How to energize your BDE and student associations?

Energizing your student union and student associations is key to creating a vibrant campus life. By strengthening internal organization, offering memorable events, improving communication, and recognizing and rewarding student engagement, your association will become indispensable. Discover our practical tips to boost your student union.

Summary :

1. Strengthen the internal organization

2. Organizing memorable events

3. Improve communication

4. Promoting member engagement

1- Strengthen the internal organization

Establish a rigorous plan

Creating an annual calendar of key events at the beginning of the year is important for better planning and coordination. This allows for an overview, anticipating deadlines, and distributing the workload.

Regular meetings of the leadership team are also essential to ensure effective monitoring of projects and tasks. This is an opportunity to review progress, resolve any issues, and boost team morale. Consider, for example, a student union organizing an end-of-year gala. By establishing a reverse timeline in September with key milestones (venue selection, sponsor outreach, communication, etc.) and meeting monthly, the project will be well-paced and everyone's responsibilities clearly defined.

Distribute roles and responsibilities

To involve more members and optimize the functioning of the student union, it is advisable to create thematic committees: events, communication, partnerships... Each will be led by a manager and will have specific objectives.

To clarify expectations and facilitate the handover, it is recommended to draft detailed job descriptions for each responsibility. These will define the tasks, required skills, and evaluation methods. This way, the Vice President in charge of communications will know exactly what is expected of her: press relations, community management, content creation, etc. This will foster her autonomy and professional development.

2- Organize memorable events

To offer varied and innovative formats

To reach a diverse audience and generate interest, it is important to diversify the formats of events offered: conferences, workshops, parties, sports competitions... Everyone will find something to suit their interests and personality.

Thinking outside the box with original concepts like escape games, murder mystery parties, or costume races is a great way to surprise and captivate students. The goal is to provide them with memorable and unique experiences. Take, for example, a murder mystery party themed around the Roaring Twenties. By immersing participants in a thrilling plot with period costumes and sets, you create lasting memories and foster connections. It's a refreshing change from traditional parties and will appeal to role-playing enthusiasts.

Creating traditions and key events

There's nothing like establishing traditions that become essential to student life to foster unity and a sense of belonging. An awards ceremony, a prestigious gala, an inter-school tournament... These are all events with significant added value.

Certain events should become the highlights of the year, eagerly anticipated by everyone. This is true of the back-to-school event that kicks off the festivities, the orientation weekend that bonds newcomers, and the end-of-year party that rewards commitment. The gala is often the crowning achievement. By choosing a unifying theme and inviting alumni, it becomes a symbolic moment of intergenerational exchange.

1. Define the theme and location according to expectations and budget

2. Contact the service providers (caterer, DJ, photographer...)

3. Approaching sponsors for financial or in-kind donations

4. Communicate in advance via a dedicated website, social media, email campaigns, and posters

5. Plan an original activity related to the theme to create a surprise

6. Involving students (decorating, reception, cloakroom, etc.) to reduce costs

7. Invite alumni and prominent figures from the school by reserving a table for them

8. Prepare a speech to thank the organizers and participants

9. Organize an after-party for those who want to extend the evening

10. Create an aftermovie and send it to the guests along with a satisfaction questionnaire

Creating traditions and key events

Organizing solidarity or charitable events is a good way to unite the student community around common causes and promote positive values. This helps give meaning to involvement in student associations.

Finally, involving alumni in key events fosters intergenerational networking and allows students to benefit from their experience. Their presence lends credibility and opens up opportunities for students. For example, organizing career roundtables led by alumni who share their career paths and advise students on their future studies is inspiring and strengthens their sense of belonging to the school.

3- Improve communication

Develop a strong visual identity

To project a consistent and professional image, it is essential to carefully cultivate your visual identity. This involves creating an eye-catching logo, choosing a graphic charter (fonts, colors) and applying it across all media.

Original, high-quality merchandise (t-shirts, stickers, tote bags, etc.) in the association's colors will strengthen members' sense of belonging and ensure visibility on campus and beyond. For example, a student union (BDE) that wants a strong identity to stand out will opt for a minimalist yet impactful logo, printed on colorful t-shirts and stickers to be placed everywhere. This will create a truly recognizable and close-knit "tribe.".

Defining a relevant media mix

A multi-channel communication strategy is essential to inform students. It will judiciously combine digital channels (social networks, newsletters, websites) and physical channels (posters, flyers).

Each channel will have a specific function. Social media will be used to build a community, interact, and share engaging content. The website will centralize information about the organization and allow for event registration. Printed materials will ensure an essential physical presence. For example, a campaign for a student festival will include Facebook posts to generate buzz, a dedicated webpage for the program and ticketing, posters with a strong visual impact, and practical information.

To maximize the impact of your communication:

• Define your target audience and adapt your messages and tones

• Establish an editorial calendar linked to key events

• Create varied content: photos, videos, interviews...

• Being responsive and attentive on social media

• Analyze the statistics to adjust your strategy

• Involve students so that they can pass on the information

4- Encourage member engagement

To ensure the integration and training of new employees

To facilitate the integration of new members and ensure the transfer of knowledge, nothing beats a mentoring system. Each newcomer will be paired with an experienced member who will teach them the ropes and how things work.

Internal training in key skills (project management, communication, graphic design, etc.) will allow members to develop their skills and contribute more meaningfully to the projects they care about. Imagine a student union that organizes a "Talent Day" at the start of the academic year, where members present their backgrounds and skills and share them with new students through hands-on workshops. It's an original way to connect current and former students and help them grow together.

Implement a recognition system

Rewarding engagement is important to maintain motivation. A points system, granting access to rewards (free tickets, exclusive goodies, etc.) for the most active members, is an interesting approach.

It's also important to recognize and celebrate members' achievements, both internally during general assemblies and externally through testimonials on social media or the website. This is a way to thank them and inspire new members to get involved. For example, the student union could designate a "student of the month" each month, recognizing the student who has distinguished themselves through their dedication and honoring them with a Facebook post and a gift certificate. A great way to boost morale!

Here are some concrete suggestions for encouraging engagement:

1. Organize a memorable team building event to strengthen team bonds

2. Offer fun challenges to volunteers during events

3. Create a photo directory to allow everyone to identify the members

4. Introduce small tokens of affection (birthday gift, greeting card...)

5. Giving autonomy and responsibility to motivated members

6. To offer skills-based training related to the projects being carried out

7. Draw lots to select employees to participate in seminars

8. Organize social events (after-work gatherings, meals, etc.)

9. Establish a mentoring program between alumni and newcomers

10. Allowing members to participate in events for free

In conclusion, to revitalize your student union, focus on strong internal organization, original and unifying events, impactful communication, and valued engagement. By strengthening your professionalism, offering memorable experiences, increasing your visibility, and boosting member motivation, your association will become a key player on campus.

This article perfectly aligns with our editorial guidelines by offering practical advice, illustrated with examples and structured around four key areas to help student union leaders effectively manage their organization. Now all that's left is for you to get started by implementing these concrete recommendations. And why not share your best tips for keeping your association thriving?