Nominations and Elections Preparation

November is election time. Not just for local, state and national political races, but this is the time of year that Delta Zeta chapters should be preparing for, or in the midst of, officer nominations and elections. According to the Delta Zeta Constitution, Article XII, Section 5, all chapter officers and chairmen are to be elected no later than March 1 each year unless there is a campus or chapter situation which would require approval by the College Chapter Director (CCD) or Regional Collegiate Director (RCD). A great resource for you when you start planning is the Nomination and Election Manual which you can find on Metro in the Chapter Officer Resources – Collegiate Resources – Manuals section.

The nomination and election procedure is often the most misunderstood aspect of chapter operations. Unlike those political races you are watching across the country, Delta Zeta uses a Nominating Committee which creates a slate of officers based on input from each academic class in the chapter. It is important before the process even begins to educate the entire chapter on the process so that every member knows what to expect. The Nomination and Election Manual states that “Dates should be scheduled early on the calendar for the selection of a Nominating Chairman and Committee, officer interviews, election of officers and their installation. Two chapter meetings need to be held in order to effectively conduct officer elections.” The entire process is also explained in the Nominations and Elections webinar which is on Metro – Chapter Officer Resources – Collegiate Resources – Webinars.

Perhaps one of the most important aspects to the entire process is to carefully review the qualifications for office and look for candidates within the chapter who exhibit the characteristics needed for each position. Officer qualifications are found in Section II of the Nominations and Elections Manual, and you should also reference your chapter’s Bylaws for more specific information. All candidates should be in good standing as defined by the Delta Zeta Constitution or the chapters’s Bylaws and have a cumulative GPA over a 2.5 for the preceding term. Candidates for Chapter President should have been an initiated member for at least a year.

All of our chapters should use this important time to choose the best leadership for the upcoming year. If you have additional questions, direct them to your CCD or RCD.