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membership matters APPA Student Membership on the Rise By Santianna Stewart T oday's college student has access to so many resources and tools to help elevate them to the next state in life: the Real World— the world of work, responsibility, and independence. As an emerging professional myself, I have learned to seek opportunities and professional development resources to advance me into the career that I worked four years in undergrad (and went into debt) to achieve. Institutions such as Brigham Young University, Cornell University, Ferris State University, New York City College of Technology, Temple University, and others offer bachelor degree programs in the area of facilities management. Although facilities management is not viewed as prominently as other fields of study such as business administration or healthcare management, it is a vital profession that is growing and expanding each year. APPA is sensitive to this particular industry and has taken into great consideration the increased interest from students who want to learn more about the facilities management industry. To accommodate this growth in interest, APPA offers a student membership that is available to full-time students in degree-granting colleges and universities. Cost and Benefits of Student Membership APPA student membership is free. All that is required of the applicant is a completed student membership application and verification of enrollment. Acceptable forms of verification documentation include a copy of current class schedule, copy of a valid student identification card, or a letter of recommendation on school letterhead from a professor or campus administrator. Some of the benefits of student membership include (but are not limited to): • Virtual copies of Facilities Manager magazine • A subscription to APPA's e-newsletter, Inside APPA • Access to APPA's Career Center, which includes: oo Job Express oo Resume Bank oo Internship listings Also, students receive a discounted registration fee of $295 to attend the APPA Annual Conference and Trade Show, taking place in Minneapolis, MN August 1-4. How to Get the Best Use of a Student Membership APPA is always open to new ideas from its members on how to improve or restore existing programs and services. Fresh ideas and adapting to changing times is what this association supports and credits to its 99-year survival. APPA encourages graduating students to take advantage of Job Express, a valuable resource for job postings in campus facilities management. As a student member, you can also follow APPA on Twitter, drop us a line on our Facebook page, or network with other APPA professionals on LinkedIn. APPA also encourages students to start APPA student member chapters on their respective campuses. APPA currently has a minimal number of student chapters on record. However, with 111 total student members located across the United States and Canada, we strongly encourage increasing student chapter membership through student promotion and networking. Get Involved Today Make the choice today to take advantage of some of the most valuable resources to advance you scholastically and professionally. As a bonus, APPA student memberships have a three-year life extension for students to get the most from their involvement. From articles to professional development opportunities, involvement at the chapter level to networking, APPA has the necessary tools and resources to promote individuals from student to emerging professional in the facilities management field. Santianna Stewart is APPA's membership & outreach manager and can be reached at santianna@appa.org. Facilities Manager | july/august 2013 | 19