2022 saw the launch of the IEEE-HKN Chapter Support Fund established to create new and enhance existing resources, training, and programs to help every Chapter thrive. A strong Chapter, in turn, helps ensure that members have a fulfilling HKN experience throughout their entire careers. The two facets of this fund include the IEEE-HKN Student Chapter Support Grant program and a supplemental Chapter coaching initiative. Halfway through its second year, let’s see how things are going…
Ten grant proposals have already been approved this year (a 25% increase over 2022 with six months to go)! With these grant funds, Chapters from around the globe are enhancing academic support services in their departments, fostering a sense of Chapter community by celebrating inductions, and hosting tech talks and other community events! You can read about the Pittsburgh Inter-Chapter Event, partially funded by Chapter support grants, in the latest issue of The BRIDGE.
Helping Every University Chapter Thrive
The goal of the Chapter Support Program (coaching) is to help every University Chapter with things like reporting, officer transition, recruitment, and more. HKN Board members, volunteers, and staff continue to work with Chapters that initiated coaching relationships in 2022 and 2023, assist with the revitalization of dormant or inactive Chapters and support the installation of new University Chapters. We are able to provide Chapter materials, such as a gavel, table cloth, signature book, and more to dormant Chapters working to revive operations.
The progress being made thanks to this program is undeniable. Seventeen University Chapters that were inactive at the start of 2022 have successfully regained active status. Nearly half of those Chapters have initiated coaching relationships since the start of the Initiative. Five of the University Chapters that started off 2023 as inactive have been able to regain active status in the months since. Four of those five Chapters are in coaching.
We would like to give a special shout out to the Theta Chapter at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, who had their first coaching meeting in October 2022. In less than one year, Theta Chapter inducted nearly 30 new Chapter members, regained Active Status, and have already earned 2023 Key Chapter recognition! Congratulations to all those involved in this effort!
Please contact us if there is anything we can do to support your University Chapter!
About the Chapter Support Initiative
John McDonald, Beta Chapter, and his wife, Jo-Ann, made the first gift to this dedicated Fund that provided the mechanism to launch the program. Please join with them in the mission to give every student the chance to be part of a successful Chapter. You can make a contribution here by choosing the Student Chapter Support Fund from the dropdown menu. If you would like to hold a confidential discussion about your gift, please contact us.
