Chapter 4; Membership

Attracting new members is an opportunity and challenge for most Student Branches.  Student membership has continued to grow in the U. S. and Canada at a steady, but not overwhelming rate.  While student membership in Europe, Middle East, Asia and the Pacific countries has grown dramatically over the past several years.  Student Branches have natural attrition, through graduation and to members letting their membership lapse and retention of Student members while in school and after graduation.  It is the responsibility of the Student Branch Membership Committee to distribute accurate information about the benefits associated with IEEE membership.  Take a moment to reflect on why you joined the IEEE and why you have remained a member.  Not surprisingly, the more active you are in the IEEE as a Student member, the more likely you are to remain an IEEE member throughout your career.  Over 53% of current members, joined IEEE as students.

 

Every prospective member should be informed about the basics associated with membership.  All Student members receive:

•           IEEE Spectrum, an award-winning publication.  With a monthly circulation of over 360,000, Spectrum is the world's most widely read electrical and electronics magazine.  It contains timely articles on the status of the profession, careers and education, appli­cations of state-of-the-art technology, and various historical and tutorial issues.  IEEE Spectrum online is also available to all members. 
•           IEEE POTENTIALS, a publication geared towards Student members. Six issues per year, this bi-monthly magazine covers career issues, technical topics, Student Branch activities, and subjects of gen­eral interest to Student members and young professionals.  For students in the U.S. and Canada, the print version of Potentials is included with dues.  All other students have an option to subscribe. All IEEE members have online access to this publication for technology’s innovators through IEEE Xplore. 
•           The Institute, a bi-monthly newsletter supplement to Spectrum.  This newsletter informs the IEEE membership about IEEE activities affecting its members and the profession.  Print and online for all members.

-         Access myEEE, the member portal at http://www.ieee.org/myieee. Find out about your subscriptions, member benefit updates and local Section and chapter updates

•           A substantial discount on IEEE Society publications.  Students can join the Computer Society, Communications Society, Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, or Power Engineering - any other of the 39 technical societies at approximately 50% off the normal member rate.  The principal advances in the various fields are reported in the technical periodicals of the IEEE Societies.  You should take note that some societies, e.g., the Power Engineering Society, offer students the chance to join their society at no cost for the first year.
•           IEEE email alias, web account and access to online publications and subscriptions.             All local Section newsletters, membership card, awards and scholarships.

 

You should also try to find ways to add value to their membership at the Student Branch level.  For every event you hold, there should be a member price and a non-member price.  This way, by participating in more events, students get more value for their money.  Through activities that your Branch hosts, students may have the chance to learn about professional development skills, make personal contacts with Section members in industry, and personally grow by actively participating.