Asee Student Chapters: Lessons Learned From The First Five Years

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to document the successes and struggles of the first ASEE student chapter during its first five years. The first student chapter of ASEE was formed at Purdue University in the spring of 1993. The primary function of the student chapter has been to provide seminar series for both the undergraduate and graduate engineering student populations. Implementation of these programs has required an engineering-wide organizational structure of graduate students. This paper documents the successes and struggles of the Purdue chapter of ASEE, highlighting issues such as chapter organization, communication structure, program funding, graduate and undergraduate seminar series, and a newsletter over the first five years. This retrospective of the first five years offers both the perspectives of participating graduate students and the faculty advisor. The three most important lessons learned are 1) delegate responsibilities broadly, 2) develop effective communication protocols, and 3) seek startup funds. For students and faculty interested in starting a new chapter, it is recommended to start small, find a committed core of interested graduate students and a faculty advisor, and solicit initial startup funds from your school or college.