The Technology Student Association is a non-profit national student organization. TSA's mission is to inspire its student members to prepare for careers in a technology-driven economy and culture.

Involvement in TSA benefits teachers as well as students. Relating class activities to local, regional, state and national technology related competitive events can be highly motivational for students. The natural interaction between teachers and students can provide an excellent learning environment, while working toward goals.

TSA is the only student organization dedicated exclusively to students enrolled in technology education classes grades K-12. TSA is recognized by the U.S. Dept of Education, many state education agencies, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the International Technology Education Association and the National Coordinating Council of Career and Technical Student Organizations.

Who Are TSA’s Members?

TSA’s membership includes over 200,000 middle and high school students in 2,500 schools spanning 48 states.

TSA’s members:

• are students from different races and ethnic backgrounds, with different grade point averages and outlooks.
• have an interest in technology and a desire to be a part of a team with common goals.
• have taken, or are currently taking, a class in technology.

Why Start a TSA Chapter?

For most TSA advisors, TSA is not the only organization they are involved with. Many also coach, are class advisors, and work on other school activities. So why do they also advise a TSA chapter? Most would tell you that they do so because they feel TSA offers:

• leadership opportunities
• teamwork
• excellent competitions
• a sense of belonging to a group of deserving students.

Here is a sample of what many of them had to say about TSA in a recent survey.

“TSA gives the students an opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in a friendly, competitive atmosphere. TSA develops leadership and communication skills.”

“TSA is student friendly. Kids like it. It appeals to a variety of students.”

“TSA involves students who would otherwise receive little attention as an athlete, etc. The competitions also challenge students to think.”

“TSA gives students an opportunity to perform at a level above what they thought they were capable of.”

“TSA helps meek students turn into leaders.”

“TSA gives all kinds of kids’ positive goals to strive for and allows them to use technology in innovative ways. I am always amazed by how many of my TSA members go on to achieve incredible results in TSA, school, and life.”

“TSA provides students with experiences (ie. competition, collaboration with students from different schools, etc.) that they would not likely have without involvement in TSA.”

How Much Does It Cost?

TSA offers two ways to affiliate – individual membership and CAP (Chapter Affiliation Program) membership.

• Individual membership is best for small chapters or large chapters of dedicated students. Each member pays a national membership fee (plus applicable state and local dues) and receives a copy of all student mailings (sent to the advisor.
• Large chapters should consider the CAP program. This allows chapters to affiliate on a “flat fee” basis with an unlimited number of students. CAP membership is effective in chapters where students rotate through a technology education class for a portion of the year. CAP chapters pay a national membership fee (plus applicable state and local dues) and receive forty of all student mailings.

TSA operates under a unified dues policy, whereby members must affiliate and pay applicable dues at the local, state and national level.

When to Affiliate

As the 2007-2008 school year gets officially underway, TSA presents a new online membership affiliation system beginning in September at www.tsaweb.org under “What’s New” or “Join TSA”.

This year National TSA will be providing each chapter with a free competitive events guide and a free Chapter Program Kit (CD Rom). Middle school chapters will receive a middle school guide and high school chapters will receive a high school guide at no cost.

The guide will be shipped free directly to each chapter within 3 weeks of receiving payment for chapter dues (or a faxed purchase order), whereby their online membership affiliation will then be completed.

We encourage all chapters to register early. TSA accepts membership throughout the school year. However, priority membership is given to those chapters that affiliate by November 16th. Priority members will receive uninterrupted service, a gold seal membership certificate, a TSA Information Directory and a small token of appreciation (a TSA trinket). Only registered chapters will be able to participate at State Conference

How Much Time Does It Take?

There is no question that being an advisor for a TSA chapter (or any other student activity) takes time and commitment. How much time is a function of several variables:

• Co-curricular or extra-curricular. TSA is designed so that it can be a part of a technology classroom, or can be an after school activity.
• Program of work. This is the basis of chapter activities for the year. The program of work is designed to accommodate the amount of time the advisor and members are willing to devote to the endeavor. Considerations for the program of work include: competitions, fundraising if needed, service project, and social events.
• Organization. Organizing your technology program around TSA can actually save time. TSA is designed to be student run through elected officers – this is often a great classroom management tool.

Benefits of a TSA Chapter

As a recognized student organization, TSA offers you and your students the opportunity to be involved in local, state and national competitions, to participate in leadership training, and to network with students and advisors from other schools.

• Competitive Events: Your chapter may choose to work on TSA competitions just within your school or you can take TSA beyond your school building and compete with others around the state and/or country in technology competitions.
• Leadership Opportunities: Leadership training may be offered through the state TSA organization, and is offered annually through national TSA. Officers are elected at the local (chapter) level, the state level and the national level.
• Conferences: State and national conferences are an excellent way to expand your TSA experience. They provide a venue for exciting competitions as well as an opportunity to meet students and advisors from other schools with similar interests.
• School Scene: TSA’s newsletter is published four times a year and is available in print and on the TSA website.
• TSA Website: www.tsaweb.org - TSA maintains a website with up to date information on the organization, as well as links to resources and ideas on how to strengthen your chapter.

Competition List

To view the full list of TSA’s current competitive events and their descriptions go to :

• Current Competitive Events

Questions

Thanks for your interest in TSA. If you should have questions or need assistance in affiliating your chapter please contact Sandy Honour at shonour@tsaweb.org or toll free at 888/860-9010.