How to foster better relations with sponsored Student Chapters
The SPE Student Development Committee has developed the following list of initiatives and activities that SPE sections may undertake to bolster support for sponsored SPE student chapters. The following is a list of suggestions, not requirements. Utilize the ideas that work the best for your section.
- Create internship/recruiting campaigns
- Deliver presentations about SPE in general to all industry related university departments – make sure students know that SPE is not just for Petroleum Engineers
- Deliver technical presentations to chapter
- Host an electronic bulletin board for seeking/sharing technical advice between students and section members
- Provide student paper contest judges
- Recruit technical lecturers to supplement curricula/faculty
- Sponsor student events
- Contact students whose memberships status has changed to “graduate” and encourage them to maintain their membership – “graduate” members are indicated on section rosters
- Hold Section meetings at university
- Invite student chapter officers to attend section board meetings
- Invite students to participate in section community activities
- Invite students to volunteer at section events (audio visual, registration, etc.)
- Invite/sponsor students to attend section meetings/socials
- Provide electronic broadcast (teleconference/videoconference) or recordings of section meetings for students
- Provide university seniors and graduate students with opportunities to deliver presentations
- Provide administrative support; old laptops, printers, copiers, office space, etc.
- Arrange/sponsor a field trip for students
- Provide financial support in any form
- Arrange/sponsor joint monthly meetings with student members
- Provide section scholarships to students
- Sponsor student paper contests
- Sponsor student social activities
- Sponsor students to attend local technical training seminars
- Provide technical support to find better means of communication with potential sponsoring companies
- Section officers to visit chapter on a regular basis
- Young Professionals to deliver presentations about their career experiences at universities
- Young Professionals to help students with specific parts of their studies
- Appoint a Student Chapter Liaison position to the Section Board. This individual should not be a student.
Also, student chapters should assist the section. The relationship between chapters and their sponsoring sections should be mutual. Student chapter members should communicate with their sponsoring section, keeping them updated on chapter activities. Students should volunteer to help with section activities and attend section meetings when possible.
