Chartering FAQ:
Q: My college/university does not have a chapter. How do I start one?
A: Starting a Golden Key chapter at your college/university is easy. First, be sure to follow your
college/universities requirements for starting a new student organization on campus. Often
times, this will require a chapter advisor and a minimum number of interested students to form
an organization. Once you have approval from your institution you may fill out the prospective
charter application, which can be downloaded from our website. The charter application
outlines Golden Key International Honour Society requirements. Please return your completed
application to chartering@goldenkey.org.
Q: Who is eligible to be a chapter advisor?
A: Any full time, faculty, staff or administrator at your college/university is eligible to serve as a
chapter advisor.
Q: How many officers should I have? Which positions should be filled?
A: Your chapter can have any number of officers and fill any position that you wish. We ask that
you think through the roles and responsibilities of each officer position that you fill in order to
maximize the positive experience they will have as an officer while also fitting the needs of your
chapter. In other words, make sure there is enough work to go around. Typically, Golden Key
chapters small and large will have a President, VP, Secretary, and Treasurer. You may want to
consider individuals taking on additional roles such as: Service Chair, Webmaster, and
Recruitment Chair. Golden Key pays for the membership fees for the first 5 chartering officers.
Q: What kind of time commitment is involved in starting a chapter as a leader? As an advisor?
A: As the old saying goes, “You get out what you put in”. Your individual time commitment will
vary depending upon the process involved in starting a new student organization at your
college/university. Additionally, this will vary depending on your ability to identify campus
advisors and interested officers to assist in the chartering process. As with any class project or
term paper, starting can be the most challenging aspect. Remember that Golden Key is here to
assist you during this process and has many resources at our disposal to aid you.
Q: What benefits can I or an advisor expect from chartering a chapter of Golden Key?
A: The benefits of becoming a charting member of a Golden Key chapter are many. The first five
students that are inducted as the chartering officers will have their membership fee waived.
Chapter advisors and other honorary members from your University will also have their
membership fee waived as well. Chartering a chapter also opens the doors for a multitude of
resources at your disposal as well as all the rights, privileges, and member benefits of a Society
member. Lastly, there are scholarships specifically set for chartering officers—you can learn
more about this by contacting the Expansion Team at: chartering@goldenkey.org.
Q: What is an honorary member?
A: An honorary member is someone that the chapter recognizes locally for their commitment to
their profession and the students they interact with. This person in their personal and
professional life demonstrates their commitment to Golden Key’s Three Pillars: Academics,
Leadership and Service. Each chapter can determine their process for inviting honorary
members. Honorary members may be faculty, staff, administrators, community leaders or other
advocates for Golden Key. Each chapter may invite up to 5 HM’s per academic year.
Q: What are the expectations of new chapters, if any?
A: New chapters are held to the same standards as existing chapters within the Society. They
must adhere to any/all local college/university requirements in addition to adhering to Golden
Key International Society bylaws. Minimum requirements of each chapter in order to stay
within good standing with the Society also include: maintaining regular communication with
Society HQ’s representatives, hosting a membership drive once per academic year, maintaining
two active advisors, and possibly having local chapter events as well.
Q: Chapters are expected to host a membership drive, but what is a membership drive?
A: Because membership into Golden Key is by invitation only, we collaborate with each
college/university that we have chapters at to identify the top 15% of eligible sophomoresgraduate students. Once the top 15% of students has been identified we invite them to join the
Society through our invitation process. This is commonly referred to as a membership drive.
The membership drive is a 65 day long process where eligible members are informed of their
academic achievement and are invited to become a member. We strongly encourage chapters
to host information sessions, chapter events, and other activities during this process in order to
get as much publicity out to prospective members during this time. At the end of the 65 day
membership drive chapters host a new member recognition event to publically recognize
student’s academic achievement.
Q: I am ready to turn in the charter application. How long does it take to get approval?
A: Once you have turned in the prospective charter application, our expansion team will let you
know it has been received. Your application will be reviewed by Golden Key’s International
Leadership Council for approval/denial. This process should take anywhere between 7-30 days.
If your charter is approved, you will be contacted by Lenora with an official
congratulatory/welcome message on behalf of the Society.
Q: Once my chapter has been approved, what are the next steps?
A: Once your chapter has been approved and you receive your congratulatory/welcome
message on behalf of the Society, Lenora will also contact you to provide a broad overview of
the Society and to begin the process of building your chapter.
Q: To where/who do I turn to for questions and resources?
A: During the beginning phases of establishing your chapter you will work with a member of the
expansion team. After your chapter is up and running you will make a seamless transition into
your region, where you will become acclimated with the regional director (Associate Director,
AD for short) who oversees chapters in the region to which your chapter will belong. Your AD
will be your point of contact after your transition.