University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (Urbana, IL) Contact: Lengxi Zhang
Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN) Contact: Nemia Zhou
Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH) Contact: Yuwei Zhang
Columbia University (New York, NY) Contact: Shuwen Yang
Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (Chengdu,China) Contact: Chu Yi
Central China Normal University (Hangzhou,China) Contact: Liang Zhiwei
Starting a new chapter Q & A
What are the goals of MAZE student chapters?
Students join MAZE chapters to take action in promoting mental health awareness among international student communities, advocating for culturally appropriate mental health resources, breaking stigma and barriers, campaigning for policy change, and furthering cross-cultural community psychology research.
What can chapters do?
Chapters adopt MAZE national programs, for example, MAZE Ambassadors, advocacy campaign, and research projects. At the same time, initiate and run new programs that best support the unique needs of students on the local campus. Chapter leadership hold regular meetings to plan activities and evaluate their efforts for future improvement. Some activities include psycho-educational workshops, speaker presentations, discussion panels, and social gatherings.
Can I start a chapter if I've graduated from my SCHOOL?
Being an enrolled student on your campus is required for holding office at a new chapter, but you can help current students who are interested with the initial steps of finding an advisor, recruiting students, and registering as a new student organization. Even though you won't lead the chapter, you can participate in many ways after it's established, for example, you can offer to share your experience in a discussion panel, you can connect KOLs for a speech engagement, and so on.
Can I start a chapter at a school outside the US and China?
We are currently only registering new chapters in the United States and in China. However, you can reach out to MAZE Chapter Coordinator to discuss how you can be involved in MAZE in many other ways.
What do I need to do to get ready for starting a Chapter
Before you start registering your MAZE chapter, you will have at least three students interested in participating and committed to take office roles as well as a faculty or staff advisor to supervise your chapter. Then you will apply to being officially recognized on campus as a registered student organization and fill out MAZE Chapter Registration Form (providing information on the student officers and advisor). Check out the eligibility guide for chapter officers, members, and advisor.
How long does it take to start a chapter?
Once you submit the Chapter Registration Form, fulfilling all the requirements specified in the registration form, MAZE team will process your registration in two weeks. Your MAZE Chapter Coordinator will contact you and guide you through the founding, building, and running, and evaluating phases of your chapter. However, the time taken to register as a student organization in your university varies depending on the unique requirements.
How much time commitment is needed to run a chapter?
It takes good commitment to successfully lead a chapter. You may need 5-10 hours each week for planning and meetings and devote more time for larger activities. However, you will not be doing it alone. It is helpful to initiate a chapter with a committed chapter leadership among which responsibilities are shared. We recommend chapter members meet at least once a month and hold at least one major event or program each semester or quarter.
HOW WILL MAZE TEAM SUPPORT?
MAZE Chapter Coordinator will help you and chapter leadership set goals and plan out best strategy for chapter efforts leading to meaningful impact for the international student community. Various committees will also provide needed support, tools, and resources as you go. For example, Programs Committee will get in touch with you to provide valuable feedback on operating and evaluating MAZE national programs and chapter-initiated programs; you can also participate in trainings relevant to program development.
ARE THERE ANY REQUIREMENTS ON HOW I SHOULD RUN THE CHAPTER?
Chapters are expected to maintain affiliation with MAZE by having chapter activities align with MAZE mission and purposes of MAZE chapters, receiving support and evaluation from MAZE team, maintaining consistent branding image with MAZE (e.g., use of logo and promotional elements), meeting requirements for a registered MAZE chapter mentioned above, and creating an inclusive and diverse membership for your entire student community.
Meanwhile, we encourage chapters to utilize local campus and community resources, adapt MAZE national programs or initiate new programs to best meet the unique needs of your student body.
WILL THE CHAPTER RECEIVE FINANCIAL SUPPORT?
Your chapter can acquire allocated funds for student organizations through your school. The process typically involves a chapter submitting a budget proposal to the respective office, which then decides to award some or all of the requested funds. Your chapter can also engage in fundraising efforts such as asking for in-kind donations from local businesses, running donation drives, hosting speaker events or pledge sales. MAZE is currently not offering funds for chapter operations. However, you can talk to your MAZE Chapter Coordinator to discuss potential financial support for specific programs.