IEEE Young Professional’s (YP)

• IEEE understands the needs of recent graduates and young professionals. The idea of establishing the missing bridge to facilitate students to become world-class professionals was first mooted in Section Congress 1996. As a result, Graduate Of the Last Decade (GOLD) affinity groups were launched in various Sections as a pilot project to evaluate its feasibility. The feedback was positive and since then, more Sections started their own YP affinity groups to meet the needs of the target audience, which comprises graduates from within 10 years of their first professional degree.
• What is YP?
  • YP = Young Professional
  • Affinity group that hosts social functions and teams up with technical societies to host events
• What is the purpose of YP?
  • YP’s mission and objective is to assist young professionals to transition from a student to a professional. IEEE members who are YP members also retain a YP member status for 10 years after graduation.

YP Awards and Recognition

* Hall of Fame Award

• The Hall of Fame Award is given annually to three outstanding affinity groups worldwide
•  It recognizes the outstanding achievements that Inspire and Engage Young Professionals

* Certificate of Appreciation

• Expresses appreciation for exceptional services performed by individuals
• Is awarded to any program, society, or activity

R2 Young Professionals Regional Representative

Tory Welsch
Email: twelsch@udel.edu

How to Form a YP Affinity Group

• Recruit six IEEE members willing to be part of the founding Affinity Group;
• Select someone to be responsible for the Affinity Group until the first meeting is held and the Officers are formally appointed;
• Obtain approval from your Section or Student Branch Executive Committee approval (an Affinity Group depends administratively and financially on the Section);
• View the IEEE Geographic Unit Formation Policies and Petitions page for forms and information (Here)