There are seven basic steps for establishing a local Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society at your college or university:

1.  Gather 10 to 15 students* who generally meet the OΔK membership criteria (refer to OΔK Manual pages 12 and 22-23) and a select group of four or five interested faculty and staff members.  Note:  If there are OΔK members on your faculty, solicit their involvement.  If you are unsure whether there are OΔK members on your campus, contact the National Headquarters of OΔK; they can generate a listing by ZIP codes for your immediate area.  A suggested method for gathering initial student members-make a listing of student leaders of junior and senior standing on your campus, taking care to select leaders from all areas of campus life (refer to OΔK Manual pages 5-6), and ascertain that each ranks in the top 35% of their class.  Invite these students to a meeting or reception at which OΔK can be introduced to them.  You can then enlist those who are interested as members of the local organization.  These people will then work toward obtaining a charter from OΔK for your college or university.

2.  This local group will need to formally select officers and a faculty secretary and will need institutional recognition.  This usually requires the development of a constitution and bylaws.  We recommend using the model set forth in the OΔK Manual pages 41-44.  Note:  Until your Circle is chartered, you may not use the name Omicron Delta Kappa.

3.  Prepare an application requesting that your college or university be placed on the OΔK list of prospective colleges and universities.  The National Headquarters of OΔK can supply you with general guidelines as well as a sample application to use as a model.  In addition, the Interim Executive Director and the National Vice President will review your draft before it is voted upon.

4.  Concurrent with the preparation of the application, your local organization should develop and implement some activities on the campus and should prepare for selection of new members, using the OΔK membership qualifications.

5.  As soon as your application has been approved by the OΔK National Membership Committee, you will need to schedule a time for the OΔK  National Vice President or other OΔK National Officer to visit your college or university and meet with the organizing group as well as with selected faculty and chief administrative officers (this trip is at the expense of the National OΔK Society).  Even before this visit is scheduled, however, you can and should begin the process of preparing your final petition.  When the final petition is submitted (not less than one year after your local group has been organized), it will be voted on by the OΔK National Membership Committee.  The National Headquarters of OΔK can provide you with a sample of a final petition for your examination.

6.  Prior to or immediately following approval of your final petition, you will need to engage in one cycle of membership selection.  Those selected may become part of the charter group or may be initiated at a future ceremony.

7.  Finally, you will plan and schedule an initiation and chartering ceremony.  The OΔK National Vice President or other appropriate OΔK National officer(s) will need to be present to conduct this initiation and present the charter.  Prior to this ceremony, the petitioning group will be required to submit individual membership information and individual initiation fees: $70 per person for a lifetime membership for all charter members and a $750 institution chartering fee.  In addition, the petitioning group will be required to pay one-half the travel and related expenses of the installing officer of OΔK.

*          If your college or university already has an organization with goals similar to OΔK, that group can serve as your organizing team; there is no need to start a new organization to charter OΔK as long as the membership requirements are the same.