Advisor
SkillsUSA WEEK
Finalize Your SkillsUSA Week Plans
SkillsUSA Week is Feb. 6-10, and we have lots of support for SkillsUSA members who want to participate by honoring community supporters, connecting with local business and industry professionals, or making a presentation about their CTE program and SkillsUSA chapter at a school board meeting. We encourage members to plan activities that follow the daily schedule of events using the SkillsUSA Week Chapter Guide. If you would like to outfit officers or members, a special SkillsUSA Week T-shirt is available in the SkillsUSA Store. Shipping is free and fast. The SkillsUSA Advocacy Site has a template officers can use to promote their activities to their local media during SkillsUSA Week and Career and Technical Education Month.
How to Start a Chapter
Congratulations! You’ve made the decision to become a SkillsUSA Advisor. You are starting on a journey that is bound to offer many rewards for you and your students. SkillsUSA members develop into well-rounded people. There are a few basic steps to follow when starting a new chapter. Many of the resources you need can be found on the SkillsUSA website, while others are available for purchase.
One of the most important things to remember is to help your students learn an effective planning process for carrying out activities and to let students take the lead on planning and carrying out your events. They will learn and grow as they carry out their calendar of events.
NEW CHAPTER CHECKLIST
Obtain a Membership Kit by emailing Roberta Tilleman or download membership forms and materials for the current school year.
Meet with the school administrator to request permission to start a new program and to gain support for the SkillsUSA chapter (it’s a good idea to have a few brochures on hand to explain program basics and benefits to students, instructors and the school).
Contact your state director and request to be placed on the state mailing list. Find out about any upcoming activities or deadlines. If you are starting a new chapter, complete an application for charter.
Identify one or more possible SkillsUSA leaders (technical instructors, a career counselor or another interested person within the school) to help with the new chapter.
Gain support from other faculty members if you plan to involve students from other training programsExplain SkillsUSA to the industry advisory council that supports your program, and ask for their support and involvement as the chapter develops by serving as guest speakers, contest judges, etc.
MEMBERSHIP RESOURCES:
Reach the hotline: Call 1-844-875-4557 or e-mail customercare@skillsusa.org. Operators are on call 8am to 5pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and 11am to 7pm on Tuesday and Thursday (Eastern Standard Time). You can also CHAT online on the membership registration site.
Growing Your Chapter
Stir up student interest in the new chapter
Invite students from another school or state officers to speak to the training programs about SkillsUSA.
Hold a kick off event (show the Week of Champions Video) and be sure to make the meeting fun.
Establish a student leadership structure
Elect classroom officers.
Elect school-wide officers, if your chapter is school-wide.
Form committees to help with the program of work.
Integrate SkillsUSA activities into ongoing classroom activities and lessons
This aspect of the program should be teacher driven. Use the SkillsUSA Career Readiness Curriculum (for high school students) or Career Skills Education Program (for college/postsecondary students) to teach employability skills. You can teach the whole program or select activities and competencies that fit best with your curriculum.
Collect membership dues and submit dues and membership forms to the national office
Establish a bank account for the chapter.
Complete and submit a SkillsUSA membership forms.
Help students decide how to pay for membership (Do individuals pay, can the school help, or will you hold a fundraiser to pay the annual member dues for the chapter?).
Prepare students for competition in the SkillsUSA Championships
Determine if you will have a local (school) contest. If so, determine and announce the rules, the date and any awards; invite industry advisory council members to help plan the event, conduct contests and serve as judges.
Complete registrations for students to move on to regional events, state events and national events, as appropriate.
Help students prepare for any events they enter (click here for a list of national contests).
Consider leadership events as well as technical skill competitions.
Keep on top of the latest contest updates.
Close out the year with a chapter appreciation banquet to recognize those who helped you during the year. Invite your school administrators or parents, if possible.
Review all activities and see how they can be improved. Begin planning for next year.
Activities should be student-driven with support and help from the advisor. See the SkillsUSA Leadership Handbook for details on how to set up and run the chapter. Your committees should be student-led; they will plan and carry out the work of the chapter in the following seven areas. Conduct at least one activity in each area during the course of the school year:
Advocacy and Marketing
Community Engagement
Financial Management
Leadership Development
Partner and Alumni Engagement
Workplace Experiences
Download the Program of Work description, today!
WANT MORE? Watch Program of Work Instructional Videos:
-teachers, parents, administrators