Chapter Program
Build the Next
Sentinel Research Society
SRPI-affiliated chapters bring the Institute’s mission to campuses across the country — connecting students to national security research, professional networks, and the next generation of counterintelligence scholarship.
To study threats with rigor · To confront them with wisdom · To defend the idea of America
About the Program
What Is an SRPI Chapter?
SRPI chapters — operating under the name Sentinel Research Society — are student-led academic organizations at universities that share SRPI’s commitment to national security scholarship, counterintelligence education, and the defense of democratic institutions.
Chapters are not intelligence organizations. They are rigorous academic communities. Members conduct open-source research, contribute to SRPI publications, engage with national security practitioners, and develop the analytical skills that careers in this field demand.
The Sentinel Research Society was founded as a student organization at the Institute of World Politics (IWP) in Washington, D.C. — the institution where SRPI itself was born. The IWP chapter is the first formally affiliated chapter in the SRPI network. We are actively building that network at universities across the country.
The Chapter Experience
What Chapters Do
Research and Publish
Chapter members conduct original open-source research and contribute to the Sentinel Journal and Sentinel Review — SRPI’s peer-reviewed and policy-analysis publications.
Engage and Connect
Chapters host speaker events, workshops, and study sessions — building direct connections between students and national security professionals, practitioners, and academics.
Advance Your Career
Chapter membership creates a pathway to SRPI internships, the Ambassador Program, and a professional network at the forefront of U.S. national security.
Membership
What You Get. What’s Expected.
What Your Chapter Gets
- Publication access — pathways to the Sentinel Journal and Sentinel Review
- SRPI branding kit — official chapter name, seal, and letterhead templates
- Research network — connections to SRPI’s practitioner and academic contributors
- Event invitations — SRPI symposia, conferences, and professional development
- Mentorship — direct engagement with SRPI leadership and subject matter experts
- Career pipeline — priority pathways to SRPI internships and the Ambassador Program
- Recognition — annual Chapter Excellence Award and spotlights on SRPI platforms
What’s Expected
- 3 founding officers — Chapter President, VP, and optional third officer
- Faculty or Staff Advisor confirmed within 90 days of charter
- 4 chapter meetings per academic year (2 per semester)
- 2 educational or research activities per year
- 1 research contribution to SRPI publications per year
- Semester Activity and Financial Reports submitted to SRPI HQ
- Annual dues: $150–$500 based on chapter type (50% first-year reduction available)
- All activities nonpartisan and open-source only
The Process
How to Start a Chapter
Recruit Your Team
Identify at least two other founding officers — a Chapter President and a Vice President. Three founding members minimum are required to apply.
Find a Faculty Advisor
Identify a faculty or staff member willing to serve as advisor. Required within 90 days of charter. Download our Faculty Advisor Briefing to share with prospective advisors.
Submit Your Application
Complete the Chapter Establishment Request Form below. Applications are reviewed by SRPI leadership within 14 business days.
Receive Your Charter
Approved chapters receive an official SRPI Charter Letter, Chapter Branding Kit, and Onboarding Packet to get started immediately.
Before You Apply
Chapter Resources
Everything you need to start and run your chapter — available to download before you apply.
Faculty Advisor Briefing
Share this with prospective faculty advisors. Explains the role, the time commitment, and how to confirm — no guesswork required.
DownloadChapter One-Pager
A single-page overview of chapter expectations and benefits. Useful for recruiting founding members or presenting to a faculty advisor.
DownloadResearch Submission Guidelines
How to submit to the Sentinel Journal and Sentinel Review — citation standards, word counts, and the full editorial process.
Download
Est. 2024
Where It Began
The Founding Chapter
The Sentinel Research Society was founded as a student organization at the Institute of World Politics (IWP) in Washington, D.C. — one of the nation’s premier graduate schools for national security, intelligence, and statecraft. SRPI grew directly out of that organization.
The IWP chapter remains the founding and flagship chapter of the SRPI network. We are proud to be building the next generation of Sentinel Research chapters at universities across the country, carrying forward the mission and rigor that IWP students established from the beginning.
Apply Now
Apply to Start a Chapter
Applications are reviewed by SRPI leadership within 14 business days. We recommend reviewing the Chapter One-Pager and Faculty Advisor Briefing before applying.
Questions? Contact us at directors@sentinelresearch.org
Questions About Starting a Chapter?
Reach out to SRPI leadership directly. We review chapter inquiries personally.