Removing Collegiate as a Type of Membership:
Frequently Asked Questions
UPDATED: 3/1/2017
BACKGROUND:
The National FFA Board of Directors has proposed a constitutional amendment that if approved by the
voting student delegates at the 2017 National FFA Convention and Expo will eliminate Collegiate as a
formal type of FFA membership. Existing collegiate FFA charters will then have the ability to become an
official FFA alumni chapter.

National FFA staff conducted two webinars with current Collegiate FFA advisors and state staff
to discuss the proposal and determine what resources to effectively run an alumni chapter are
needed. We sought feedback on the following questions:
o What are your thoughts?
o What are the positives and concerns that you see with this proposal?
o How would this affect your chapter?
o What would you need for this to be successful?
o Would you support this?
This document has been developed to help answer the frequently asked questions with the answers
provided during the webinar as well as identify how collegiate FFA chapters can officially transfer to an
alumni chapter and how college campuses that do not have a collegiate FFA chapter can charter an alumni
chapter.
WEBINAR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
 How would you enter students into the roster for those students that were not formally
FFA members in high school?
o The utilization of alumni’s affiliation program would allow the chapter advisor/leader to
enter individual student information into the roster regardless of prior membership in FFA.
As part of the affiliation program, it will no longer be necessary to collect individual dues for
each of those members; instead, a flat fee can be paid ($100 National fee + State fee).

How would the flat fee for the alumni chapter work on a local campus?
o A local alumni chapter would be charged a flat rate for national and state fees. These fees
would allow the chapter to enroll as many students as it wanted to be a part of the chapter
and receive membership benefits from the National FFA Organization.

Would there be a choice for individuals to pay dues versus utilizing the affiliate program?
o The National FFA Alumni Association is transitioning from individual member dues to chapter
affiliation; however, members will still have the option to obtain life membership in the
National FFA Alumni.

What are the benefits of alumni membership for our students?
Alumni membership will allow students to have access to electronic versions of the FFA New
Horizons magazine that will start to include alumni information in January 2017. Timely
communications will also provide ideas of how to be engaged throughout the year while on
the college campus or at home over breaks as well as opportunities to participate in free
alumni regional development conferences held throughout the year that help them better
understand their role within the organization and network with other FFA members.
Members will also have full access to MyJourney, the resume builder, and AgExplorer so that
career success can follow members throughout their entire FFA life cycle. Additionally, we
will provide resources to help these students as they prepare for careers, volunteer at the
local level, and give back to an FFA chapter of their choice.

Why cannot FFA create a National Chapter Award Program for collegiate chapters?
o FFA Alumni chapters at the collegiate level will be able to participate in National FFA’s
Outstanding FFA Alumni award area. Currently, the organization recognizes outstanding
local FFA alumni chapters and state FFA alumni associations. We will add collegiate FFA
Alumni chapters to this award area beginning at the 2017 National FFA Convention and
Expo.

How will existing Collegiate FFA Chapters make the formal transition to an FFA Alumni
Chapter?
o Collegiate FFA Chapter advisors simply need to complete the Application for Chartering a
Non-Traditional FFA Alumni Chapter and submit it to [email protected]. National FFA Alumni
staff will then move any current or recently expired members to the new collegiate FFA
alumni chapter as well as provide access to the new roster. Once transitioned to an alumni
chapter they will need to maintain the following annual requirements of an alumni chapter
in order to remain listed as an active FFA alumni chapter.
 Have at least 10 annual/life members at state (if applicable) and national
level (if applicable).
 Have current constitution/bylaws in harmony with the National FFA Alumni
Bylaws.
 Have a council of elected officers.

How can a college campus charter a new FFA alumni chapter if they do not currently
have a FFA chapter of any kind?
o To CHARTER/REACTIVATE a local chapter must meet and maintain these qualifications:
1. Have at least 10 annual/life members at state (if applicable) and national
level (if applicable).
2. Have current constitution/bylaws in harmony with the National FFA Alumni
Bylaws.
3. Have a council of elected officers.
4. Complete the Application for Chartering a Non-Traditional FFA Alumni
Chapter.
5. Submit the completed application to [email protected]. Once National FFA has
completed the chartering process, they will then notify alumni leaders of their
FFA.org account information. You will have 30 days to submit your initial
roster using Manage My FFA on FFA.org and 30 days following submission of
your membership to pay your membership dues invoice. After this has been
completed, you will then be allowed to apply to be a part of National FFA’s
501c3 status.
o Additional information and applications as well as the Starting a Local FFA Alumni
Chapter Handbook can be found on the Start an Alumni Chapter page of FFA.org.

Why are we chartering as a Non-Traditional FFA Alumni Chapter?
o Non-Traditional Chapters are available to colleges, groups, businesses and corporations as a
means of providing their members/employees an opportunity to individually and collectively
help support Agricultural Education programs and FFA chapters as a unified Alumni Chapter
without being tied directly to a local FFA chapter. Non-Traditional chapters connect
geographically separate, yet otherwise-linked individuals to one another and allow them to
rally around nearby chapters, even if those chapters are not their home chapters. This
connection allows them to be a helping hand to local FFA advisors, as well as to state
associations and the national organization.

What will happen if we do not want to become an alumni chapter?
o If you do not wish to transition to a collegiate FFA alumni, chapter you will become a local
organization on your college campus that is no longer affiliated with the National or State
FFA Organizations. Your members will be local members within your collegiate organization
but will no longer have the benefits of membership within the National FFA Organization.

Do we have to change our name to reflect alumni?
o Officially, your name will be identified as a FFA alumni chapter for tax purposes with the IRS
and to align with the National FFA Alumni Association Bylaws, however you may do business
at the local level under whatever name best represents your group. The only time you will
be required to use the chartered name is if you are applying for tax-exempt status and wish
to use the National FFA Organizations 501c3 tax-exempt status.

When will this take effect?
o If approved by the student delegates at the 2017 National FFA Convention and Expo this will
take effect at the beginning of the 2018-2019 membership year. If a chapter would like to
make the change before this date, they may go ahead and complete the formal transition
process listed above at any time.

With this change, can any post-secondary institution create an alumni chapter?
o Yes, membership in the National FFA Alumni Association is open to anyone who is interested
in supporting and promoting agriculture, agricultural education and the FFA on the local,
state and national level. If a post-secondary institution has students that are proud of FFA
and want to help local FFA members acquire knowledge and experience from agricultural
education and FFA activities – a FFA alumni chapter is for them!

What if we already have another similar organization like an Ag. Ed. Society or ATA?
o Post-secondary institutions that already have an Ag. Ed. Society, ATA Chapter, etc. can also
charter that group as an FFA alumni chapter in order to provide FFA membership as another
benefit of being a member of that organization. Local programing is determined by the local
level and not dictated by National FFA, so that organization can continue to function as it
has in the past with just another membership benefit. A great example of this is the
partnership with Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and the chartering of the Alpha Gamma Rho
Fraternity FFA Alumni Chapter.