DECA

Collegiate DECA is a national organization for college students preparing for careers in marketing, merchandising or management. Its local chapters and state associations are a division of National DECA, Inc.

Activities promoted by Collegiate DECA integrate and enhance the student’s curriculum. In addition, the organization’s close ties with the business community provide both opportunities for members and an appreciation for the American free enterprise system.

Collegiate DECA membership is an essential resource for the future marketing, merchandising, or management professional.

Advisor: Madison Bishop mbishop@centralmethodist.edu

DECA’s Mission

The mission of Collegiate DECA is to serve its diverse international membership as a professional organization, providing leadership and career-oriented opportunities to develop and enhance tomorrow's leaders.

Collegiate DECA Objectives

• To nurture competent, entrepreneurial, self-reliant leadership in the fields of marketing, merchandising, and management.
• To help students make informed career choices by providing opportunities to explore fields as diverse as sales, food marketing, hotel management, department store and specialty store retailing, fashion merchandising, industrial and international marketing, finance and credit, advertising, insurance, wholesaling, and other marketing-oriented occupations.
• To foster high ethical standards in business.
• To encourage business activity that demonstrates civic, social, and moral responsibility.
• To develop appreciation of the influence of the fine arts in business.
• To recognize the importance of career education and to promote a willingness to use training facilities provided by corporations to continually improve skills and knowledge, in college and throughout adult life.
• To increase understanding of and appreciation for the American system of free enterprise.

Why DECA?

• An opportunity to work with and learn from people who share similar career interests.
• A local chapter in which a member can learn, compete and be eligible for state and national recognition.
• Encouragement of individual and group initiative and effort on a competitive level.
• Awards and recognition for demonstrating outstanding marketing, merchandising, and management skills.
• Leadership opportunities at the local, state, and national levels.
• Cooperation with business to upgrade students’ employment skills.
• Enhancement of efforts by colleges to prepare responsible and employable citizens.

Competitive Events

National Collegiate DECA is recognized by many professionals and students as offering the highest quality of competitive events programming available to postsecondary students. In addition to receiving recognition at our annual Career Development Conference, official competitive event first place winners are awarded a minimum of a $100 cash prize.

National Advisory Board

Over 50 nationally recognized organizations are members of Collegiate DECA’s National Advisory Board (NAB). They donate substantial time and resources toward providing internships, permanent jobs, offering workshops, sponsoring competitive events and leadership programs, serving as judges, and recognizing successful Collegiate DECA members.

Congressional Advisory Board

This group of national legislators have endorsed the benefits of Collegiate DECA as a viable program for students preparing for careers in marketing, management, merchandising, and entrepreneurship.

Which Major U.S. Corporations Support DECA?