Wondering whether getting involved in a student chapter is a good idea? Here’s a retrospective by two former SJSU students who were involved in the SJSU ASIS&T Student Chapter.
Lourdes (former ASIS&T Student Chapter Vice Chair)
I was very fortunate to be selected for two student chapters concurrently: ASIS&T and ALASC. Serving as Co-Chair for both helped me to get a sense of how student associations operate and what are the success factors that contribute to a thriving organization. There are lots of opportunities to network locally or virtually! There are monthly business meetings, group decisions to make, and creative programs and events to produce to provide our members with a positive experience.
The process of serving as an officer for a student chapter is easy. First, you must make sure you join the parent association of your choice. Then you go to the “Groups” section on Canvas and add yourself to the student chapter of your choice: e.g. ALASC, or SAA student chapter group. I wished I was aware of this before! Getting involved in student chapters has many benefits. You get to know closely your peers and learn the many interesting activities that are happening within the LIS community locally, and at a national level through the parent association.
Serving as an officer for student chapters is invaluable for your future career goals. You can transfer your experience to serve in professional associations such as ALA, SAA, or the one that fits your professional interests. For example, having participated in both student chapters at SJSU has opened the door to a fantastic opportunity to serve at the Society of American Archivists (SAA). I was able to join the SNAP section (Students New to the Archives Profession) and after graduation, I nominated myself and was elected as an ex-officio member of the steering committee. I am currently serving as the student chapter coordinator with another peer and I am thrilled to help new members navigate the SAA’s sections to get the most of their membership. This is another stepping stone in my career as I intend to get involved in other steering committees.
Channon (former ASIS&T Student Chapter Webmaster)
I am grateful for the opportunities I have gained with the ASIS&T Student Chapter, First Generation Students Group, and SLA Student Chapter. Serving as the Webmaster allowed me to work with exceptional colleagues, and I was able to develop and enhance my skill set. Along with these aspects, I learned more about myself in terms of strengths and what potential opportunities I would like to pursue in the future.
As for getting involved, I would suggest having a look at what student groups are available and browse through their site and social media. I also would recommend taking advantage of the complimentary student membership that is available for those that are enrolled in INFO 200. Most, if not all, of the student groups hold elections or have open positions throughout the semester. The process for nomination and getting involved with a particular student group varies but I highly recommend taking on a leadership position because there are numerous benefits.
Regardless of the student group you decided to join, there are networking opportunities that could prove beneficial to your career. You will have the opportunity to make connections and build relationships with colleagues and other professionals in the LIS field. Moreover, getting involved provides several learning experiences; for instance, I was able to work on the ASIS&T Student Chapter website and I learned how to further manage WordPress and other content management systems. If you are looking to learn something new or hone a specific skill, getting involved in a student group provides those learning opportunities.