Advocacy Toolkit

Student Chapter Organizing

Starting a Student Chapter

Basic Requirements

For a group to be recognized as a formal PHR student chapter, a few basic requirements must be met. These include obtaining official university recognition, hosting at least one awareness raising or advocacy event per semester, identifying a faculty advisor, and recruiting new members.

Benefits of Membership

Student members receive the PHR newsletter, action alerts, occasional articles, announcements of new reports, invitations to PHR events, and notices of other health and human rights opportunities. PHR student chapters are encouraged to work with other chapters and the PHR central office on coordinated campaigns.

Creating a PHR Chapter: First Steps

1. Designate a chapter chair or co-chairs and decide on an official name for your group
   Most chapters, like the "NYU chapter of Physicians for Human Rights," simply use PHR's name with the name of their university. However some groups have merged with existing organizations and chosen combined names.  Examples are the PHR/Amnesty International group at Harvard Medical School and the Health and Human Rights group at University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.

2. Identify a faculty advisor
   Your faculty advisor(s) will be useful in helping your group secure funding, liaise with other faculty and administration, supply ideas, help in the continuity of the chapter from year to year, and possibly institute formal health and human rights courses.
   
3. Find out how to become an officially recognized student group at your school
   Each university has different requirements. For example, some institutions require a group to meet for at least six months before they may apply for official recognition. You can usually find out how to obtain official status by contacting the Dean of Students.
   
4. Hold an introductory meeting with a PHR speaker and/or slideshow presentation to recruit new members
   This toolkit includes an overview of how to hold a general interest meeting about Physicians for Human Rights. The national PHR office may be able to help you find speakers and provide materials for events at your school. We encourage each student chapter member to officially become a member of Physicians for Human Rights by joining at a special annual rate of $15.
   
5. Most important: Be sure to contact PHR and let us know you are starting a chapter!
   Contact the PHR Student Coordinator by email at students@phrusa.org or by phone at 617.301.4200.