Membership · Organisational
Group Student Membership
Lets an institution enrol two or more of its students as members together, giving them the association's resources, knowledge and networking as they begin their careers.
Career development, professional networking, real-world experience. The Group Student Membership (GSM) programme makes it easy for an institution to enrol its students as IARSA members. With this programme, students receive all the benefits of membership in the association, including knowledge, resources and networking opportunities that can help them get started in their careers.
When an institution purchases a group of memberships, one complimentary membership for a faculty member or adviser is included as well, with the same benefits as the students.
The association encourages the formation of student groups at colleges and universities, as a way of encouraging students to take the first step in demonstrating a commitment to their professional interest and of helping them understand research and real-life experience. The goal of the student groups is to involve students in research projects, create a community of their own, and help them build research leadership skills that will be valuable as they move into the professional world.
A student group at a high school or university automatically becomes affiliated with the chapter nearest to it. The faculty adviser is an asset of the chapter, helping to involve students in the association and in programming for their own interests, distributing materials and keeping student records current. Student groups should, as much as possible, programme their own events, which trains future chapter officers and instils a sense of responsibility towards the organisation.
Eligibility
- A minimum of two students enrolled together
- Students currently enrolled in a degree-seeking programme, earning credit hours toward a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree
- Proof of enrolment submitted with the application: a copy of the class schedule, or a university transcript. Only one form of verification is needed
- First-time members only. Anyone who is, or was previously, a member at any level other than student is not eligible at this rate
- Membership at the student level is limited to six years in total
Benefits
- Full membership benefits for every enrolled student, and one complimentary membership for a faculty member or adviser with each group purchased
- Access to potential internships and employers
- The association's networking events and conferences at the discounted member rate
- Access to the IARSA young professional group and other IARSA committees
- Digital access to the association's Research News magazine
- The association's journals, IJRSA and IJSRITD, published twice a year
- A network of business contacts across more than 18 countries, extended further by the association's conferences
- Opportunities to learn about business cultures, priorities and practices from around the world
- The Student Connections Newsletter, published during term, with news of the annual IARSA International Conference, competitions, awards and the local chapter
- Mentoring by experienced researchers and professionals, and valuable relationships that can last a lifetime
How to apply
- Each student group must have a faculty adviser, who submits a formal student group agreement to activate the group.
- The faculty adviser is the liaison between the students and IARSA, and is responsible for the formation and maintenance of the group: keeping a current roster of its members, encouraging students to keep their contact details up to date, and accounting for programming funds collected and spent.
- A new agreement must be submitted each year to confirm that the group will continue and to renew the faculty adviser's complimentary membership. A group whose agreement is not submitted is deactivated.
Terms & fees
- In return for the work of starting and running the group, the faculty adviser receives a complimentary membership at the Supporter level.
- The association recognises one, and only one, faculty adviser per campus. Other faculty members are encouraged to join at the Supporter level and select "educator" as their primary attribute.
- IARSA chapters are reimbursed a portion of the dues paid by each of their members, whether or not the member is part of a student group, and are encouraged to make a portion of those reimbursements available to student groups in their area.
- Group Student dues are set by the number of renewing members in the group and by country; see the fees page.