EXPANDING THE HORIZONS OF UNIVERSITY STUDENT INTERACTION IN THE AEROSPACE COMMUNITY

摘要

The Waterloo Space Society (WSS) was formed in the fall of 2001. It has grown significantly to become one of the largest and most successful student space societies in Canada. It is unique in its diversity of members, broad range of activities, national influence, and industry and academic relations. This paper will outline an effective strategy to unite all undergraduate students on a single campus who share a common interest in aerospace. As past presidents and vice presidents of WSS, we communicate the strategies that were employed. The three most critical areas of approach have been recruitment, networking, and activities. This strategy was successful for WSS for many reasons. The key reasons are year-round operations, member diversity, and frequent activities. The diverse membership provides an innovative atmosphere and keeps interest levels high. Frequent activities, including executive meetings, not only ensure that tasks are completed, but also maintain high levels of motivation and communication. The Waterloo Space Society recommends that other campuses worldwide use this strategy as a model, as it has successfully demonstrated outstanding executive management, the ability to attract large numbers of students and the opportunity to contribute to the aerospace community.