Organizations representing the University of Maryland and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University were officially recognized by unanimous vote of APSE’s executive committee, making them APSE’s first official student chapters.
The vote came Wednesday APSE’s executive committee meeting to kick off APSE’s annual summer conference at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Va.
“We are thrilled to see Maryland and Virginia Tech get us started with what we anticipate will be extremely high interest in student chapters at universities nationwide,” APSE President Tim Stephens said. “Several other universities have already taken steps to seek approval for 2014-15 and are in the formation stages of official applications.
“We look forward to helping these student organizations grow and in building bridges from our member newsrooms into the universities that are making strong commitments and contributions to sports journalism and to the students who are passionate about careers in the field."
Stephens envisions APSE working with student chapters to increase student participation in region and nation meetings and to bring APSE representation to campuses.
“APSE opened the door to students a few years ago but we recognized the need to bring a sense of structure to those efforts as well as to create an entry way for student members to have a voice in APSE,” Stephens said.
As his term as president ends, Stephens will chair a newly created Student Liaison Committee that will coordinate affairs surrounding APSE student chapters and student membership; coordinate APSE outreach with students and universities; field inquiries from prospective student members and student chapters; collaborate with region chairs on region activities at university campuses; coordinate student-produced and student-related content for the APSE website; direct student activities at APSE convention and represent student membership in APSE meetings.
Students, educators or administrators who wish to apply for a student chapter may do so through the APSE website here.
