IABC - Berkeley Chapter.

Founded in 1970, The International Association of Business Communicators provides a professional network of more than 13,000 business communication professionals in over 60 countries. The UC Berkeley Chapter serves as the interactive portal between the students and the international organization by providing effective guidance to the valuable resources of IABC.

Members explore a vast variety of industries and step into the professional world as they participate in events with working professionals, such as workshops, speaker panels, executive luncheons, office tours, and more. Involvement in IABC not only provides a library of resources and an early exposure to different professions, but it is also the gateway to a promising career in the world of communcations.

• IABC hosts professional networking seminars, career fairs, company tours, and an annual business conference for the development of all business and communications-oriented members.
• IABC hosts an annual case competition where teams must present a solution to a marketing or communications problem. Last year's case was a new advertising campaign for GAP.
• IABC consistently plans large-scale community service events, such as the annual fashion show, of which a fraction of the proceeds go to benefit charities such as the American Cancer Society.
• IABC officers and members with a vast range of knowledge and experience in areas, such as marketing, accounting, investment banking, consulting, and mass communications.
• IABC fosters the creation of networks of business-oriented students and experienced professionals.

Membership Information.

One of the best aspects of IABC is that anyone who has an interest in business – marketing, public relations, finance, accounting, mass communications or management – may join. Membership is not limited to any particular major or ethnicity.

Benefits of IABC Student Membership:

• Opportunity to explore career options in business communications
• Opportunity to interact with and learn from those now working in the field
• Member rates at local chapter and regional events
• Discounted student rate to attend IABC's international conference
• Access to the first and only MBA mentorship program on campus, IABC-Haas
• Member rates on IABC publications and textbooks
• Access to the Member Centre on www.iabc.com, including the Job Centre, CW Online, IABC's Online Library of the best practice case studies, the member database, and MemberSpeak, where you can get advice from other IABC members.
• Access to the members only section of Student Connection, IABC's student website. (www.iabc.com/student)
• Access to MyComm, IABC's online communication planning tool.
• Subscription to Communication World magazine to keep up on the current trends and issues affecting communication professionals

Apply for Membership.

Students can join IABC for $44.00 per year, plus chapter and regional dues where applicable.

Upon graduation, IABC student members qualify for one-half off the international membership dues and exemption from the application fee if they join IABC as a practitioner member within one year of their graduation date. Chapter and regional dues still apply. Applications for student membership must be received at least 60 days prior to graduation date. Please  turn in your application via e-mail to ucbiabc@gmail.com under the subject, "IABC Application."

Apply for a Committee Position.

Every semester IABC looks for students who are interested in working for the IABC Berkeley Chapter as committee members. Committees are essential parts of this student-run organization and we look for dedicated and talented individuals who show commitments and are willing to exert effort for our events. If interested, contact any of the board members at the beginning of the semester to receive more information on applying to be a committee member.

Student Trasition Rate.

Professionals who have graduated from a degree program from an accredited institution in the last year are eligible for the student transition rate. For student transition members, the regular application fee is waived, and the student pays half of the international dues plus full region and chapter dues. Members can only have one year as a student transition; they must then become professional members at the full professional rate.

To apply for student transition rates, please call our Service Centre at 1-800-776-4222 or +1 415-544-4700 or click here to download a transitional membership application. Applicants will need to fax proof of degree conferral after enrolling with the Service Centre, which can be one of the following:

• Dated letter from Registrar on letterhead of an accredited institution stating date of graduation and degree conferred
• Photocopy of diploma from accredited institution stating degree and date conferred
• Photocopy of transcript from accredited institution stating graduation date and degree conferred

This proof may be faxed to +1-415-544-4747 after phone enrollment.

Other proof may be considered. Please call our Service Centre at 1-800-776-4222 or +1 415-544-4700 to discuss any other forms of proof you'd like us to consider.


For more details, visit the following reference sites:

Benefits [www.iabc.com/student/stuBenefits.cfm]

Professional development [www.iabc.com/student/stuProDev.cfm]

Fact sheet [www.iabc.com/student/stuFactSheet.cfm]