Role of the Advisor

Why Have A Chapter?

Students today want a voice in their education and an opportunity for self-expression; DECA provides such an opportunity. DECA is a student-centered organization that is run by and for the students, while providing and encouraging:

  • opportunities for professional growth through Vocational Understanding activities;
  • an awareness of service to the school, community and business through Civic Consciousness projects;
  • opportunities to increase skills in communication;
  • opportunities to meet and learn to deal with others;
  • a sense of belonging and the sharing of thoughts and experiences with other students through Social Intelligence experiences;
  • understanding of the value of group consensus and decision making;
  • the realization of compromise for the good of the majority;
  • individual opportunities for expression;
  • recognition for a "job well done" through Leadership Development opportunities.

DECA provides the most natural avenue for a teacher to recognize individual and/or group achievement.

Chapter Advisor Responsibilities

  1. Initiate the organization of the chapter activities.
  2. Assist in the plans for securing effective and efficient groups of officers by setting criteria for candidates and letting candidates know of the responsibilities of each office.
  3. Instruct newly elected officers concerning their duties and provide all members with leadership training.
  4. Assist students in establishing adequate chapter records and accounts. Oversee that programs will be adequately financed.
  5. See that chapter meetings are held regularly and conducted in a businesslike manner.
  6. Encourage new members to participate and get into the spirit of the activities.
  7. See that every member is involved and accepts responsibility for his/her share of the duties.
  8. Meet regularly with chapter officers and executive committee to assist with leadership and chapter business.
  9. Advise leadership and individual members and committees on problems and activities.
  10. Encourage participation in distract, state, regional, and national conferences. Help students prepare for leadership activities and participation at all levels of competition.
  11. See that all ceremonies, initiations, public performances, and displays are carefully planned.
  12. Keep school administration, the faculty, and the public posted on activities and accomplishments.
  13. Encourage and help provide avenues for parental and advisory committee involvement.
  14. Keep abreast of new developments in the DECA and call them to the attention of the members.
  15. Utilize the chapter as leadership training by impressing upon the membership that it is their organization.
  16. See that the chapter takes advantage of every opportunity to widen the scope of learning opportunities.
  17. Become thoroughly versed in the history, principles, constitution provisions, ceremonies, typical activities, parliamentary procedure, and other essentials of the organization.

Your Role as an Advisor

The success of the DECA chapter begins with you, the chapter advisor. However, it is not your responsibility to do all of the work. The projects that your members undertake should be of their own development. One of the beauties of any DECA chapter is that it is student run and that the advisor is a guide and a resource for the student leaders in the chapter. As the advisor you are expected to play a number of different roles.

Counselor: Your primary concern as a DECA advisor is to provide for the educational growth of your students. As a counselor, you should allow the freedom students to conduct their own program of activities while realizing that not all students have the maturity necessary to do this at all times. It is your responsibility give assistance when you see that it is necessary and guide student participation in positive directions.

Communicator: The basic idea behind marketing and vocational education is that a number of people are coming together for the betterment of the students. There are educators, administrators, support staff, and business volunteers that all must work in concert to provide the best program possible to students. Because of this, you must be able to bring all of these facets together in a productive way that so that the best interests of your students are always being tended to.

Leader:While it is very important that students guide the programs that the chapter undertakes they will very much rely on you for leadership. Ultimately you are a role model for your chapter.

Educate Yourself!

  • Review all of the physical materials that you have received from Washington DECA and National DECA.
  • Communicate with your Area Leader, the Washington DECA Executive Director, or National DECA Staff and request assistance.
  • If you are new advisor, attend the New Advisor Inservice (Contact Judy West for more information,judy@wadeca.org)