Advisor Resources
Advisor Responsibilities
According to the Tri-M Program Guidelines, the advisor duties are:
- The chapter advisor shall select candidates for membership or oversee a faculty committee to select candidates for membership.
- The chapter advisor shall be responsible for the direct, day-to-day supervision of the chapter and act as liaison between faculty, administration, students, and community.
- The chapter advisor shall maintain, or oversee chapter officers in maintaining, files on membership, chapter history, activities, and financial transactions.
- The chapter advisor shall attend all chapter executive committee and chapter meetings.
- The chapter advisor shall submit a previous year member count to NAfME on the chapter activation form.
- The chapter advisor shall regularly review the actions of each member to ensure compliance with Tri-M standards and obligations.
- The chapter advisor shall help the chapter officers understand and carry out their duties.
Getting Your Chapter Started
in the New School Year:
- Read through the Tri-M Music Honor Society Program Guidelines and your chapter’s established bylaws. If this is a new chapter, view the sample bylaws written by Tri-M headquarters.
- View the Academic and Chapter Activity Calendar.
- Review the Student Membership Requirements and invite students to join Tri-M, then elect your officers. If you have an established chapter, this may be done in the spring of the previous school year. View a sample acceptance form and acceptance letter.
- Tri-M minimum requirements are guidelines. According to yearly surveys of our advisors, the student membership requirements have been raised to an A average grade in music, and a B average grade in other academic subjects. Some advisors require minimum service hours (average is 15 hours), others require minimum number of service projects (2-4 activities/events).
- Hold your chapter induction ceremony. This may be done at the beginning of the school year or in the spring of the previous school year.
- Hold your first chapter meeting of the school year and plan your service projects for the year. The frequency of your meetings is designated by your local chapter bylaws. Chapter meetings shall be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised (Perseus Publishing).
- Host your first service project or fundraiser! Looking to collaborate with other local chapters? Request a list of chapters in your state.
Join the exclusive Tri-M Advisors Facebook Group for chapter advice and recognition! Network with chapter advisors from across the country and around the world. This is a great starting point if you are new to the advisor position.