Student Transition and Elevation Partnership (STEP)

IEEE recently introduced the Student Transition and Elevation Partnership (STEP), a program designed to facilitate the seamless transition from IEEE Student member to young professional by emphasizing the value of IEEE membership at the onset of a STEM career. Through STEP activities and IEEE’s educational and professional resources, we strive to inspire students to consider IEEE membership as an asset during the beginning stages of their careers.

STEP event funding is available to IEEE Sections and Young Professionals Affinity Groups. Each Section or Affinity Group is eligible for up to $500 in funding for a maximum of one STEP event per year. The proposed event must be attended by a minimum of ten IEEE Student members to be considered for funding. Additional funding may be considered for groups of 25 or more.

In order to apply for basic STEP funding, complete and submit the STEP funding application at least four weeks prior to your scheduled event. An IEEE volunteer from Membership and Geographic Activities will review your application and respond within two weeks. If the event is approved, organizers must send the following follow-up materials to IEEE upon the event’s completion:

• A detailed write-up of the STEP event (Microsoft Word);
• Attendance report with a minimum of ten graduating members, their names, IEEE member numbers, and e-mail addresses (Microsoft Excel);
• Photos and/or video clips from the event;
• Final summary of budget (actual versus forecast);
• Copies of all advertisements used to promote the event (e-mails, invitations, posters, flyers, etc).

All follow-up materials must be received within four weeks after the event in order to be eligible for funding. STEP organizers that fail to send their follow-up materials risk being flagged and may not be granted funding for future STEP events.

The IEEE Signal Processing Society encourages the use of STEP and other IEEE resources to enable Student members to network, learn, and build thriving local communities. To get involved with SPS Chapters and connect with signal processing professionals and students near you, find a Chapter near you.

For more information about STEP, please visit the program’s website or e-mail step@ieee.org.