How to Start a Student Major-Specific Group

Major-specific groups help students learn more about their academic fields and form more productive relationships with professors and fellow students.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Notebook Papers
• Pens
• Art And Graphics Software

1. Form a small group of people who share your interest in your major. Look for members among your friends, classmates and people in your residence hall.
2. Begin assigning a few top-level administrative positions. One person should act as president of the group. Other important positions include people to handle finances, publicity and recruitment.
3. Contact your school administration and find out how to register a student group. This may involve writing a constitution, filling out some paperwork or attending one or more orientation meetings.
4. Talk to professors, advisers and other administrators in your academic department about giving talks and helping to organize other events.
5. Contact local professionals in fields related to your major. Tell them you're forming a student group based on your academic field and ask for any information and advice they can provide.
6. Publicize your group with fliers, information tables, e-mail notices and other methods. Focus publicity efforts on areas where students in your field tend to gather, such as the building that houses the department.
7. Hold regular meetings and events to address issues and topics of interest related to your major. Consider academic lectures, open forums and mixers where students can meet and interact with professors. As your group gains support, you may be able to attract prominent figures to your events.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to open up the group to students outside of the specific major you're representing. For example, many engineering majors might be interested in a physics-based student group.
• Regular fund-raisers are a great way to keep your group strong. Make sure you understand your school's regulations about fund raising before soliciting money.