PRSSA Membership Benefits

PRSSA provides opportunities for students to practice the skills they have learned in class in real-life situations.  Many public relations firms look for recent college graduates to have PRSSA membership on their resume because it indicates experience and their initiative to get involved.  Following are other ways PRSSA can work for you.

Networking
Membership in PRSSA gives you the opportunity to meet professionals in your field and create a network of contacts. These people can include members of your chapter, other chapter members within your region, PRSA members, and other professionals who support PRSSA.  When meeting these individuals, you have a chance to showcase your talents and make important contacts for future jobs or job recommendations.

Mentorship Program
USI's chapter has developed a mentorship program in which we pair members with public relations practitioners in the community.  Mentors meet with students regularly to give them career advice and help them network.  Although the program is only two years old, it has many success stories such as internships and job offers directly from involvement in the program.

Professional Development
Hands-on experience working with extracurricular activities such as ARK Crisis Nursery Toy Drive can give valuable experience in special event planning, media relations, writing, and design.  It is an excellent opportunity to develop items for your portfolio.

Academic Competition
PRSSA has competed for and won awards at USI.  PRSSA plans to compete for campus and national PRSSA awards during the 2001-2002 school year.

Scholarship Opportunities
Members can apply for national scholarships offered through PRSSA.

Professional Publications
By joining PRSSA, students can receive copies of professional publications such as Forum and Tactics.

Forum is PRSSA's national publication which provides tips on writing, job hunting, career planning, local and national PRSSA events, the professional development of members and other topics of concern to students.  Articles are written by PRSSA members, faculty advisors, and public relations professionals.  Forum is published three times a year by a PRSSA chapter chosen annually by the National Committee.

Tactics is PRSA's monthly newspaper that is mailed to chapters across the nation each month.  It brings you the latest ideas, trends and techniques in media relations, employee communications and dozens of other vital areas within the public relations discipline.

National and Regional Conferences
Members have the opportunity to travel to national or regional PRSSA conferences. Conferences allow students to meet hundreds of public relations students, listen to renown speakers, and run for national office.