this proposal falls under: Resource Development – creation of an Professional Network for Undergraduate Members and Alumni (RD 12.0)
- What costs are associated with this proposal? None
- Additional Pertinent Information:
- What is the motion to be made on this?
I move that we recognize professional networks within the NAA structure, and launch three test networks by Fall Semester 2011 (Natural Sciences, Education and Business).
Contents
Scope
The goal of this proposal is to establish a framework for the creation of Professional Networks within the existing NAA structure. Similar to the integration between Alumni Associations and Chapters with the NAA, membership in a Professional Network will be driven through active membership in the NAA.
Purpose
The purpose of establishing professional networks within the existing NAA structure is as follows:
- To provide an avenue through which our brotherhood can utilize the vast network of Alumni as they transition from collegiate life to working adulthood. Additionally, a component of this will provide crucial insight for those more senior Alumni who are actively pursuing a career change.
- Provides an opportunity for continued fraternal engagement for Alumni not residing within reach of an existing Alumni Organization
- To expand the National Alumni Database to include profession information, providing an added resource in future fundraising initiatives.
- To promote the NAA by providing one additional resource that can be leverage by becoming an active member.
Structure of the Professional Networks
The structure of the Phi Sigma Pi Professional Network will be built using the NAA as a platform to generate membership based upon occupational field or undergraduate major.
Membership
Membership in a professional network is open to any member of Phi Sigma Pi. Members of any professional network may be a Member of more than one Professional Network as well as maintaining Membership in any of the following: Alumni Chapter, Alumni Association, the National Alumni Association (NAA), or Collegiate Chapter. Members must be active NAA members or collegiate members of Phi Sigma Pi.
Leadership
Initially, there will be no elected leadership positions within the network. Instead, members are free to contribute and participate on their own terms. Efforts will be coordinated through the Director of Alumni Relations.
It is recommended that three networks be established as pilots for the program. Using information gathered by the National Office regarding the top 10 majors of our Undergraduate members, the following networks are proposed:
- Natural Sciences (to include Biology-related fields, medicine and psychology)
- Education (education, early education and secondary education)
- Business (Accounting, Finance, Supply-Chain, Marketing, advertising)
Upon becoming a member of the NAA, members can self-select which network they wish to participate in. The only requirement for membership is annual membership in the NAA.
Undergraduate Members can enroll at any time.
Action Steps
- Change existing NAA registration page to include a section on employment and options to participate
- Expand existing alumni database to include fields for occupation, employer, position, etc.
- Create a structure on the website that allows brothers to submit jobs for consideration
- Create a listserv for brothers and Alumni to sign-up for which provides job postings submitted by brothers.
- Create a discussion forum for each professional network online
- Develop a strategy for program launch (web announcements, e-mails, etc).
- Determine how to structure mentor relationship between alumni brothers and undergraduate members.
- Staff to work with VPAD in building the Network program.
