State Whip Job Descriptions

Basic State Whip Description

Build and maintain relationships with federal lawmakers and their staff
Time Commitment: On average – one hour per month (including time to write letters)

• For example – Sending articles to your members of Congress that highlight the importance of international education and exchange, visiting your lawmakers district or Washington DC office, etc.

Mobilize colleagues in their state to take action on issues along with providing updates on the status of legislation as appropriate.
Time Commitment: On average – 20-30 minutes per alert (typically no more than two alerts per month).

• For example – Sending NAFSA Action Alerts out to your colleagues in the state and encouraging them to send personalized letters to their members of Congress, providing updates on legislation during local, state and regional meetings, etc.

Provide advocacy leadership and training opportunities to international educators within their state.
Time Commitment: On average – four hours per session

• For example – During a local, state or regional meeting doing a brief presentation on what's going on with regard to international education and exchange on Capitol Hill, teaching members how they can get involved with the advocacy process by highlighting NAFSA's Take Action Center, etc.

Incentives State Whip Description

State whips are NAFSA members who work as volunteers with NAFSA’s public policy staff to increase grassroots awareness and participation in important national advocacy campaigns. The term for the "whip" system is derived from the U.S. Congress, describing someone who has been selected to enforce party discipline and ensure attendance. State Whips are chosen based on their previous advocacy participation.

The term of service for the State Whip program is two years, with the option to extend the term based on the quality of outcomes for the year.

Recruit new ACT members
Time Commitment: On average – two hours per year

• Whips will volunteer at least one hour at the Annual Conference to help NAFSA staff recruit new ACT members. If a Whip does not attend the Annual Conference, they will spend one hour at a Regional Conference and/or other local NAFSA gathering to recruit new ACT members. The State Whip will also send an e-mail to their colleagues during an ACT recruitment week, which will be designated by NAFSA headquarters, encouraging them to register for ACT.

Participate in NAFSA's Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. each spring.
Time Commitment: On average – three days per year

Coordinate an advocacy training session at their regional conference.
Time Commitment: On average – four hours per session (including planning process and delivery of training program)

• Whips will coordinate with other Whips in their region to submit a proposal to coordinate an advocacy training session at their regional conference to help further training for their colleagues on the importance of grassroots advocacy. If an advocacy session is previously scheduled, the Whip will work with the coordinator to ensure that the basic advocacy principles will be covered along with information on the NAFSA Take Action Center and registration for ACT.
• Ex: hosting a session at a regional conference on the basic principles of advocacy

Whips will come up with innovative programs to encourage their colleagues to participate in NAFSA advocacy events and alerts.
Time Commitment: Varies depending on the program

• For example – hosting a fundraising event at conference to help fund other members from the state/region to participate in advocacy day, making a donation to NAFSA for every member who sends a letter in response to an action alert, etc