Criteria:
To be considered for the Chapter of the Year Award, an active chapter must meet the following criteria:

• A nomination is required. All nominations are confidential and must be forwarded to the Alumni Association’s Awards Committee for consideration.
• The nominated chapter must be in good standing with the Virginia State University Alumni Association.
• The nominated chapter must have provided significant services to or have contributed financially to the support and mission of both Virginia State University and the Virginia State University Alumni Association.
• The nominated chapter must have a record of promoting and retaining membership, community involvement, fundraising, and student and alumni recruitment.
• The nominated chapter must have a record of having representation at various alumni-related activities, such as Homecoming, VSU Founder's Day, Alumni Weekend, and National Conventions when held.
• The nominated chapter must have a record of its Board Members' attendance (or provided proxy) at National Board of Directors meetings. The nominated chapter must also have a record of attending the Annual Meeting held during Commencement Weekend.
• The nominated chapter must have a record of submitting its Annual Preliminary Report for Chapter Programs to the Alumni Association office.
• Only nomination forms that have been distributed or posted online by the Association are acceptable for submission. In addition to the nomination form, supporting documentation such as newspaper and/or magazine clippings, photos, letters, or other appropriate material supporting the chapter’s nomination must also be submitted. If available, a chapter photograph, 300 dpi or higher, should be included with the application.
• Nominations must be based on accomplishments made during the previous calendar year to the present.

Calendar:
Nomination forms and any supporting materials should be received by the Alumni Association Awards Committee no later than the third week in March of the year in which the person is being nominated.  Nomination forms for 2026 will be available in January.