Education, Student and New Investigator Affairs

The Education, Student and New Investigator Affairs Committee develops programming and makes recommendations to promote maximal participation of students and new investigators in EMS activities.

Vision/Mission Statement

The mission of the Education, Student and New Investigator Affairs committee is to actively promote participation of students and new investigators in EMS meetings, committees and other activities, as well as providing educational opportunities to enhance their careers.

Committee Composition

The committee should consist of 10–12 members including a chairperson, a student member, a new investigator, and other members from academia, government and industry.

EMS members can view a current Committee roster via EMS Connect.

Business Office Interaction

In conjunction with the President-elect coordinate the schedule for the Student/New Investigator poster session during the Welcome Reception held on Saturday evening during the Annual Meeting. Communicate plan for educational/presentation component of the Saturday event.

Communicate the Educator awardee presented by the Students/New Investigators 2 months prior to the Annual Meeting so the plaque can be ordered.

Charges

Chairperson(s) should serve on the Program Committee
Plan and be responsible for the annual student/new investigator reception(s). Contact students/new investigators attending the Annual Meeting, inviting them to the student/new investigator reception/breakfast(s). Coordinate other necessary aspects of these receptions with the program chair and the EMS Business Office.
Review the Society's activities during the past year with respect to students/new investigators. Make recommendations to Council on changes in activities or additional activities to encourage their more active participation in the society.
Develop approaches for increasing minority student/new investigator involvement in the Society.
Identify and encourage students and new investigators, especially student and new investigator travel and poster award winners, for active involvement in EMS committees.
Evaluate success of reception and breakfast programs for students and new investigators at the Annual Meeting to determine continuation of these activities going forward.
When applicable, select student/new investigator submissions to be presented at the student /new investigator reception and arrange for judging of student/new investigator posters during the regular poster sessions of the Annual Meeting. Evaluate posters to present a "best poster" award to one student and one new investigator annually. Decide on the runner(s) up in each category to give Honorable Mention. Announce winners in the post-meeting newsletter, and if possible at the conclusion of the meeting.
Develop recommendations for attracting students and new investigators to the Society. Consider specifically inviting new investigator scientists and graduate students to present their work and/or attend the Annual Meeting of the Society, for example, by adding text to the meeting announcement and call for papers that directly encourage students to participate.
In conjunction with the EMS business office, the Chair of the Public Relations and Communication Committee, the Program Chair, and the local planning coordinator prepare information and invite faculty, students and new investigators of the local area universities and colleges to participate in the Annual Meeting. Invite them for limited attendance with no/reduced registration fees.
In conjunction with the EMS business office, consider arrangements that will allow more students/new investigators to stay at the meeting site at affordable rates. These may include but are not limited to: roommate matching; limited numbers of reduced rate rooms; coordination with student/new investigator travel awards committee.
Investigate outside funding sources to support Student/New Investigator Achievement/poster awards independent of EMS funds.

Standard Operating Procedures

Prepare report for Council and Executive Board Meetings—two reports a year.
Submit requests for consideration in budget for following fiscal year in March
In conjunction with the Annual Meeting Program Chair, develop programs for the Welcome Reception and the Student Breakfast by March preceding the Annual Meeting. This timetable will make it possible to include descriptions in the Advertising Brochure and to promote the Programs within the membership and among potential attendees.
Prepare article for newsletter two times a year.

Current Year Initiatives

Actively involve the 2007–08 student and new investigator committee reps in seeking participation by students and new investigators for the Puerto Rico meeting.

Distribute the e-mail list from the 2007 student/new investigator breakfast to the reps, in order that they can personally contact previous year's participants to encourage pre-registration for 2008.

Obtain list of pre-registered students/new investigators from the EMS Business Office for similar personal contact immediately prior to the meeting. Engage the reps as "ambassadors" at the Puerto Rico meeting, encouraging them to network to increase attendance at the student reception and breakfast, and to self-organize into activity (e.g. beach, dinner) peer groups.

Work with the Mentoring Task Force, EMS Business Office and Program Chair to introduce the new Mentoring Program in the program announcements, on the web, in the newsletter and at an event immediately preceding the Saturday evening student/new investigator reception. Promote the new mentoring program actively during the meeting and provide a means (e.g. mentoring table, notice board) for mentoring contacts to be made during the meeting.