Distinguished Chapter Application

Criteria

Every chapter must complete two (2) required educational activities of at least one hour in duration per year (with or without contact hours).

Points

No points are awarded for the required educational activities, but they must be entered here to be able to add additional educational activities for which points can be awarded. 

Requirements

Complete all required fields for each activity.

Criteria

Educational activities during the application year in addition to the 2 required per year (with or without contact hours).

Examples

• Local symposium (virtual or live)
• Roundtable discussions
• Having speakers at a chapter meeting

Points

For any activities beyond the two required for every chapter that are at least one hour in duration, one point is awarded - up to a maximum of 6 points per submission year.

Requirements

Complete all required fields for each activity.

Criteria

Chapter organizes a social activity during the application year designed to foster engagement among both students and members, creating an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere.

Examples

• Networking Social - Hosting informal meet-and-greet events where students can interact with chapter members and professionals in a relaxed environment.
• Mentorship Program - Pairing students with experienced members for guidance and career discussions over coffee or scheduled virtual meetings.
• Community Service Initiative - Organizing volunteer efforts, such as health awareness campaigns, charity drives, or environmental clean-up projects.

Points

Each activity is one point, up to a maximum of 4 points per submission year.

Requirements

Complete all required fields for each activity.

Criteria

A chapter member serves as a practicum preceptor, providing guidance and support to a fellow nurse pursuing a degree in Nursing Informatics. This role fosters professional development, cultivates mentorship, and strengthens the advancement of informatics expertise within the nursing community. Through dedicated leadership and knowledge-sharing, mentors empower future informatics professionals to navigate their educational journey and contribute meaningfully to the evolving landscape of healthcare technology.

Examples

A chapter member serves as a practicum advisor or preceptor guiding a fellow nurse pursuing a graduate level Nursing Informatics related degree. This role supports professional growth, strengthens informatics expertise, and fosters leadership within the nursing community.

Each chapter member who qualifies counts as one point, up to a maximum of 2 points per submission year.

Requirements

Complete all required fields for each qualified member.

Criteria

Chapter members present (podium, preconference or poster) at the ANIA conference, provide an ANIA webinar, or publish an article for JIN during the application year.

Examples

• Annual Conference:
  • Podium
  • Preconference
  • Poster Presentation
• 1-hour monthly national webinar for ANIA members
• An article published in JIN during the application year

Each activity is scored as: 1 point per poster presentation, 2 points per podium or webinar presentation, 2 points per preconference, and 2 points per JIN article; up to a maximum of 8 points per submission year.

Requirements

Complete all required fields for each activity.

Criteria

Chapter members present (podium, preconference or poster) at a non-ANIA conference/convention, provide a non-ANIA webinar, or publish an article for a publication other than JIN during the application year.

Examples

• Non-ANIA Conference/Convention:
  • Podium
  • Preconference
  • Poster Presentation
• 1-hour national webinar for organization other than ANIA
• An article published in a publication other than JIN during the application year

Each activity is scored as: 1 point per poster presentation, 2 points per podium or webinar presentation, 2 points per preconference, and 2 points per article; up to a maximum of 8 points per submission year.

Requirements

Complete all required fields for each activity.

Criteria

Chapter actively promotes engagement, participation and attendance at the ANIA Annual Conference, fostering professional growth and networking opportunities.

Examples

Hosting Pre-Conference Webinars: Organize virtual sessions with members to discuss key themes of the upcoming conference, helping members understand its relevance to their practice.

Offering Travel Grants or Scholarships: Financial support encourages attendance, particularly for early-career professionals or those facing budget constraints.

Leveraging Social Media and Newsletters: Regular updates, testimonials from past attendees, and countdown posts can generate excitement and awareness.

Organizing Local Meetups: Arrange informal gatherings before the conference to discuss expectations and networking strategies.

Encouraging Abstract Submissions: Motivate members to present their work through brainstorming & education sessions, provide guidance to create and submit an abstract. Helps to increase their investment in participation.

Participation in any of the above will be scored as 1 point.

Requirements

Provide a description of what the chapter did to promote engagement.

Criteria

Chapter member serves on the ANIA National Board and/or ANIA National Committees (i.e. Leadership Succession, Education) during the submission year, contributing to leadership and strategic initiatives at the national level.

Examples

Chapter member serves as the Northeast Region Director for ANIA.

Each chapter member who qualifies counts as one point, up to a maximum of 2 points per submission year.

Requirements

Complete all required fields for each qualifying chapter member.

Criteria

The chapter utilized a written strategic plan to guide chapter operations. Describe how the chapter’s strategic plan was developed or revised at least annually during the submission year.

Include in your plan:

• Mission Alignment
• Membership Growth
• Community Engagement
• Financial Sustainability
• Technology Integration

Use the official template provided by ANIA as a starting point when crafting a new strategic plan for your chapter.

Revisions should be made based on participation trends, financial performance, and emerging nursing informatics advancements.

Examples

The chapter leadership holds an annual planning retreat where members review past initiatives, identify emerging challenges, and set priorities based on ANIA's mission and values. This process could include input from diverse stakeholders -board members, chapter members, and external advisors.

Satisfaction of the above criteria will be scored as 2 points.

Requirements

Upload a copy of your chapter's strategic plan and provide insight into its creation/revision during the submission year.

Criteria

The chapter has a leadership succession plan and has reviewed/updated at least annually during the submission year.

Use the official template provided by ANIA as a starting point when crafting a new succession plan for your chapter.

Examples

The chapter maintains a structured leadership succession plan, reviewed/updated at least annually. Chapter leadership utilize the plan throughout the year to guide actions, provide continuity and perform effective transitions.

Satisfaction of the above criteria will be scored as 1 point.

Requirements

Upload your succession plan and a write-up detailing how your plan was created and/or evaluated during the submission year.

Criteria

The chapter collaborated with another ANIA chapter for one or more chapter activities.

Examples

The chapter partnered with another ANIA chapter to co-host a networking event, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among informatics professionals. This collaboration enhanced professional growth, strengthened interdisciplinary ties, and increased chapter visibility, leading to future collaborative opportunities.

Each collaboration that qualifies counts as one point, up to a maximum of 2 points per submission year.

Requirements

Complete all required fields for each qualifying activity.

Criteria

The chapter collaborated with community organization, or healthcare organization as an outreach activity.

Examples

Mission Alignment: Goals tied to ANIA's vision, such as advancing nursing leadership and scholarship.

Satisfaction of the above criteria will be scored as 1 point.

Requirements

Describe the activity and provide date of qualifying collaboration.

Criteria

Chapter organized and offered members the opportunity to participate in volunteer/service or philanthropic activities.

Examples

• Food donations for pantry
• Charity awareness walk
• Volunteer for shelter

Each activity with at least four participating chapter members that qualifies counts as one point, up to a maximum of 2 points per submission year. Bonus of one point if at least half of chapter's members participate and are not board members?

Requirements

Complete all required fields for each qualifying activity.

Criteria

The chapter actively engaged in initiatives designed to elevate visibility and foster awareness within affiliated organizations - such as universities and clinical practice settings - and with the broader public. These efforts reflected both chapter pride and strategic publicity, showcasing accomplishments, leadership, and contributions to the informatics community.

Examples

University Partnerships – Hosting informational sessions, guest lectures, or collaborative projects with nursing schools to introduce students to the chapter and its mission.

Community Events – Setting up booths or presentations at health fairs, conferences, or local nursing association gatherings to share the chapter’s initiatives.

Social Media Campaigns – Running promotional campaigns highlighting chapter achievements, upcoming events, or member contributions across various platforms.

Public Engagement – Participating in awareness campaigns for healthcare-related issues, such as patient advocacy, nursing informatics, or digital transformation.

Collaborations with Healthcare Institutions – Partnering with hospitals and clinics to offer mentorship programs, professional development workshops, or research collaborations.

Satisfaction of the above criteria will be scored as 1 point.

Requirements

Describe a qualifying activity during the current submission year and demonstrate how you publicized the chapter and ANIA.

Criteria

Chapter has a communication plan and reviews/adjusts at least annually.

Use the official template provided by ANIA as a starting point when crafting a new communication plan for your chapter.

Examples

The chapter maintains a structured communication plan, reviewed/updated at least annually. Chapters utilize the plan throughout the year to guide actions, provide continuity and effective transitions

Satisfaction of the above criteria will be scored as 2 points.

Requirements

Upload a copy of your chapter's communication plan and provide insight into its creation/revision during the submission year and how it was used per the above example.

Criteria

Does the chapter utilize their chapter site on ANIA Connect to communicate with members on a quarterly basis

Examples

Promotion of chapter events, volunteer opportunities, initiate discussions.

Satisfaction of the above criteria will be scored as 1 point.

Requirements

Provide an example of a communication sent in ANIA Connect by the chapter meeting the above criteria.

Criteria

Describe the frequency with which the chapter intentionally communicated with chapter members.

Examples

• scheduled emails
• monthly newsletters
• social media posts
• virtual meetings
• personalized outreach

Satisfaction of the above criteria will be scored based on minimum frequency as follows: yearly = one point; biannually = 2 points; quarterly = 3 points; monthly = 4 points.

Requirements

Identify the minimum frequency of touchpoints you create with chapter members.