New Dues Structure for 2008 - Student Opinion

[RTorres]

Someone in the thread was curious to see what students would think about
the fees issue. Well, if anybody is interested to know the opinion of one
student, here it goes.

1. No academic support = No new student members.

Plain and simple, student members join the STC because their teachers
encourage them. It is very, very, very rare that a student searches the
web, is referred by a friend/boss/coworker, or signs up out of his or her
own accord. As a technical writing student RIGHT NOW, I can tell you that
our teachers continuously encouraged us to join the STC, and if it weren't
for them, we wouldn't have joined. Period.

A professional may bring with them one or two extra colleagues, but in
terms of recruiting, a teacher can influence up to 20 or 30 students in
class. IMHO, a reduced academic fee should be considered as a reasonable
benefit to the STC's most active and influential recruiters.

2. The STC does not offers students enough bang for their buck.

I know comparisons are odious, but when students have to allocate their
precious little money, they shop around. If I'm allowed to be candid here,
the STC offers students comparatively few benefits for their buck. When I
looked at professional organizations to join, I considered at least a half
a dozen different ones, including the PWA, the STC, the IEEE, and the ACM.
Comparatively speaking, the STC offers fewer scholarships, fewer fringe
benefits (access to journals, periodicals, publications, research
resources, etc), fewer structured mentorship opportunities, fewer student
opportunities for participation, weaker school and local chapters, and
fewer "recognition" than other groups that students look to join in the
technology field.

3. Look around at the competition... We have a lot to learn.

I invite all members to peruse the membership structure of the Association
of Computing Machinery (ACM). I believe you'll find this is what a
comprehensive, flexible, affordable and appealing fee structure looks
like. Then, take a look at the benefits, opportunities, scholarships, and
extensive library they offer their members. Next year, I'd hate to have to
choose between this membership and the other, but if I have to choose
where my fees are going... take a guess at where they will end up.

http://www.acm.org/membership/dues

Raquel Torres
Montreal, Canada