Start a Chapter FAQ page
My school has a religious affiliation. Does that affect starting a chapter?
No. In fact, some of our chapters at religiously affiliated schools have successfully incorporated their faith into the mental health programming they do on campus. Active Minds at Yeshiva University held a panel on religious scrupulosity and Active Minds at Messiah College sponsors alternate chapels to those students are required to attend.
Can I start a chapter at a community college?
Yes! In fact, we have some specialized materials designed to support chapters at community colleges.
Can I start a chapter at a school outside of the United States?
Currently, Active Minds only supports Chapters within the United States (including U.S. territories) and Canada to ensure the highest quality of technical assistance and relevant resources. Questions about this can be directed to the Chapters Team at chapters@activeminds.org
I’m graduating soon or have already graduated. Can I still be involved?
If you’re about to graduate, tell your friends who are still in school about Active Minds and starting a chapter. You can help interested students with the initial steps of finding an advisor, recruiting students, and figuring out how to register as a new student organization. Even though you won’t be around to see it…
I’m a faculty or staff member. What is my role in starting a chapter?
Faculty or staff members can play an integral role in the development of an Active Minds chapter. You might consider, for example, serving as the faculty or staff advisor to the chapter. Whether or not you become the advisor, you can start by reaching out to students you know who may be interested and encourage…
Can I start a chapter if I’m not affiliated with a school?
No, chapters cannot be formed outside of the context of a school. If you are not affiliated with a school, we encourage you to check out our Take Action page for other ways to get involved with Active Minds.
Can I start an Active Minds chapter at a high school?
Yes! High schools can register chapters through the same process as a college and are expected to meet the same requirements as a college-based chapter. High school-based chapters are most successful when they have strong administrative and staff support.
I noticed my school has an inactive chapter. How do I go about getting it started again?
Re-activating an inactive chapter looks exactly the same as starting a new chapter. It’s worth finding out if there is a faculty or staff member who was involved with the chapter in the past who would be willing to help you out and give you a head start!
Can our chapter function under the umbrella of a counseling center or other office rather than as an independent student organization?
Yes, the chapter can function under the counseling center umbrella, if that is ideal on your campus. Many chapters find it helpful to “bring mental health out of the counseling center” by being an independent student organization and maintaining a strong, collaborative, relationship with the counseling center. Either way, we strongly encourage chapters to request…
What is involved in starting a chapter?
To launch an Active Minds chapter you must have at least three student leaders and an advisor who is an employee of the school. At least one student leader must be an underclassman to ensure the sustainability of the chapter beyond the first year. Your team must register as an official student group on campus….
Active Minds is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization promoting mental health awareness and education for young adults.