HOW TO:

                              CHAIR THE STUDENT ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE

                                                       DRAFT #1:  August 1995

NOTE:This draft prepared by ews from input that Paul Anderson sent to Jerry Bever.

1.         Introduction

            1.1       Committee selection

The Section Chair appoints the Chair of the Student Activities Committee.  The committee chair will form a Student Activities committee comprised of faculty members from as each college or university that offers water-related programs within the section.  Representation from the social, sanitary, and environmental sciences should also be encouraged.  Committee members should also include students and industry representatives.  A committee of 4 to 12 members is generally satisfactory. 

            1.2       Purpose of the Committee

Attract good students to the water supply field.

Assist in the professional development of students enrolled in water-related curricula.

Improve communications between industry and academia.

Encourage students to conduct researc on topics of interest to the water works profession.

Recognize the outstanding accomplishments of students.

2.         Committee Activities

            2.1       Committee Plan

The committee chair, with appropriate input from the committee members and guidance from the Officers and Board of Trustees, shall develop an annual plan of action.

            2.2       Committee Meetings

Committee meetings should be held as required.

            2.3       Recruiting Student Members

Each fall letters should be sent to key faculty members in water-related departments and colleges and universities within the Section.  These letters should highlight benefits of student membership, such as the committee-section activities listed below.

            2.4       Students Environmnental Research Symposium.

Each spring, the Section and the Great Lakes Section of the Air and Waste Management Association cosponsor a symposium where students in the section are encouraged to present their research.

            2.5       Section Meeting

Student activities at section meetings may include sponsoring a student forum or inviting students to participate in other session; hosting a student or student/employer luncheon or providing other opportunities for students to meet prospective employers; and reducing or eliminating the registration fee for students.

            2.6       Annual Conference and Exposition

The Section may provide support for students to attend the annual conference.

            2.7       Awards and Scholarships

Possibilities include: An award for the best student paper; an award for an outstanding student in the section; and scholarships for seniors attending graduate school or for operators returning to school.

            2.8       Job Placement

Students and employers could be brought together by circulating lists of available positions and job-seeking students or maintaining a job-placement bulletin board.

            2.9       Short Courses and Workshops

Students could be encouraged to attend section-sponsored short courses or workshops that are primarily intended for operators.

            2.10     Student Research Projects

The Section can encourage cooperative research projects between students and utilities.

3.         Student Activities Chair responsibilities

            3.1       Committee Activities

The committee chair will direct and coordinate the activities of the committee members. 

            3.2       Committee Budget

The committee chair shall make a committee budget request for the next calendar year to the Chair Elect not later than July.  Non-revenue committee activities must be accomplished within the Section budget allocation if possible.  Excursions beyond the budget allocation must be approved by the Section Board of Trustees.