SEP Chapter FAQ
Q: How do we handle student membership applications?
A: Completed membership applications should first be reviewed and signed by
the proposed chapter advisor to indicate that the applicant is an eligible
student. Take a
moment to review the payment amount. National student dues are currently
$5 per semester. If
your chapter collects local dues in addition to national dues, have the
applicants write two separate checks, one to the local chapter and one to
Success Enabled Pilots. Then forward the Success Enabled Pilots check with the application to the national
office and keep the local dues for your chapter. Applications sent
without payment or with incorrect payments will not be processed and will
be returned to the applicants.
Applications and payments should be sent immediately by mail to:
Success Enabled Pilots
ENS Bldg 21 Rm 385
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182
Q: How do students renew their memberships?
A: Students can renew their memberships in one of two ways:
- Return a renewal invoice with payment.
- Fill out a new student membership application and check off 'renewal' on top.
Both methods have the same result. If a student receives an invoice and
he/she is still a student, or will be graduating but beginning a
graduate program, the student may renew as a student member. If the
member is no longer a student when their membership expires, or is
about to graduate, the member should choose the conversion option and
convert their membership to full professional status at the special
half-price rate.
Q: What should we tell a student who wants to join but is not eligible
for national student membership?
A: If an applicant does not meet the necessary qualifications for national
student membership, they can still join and participate in SEP. Give
them the following three options:
- Join the organization as a associate
member for $50 and then participate in the student chapter activities
and/or the local professional chapter.
- Join your chapter as a "local-only" member. Pay local dues and
participate in student chapter activities. (If your chapter offers this
option.)
Q: Should we send applications to SEP with individual checks?
A: It is preferable to send an individual check or money order with each
application. Sending a group chapter check with a group of applications
makes more work for the chapter and makes it difficult to track payments
in the event of a future problem or question on an application. Plus,
holding applications until one group check is created will cause
unnecessary delays in the start of membership services for your
applicants. If your chapter collects local dues in addition to national
dues, have the applicants write two separate checks, one to the local
chapter and one to Success Enabled Pilots. Then forward the Success Enabled Pilots check with the application
to the national office and keep the local dues for your chapter.
Q: What does the chapter need to do in order to be recognized as active
by the national office?
A: To be recognized as an active, affiliated SEP student chapter, your
chapter must first have completed the affiliation process and received a
chapter charter. After receiving a charter, the group must maintain
membership of at least 5 members as of September 30th each year.
In addition, a Student Chapter Information Form must be submitted each year by
October 31st to notify the national office of chapter contact information
and current officers. Participation in the annual Merit Award competition
is strongly encouraged, though not required to maintain your charter. If
your chapter has been inactive for an extended period, it may be
necessary to complete the affiliation process again to re-charter the
chapter.
Q: Can we use the SEP logo?
A: Yes. As an affiliated chapter, you are entitled to use the SEP logo for
chapter newsletters, correspondence, posters, T-shirts, etc. However with
this privilege comes the responsibility to use the logo correctly.
Following are some guidelines for its use:
- Reproduce the logo only from camera-ready artwork provided by SEP.
Do not modify the design in any way.
- The logo may only appear in the colors 100% black, 100% blue (Pantone
282) and 100% gray (Pantone 424). The background may be any color, but
the "SEP" must "reverse out" meaning it will also be the background color.
Q: Are only cadets only allowed in the organization?
A: No, all eligible students are allowed in our organization
Q: We already have a Civil Air Patrol (CAP) program at our university, would SEP still be beneficial?
A:
Yes, CAP is a great resource that SEP members should utilize if
possible but SEP has much much more to offer than the sorties available
by CAP.
Q: Why are members still listed on our chapter roster who have already
graduated?
A: When a student joins the organization, they receive twelve full months of
membership regardless of when they graduate. Students appearing on your
roster still have active student memberships even though they graduated
during the membership year. These students will be included in your
chapter's membership count until their memberships expire or National staff is informed otherwise by the local chapter..
If you do not wish to have them included in your
membership count or listed on your roster, contact the national staff with
the students' names and ask to have them assigned
"member-at-large" status. This means they will still be national members,
but they will no longer be recognized as members of your chapter.
Q: Can students from other schools without chapters participate in our
chapter activities?
A: Yes, if approved by your chapter. Students from other schools will not be
officially counted as members of your chapter, but they are welcome to
participate in your activities if your chapter members feel it is
appropriate. If there is sufficient interest in SEP at another school,
encourage the students there to begin their own SEP Chapter.
Q: How often do we go flying?A: This is completely up to the discretion of the local Chapter. It is encouraged to do as much as possible.
Q: If we want to go flying, who pays for the flights?A: Funding for student flights is solely the responsible of the local Chapter. In many cases, host universities will provide funding or reimbursement for several of their organization's expenses. Fundraising resources and donations should also be considered to alleviate as much of the cost as possible included in flying.