Student Chapter Resources
Everything you need to know!
Whether you’re a current Student Chapter Officer or interested in becoming one; we’ve compiled information for whatever phase of the chapter journey you’re on (starting, revitalizing or maintaining your chapter). Please read through the information below and harness these resources to their fullest.Â
Why Get Involved?
- Bring the vision for your community to life.
- Gain leadership experience and advance your career.
- Give back to your community and profession.
- Gain exposure for yourself.
- Recognition from your peers.
Requirements
Student Chapters are required to have:
- AÂ minimum of five (5) IDSA Student Members at all times.
- An annual roster submitted to IDSA HQ each October.
- A chapter advisor who is an IDSA Professional Member and is on the school’s ID faculty.Â
- An elected Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary/Treasurer, and creates other positions as necessaryÂ
- A liaison to the geographically closest IDSA Professional ChapterÂ
Student Chapter Officers should be elected by their peers, other IDSA Student Members, at the school where the Chapter is based.
Chapter Officer Roles
- Required position
- Serves as the professional leader of the chapter
- Supports and guides Student Chapter Officers in their roles
- Provides IDSA headquarters with an annual roster of the Student Chapter Membership
- Required position
- Serves as student leader of the chapter, establishing and implementing its overall strategy
- Responsible for overall execution of chapter events
- Maintains ultimate responsibility for chapter finances
- Leads all meetings of the chapter Board
- Manages succession planning efforts, ensuring a pipeline of individuals ‘ready and able’ to lead the chapter into the future
- Required position
- Assists the Chair with all chapter functions
- Assumes the duties of the Chair in their absence
- Performs the duties of the Secretary / Treasurer in the absence of that position
- Required position
- Maintains chapter Board meeting minutes
- Maintains the chapter’s general and financial records; ensures integrity of fiscal affairs
- Works with IDSA HQ as needed
- Required position
- Coordinates with local Professional and/or Women in Design chapters
- Plans chapter events, coordinates logistics (food and beverage, etc.)
- Develops and maintains a list of volunteers and supporters that can assist with planning and execution
- Serves as the point of contact for event registration / sets up event registration sites (e.g., Eventbrite)
- Promotes all chapter activities via newsletters and social media
- Maintains credentials for all websites and social media platforms
- Works with IDSA HQ to update content on the chapter’s idsa.org webpage
Support Team
The members of this council serve in a number of ways and help advance IDSA’s efforts in celebrating the work of our academic communities. Primarily, they are the point of contact for the IDSA Student Merit Award (SMA) competition and Student Chapters in their respective districts. Each year, they serve on the jury teams responsible for reviewing work submitted by students to select SMA District Winners and Scholarship recipients. During their two-year term, District Education Representatives may also assist with organizing the annual Education Symposium. All District Education Representatives, collectively with three professional practitioners, form IDSA’s Education Council.
Chair
West District
Northeast District
Central District
Midwest District
South District
Professional Practitioner
Professional Practitioner
IDSA has a dedicated team of fill-time employees who support all programming and operations of the organization. This group of talented individuals is committed to ensuring the success of our membership and volunteer leaders.Â
Executive Director
Chief Operating Officer
Manager, Marketing & Communications
HR Manager & Staff Accountant
Manager, Conferences & Events
Senior Director of Customer Information Systems
Administrative Coordinator
Senior Manager, Member & Community Recognition
Events
An IDSA Student Chapter may be established at a college or university with an industrial design degree program at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels.Â
We encourage you to arrange for at least (1) event per semester/quarter.
Make sure that your chapter has a minimum of five (5) IDSA student members at all times.
Make sure that your chapter has a  chapter advisor who is an IDSA professional member and is on the school’s ID faculty.
Representation matters. Holding events where diverse attendees, speakers and organizers not only feel included in the programming but also see in the makeup of the event that they are included is what creates a connection and a reason to return. Review this important resource before planning a Chapter event.
This Code of Conduct applies to all IDSA Chapter events to include attendees, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, vendors and guests. It also pertains to all virtual platforms used during the event.
IDSA Chapter events provide a welcoming environment regardless of gender and expression, age, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, nationality or religion (or lack there of).
We do not tolerate harassment or inappropriate behavior in any form. Inappropriate behavior includes, but is not limited to:​
- Sexual language or imagery in talks or workshops (unless otherwise approved or is part of the session’s announced subject matter)
- Sexual language and imagery at parties or on social media
- Derogatory comments related to gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion or technology choices
- Deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, or harassing of attendees, speakers or organizers, whether through messaging, comments, images or recordings
- Sustained disruption of talks or other events
IDSA Branding
While unique from community to community, IDSA student chapters are a part of a broad, national effort to support, educate, and amplify the work of industrial designers and the ID profession. Therefore, maintaining the integrity of the IDSA brand is vital in ensuring a professional and consistent brand presentation which applies across multiple platforms in both digital and physical channels. IDSA has established logos and naming conventions for student chapter use and we must insist that these graphic marks be used in order to maintain a clean brand presence. Below are a few key factors to keep in mind. Questions? Contact Rachel Winter, Academic Program Manager.
- Download IDSA Brand Guidelines document here (via Dropbox)
- Download IDSA logos here (via Dropbox)
- The IDSA logo should always be displayed in a vertical orientation, with the ‘i’ at the top. Reference the logo on the top of this page.
The Digital Naming Convention is a standardized process that ensures that chapters maintain a unified voice across social media and all online platforms. The naming convention is designed to highlight both the national and local characteristics of each chapter. All chapters are required to use the naming convention for their preferred platforms (e.g., Eventbrite, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Vimeo, YouTube, email, etc.).
Please follow the confirmed Digital Naming Convention to develop all of your chapter’s online platforms. If the proposed naming convention for your chapter is unavailable, or if you are interested in using a platform that is not listed below (e.g., Pinterest, TikTok, etc.), please contact IDSA before opening your account.
Eventbrite | Chapter Name
​Example: IDSA Virginia Tech
Facebook | Chapter Name
Example: IDSA Virginia Tech
Gmail |  xxx.chapter [email protected] (all lowercase)
Example: [email protected]
Instagram | @xxx_chaptername (all lowercase)
Example: @idsa_virginiatech or @idsa_vt
LinkedIn | Chapter Name
Example: IDSA Virginia Tech
Twitter | @xxx_abbreviation (all lowercase)
Example: @idsa_vt Â
Vimeo | Chapter Name
Example: IDSA Virginia TechÂ
YouTube |Â Chapter Name
Example: IDSA Virginia Tech