Be sure to read the other information on membership here before applying for membership!

Who can become a member of UCGIS?

UCGIS has two membership categories – Regular and Affiliate.

Colleges and universities, national laboratories, professional societies, and other non-profit organizations from the United States are eligible to become Regular Members.  Several smaller campuses may join together into a single, multi-campus regular membership. It offers a means for smaller campuses to join together to reach a critical mass of resources to qualify for membership.

Affiliate members are organizations that do not qualify for regular membership (see specific application criteria below), but are actively involved in education, research, or service related to geographic information science.

Corporate affiliate members come from for-profit organizations.

International Affiliate members come from colleges, universities, nonprofit research organizations, and government-funded research centers from other nations.

Government Affiliate members have a separate line item in the Federal Budget.

What does UCGIS look for in a membership application?

Besides the support of the senior administration in an institution/organization, the criteria used by the membership committee and UCGIS delegates in reviewing membership applications follow the mission of UCGIS. The mission is to serve as an effective voice for the geographic information science community by fostering multidisciplinary research in education in geographic information science, promoting the informed and responsible use of geographic information systems and geographic analysis for the benefit of society, and providing leadership on the aforementioned at state and/or national levels. The following is a list of some of the criteria used to judge the appropriateness of membership applications to UCGIS:

•     Is there a broad range of departments, centers, and other on-campus organizations involved in GIScience activities?
•     Is there a breadth and depth of GIScience course offerings in several different departments?
•     Do the delegates and alternates come from more than one department?
•     Is there a breadth and depth of GIScience research activities in several different departments and/or collaboration between departments either on campus or off?
•     What mechanisms are employed to discuss issues, coordinate activities, and to promote multidisciplinary connections?
•     What teaching / research laboratories exist, or are funded but not yet in place?
•     What types of and quantities of computers, output devices, software are there on campus.
•     What are the library holdings with regard to GIS and GIScience literature?
•     What evidence is there for affiliations with governmental and private GIS organizations in the state/region – and how does the institution serve those organizations?

What is the difference between a Regular membership and an Affiliate membership?

Regular members are welcome to the full rights of membership, including member discounts at the summer assembly, voting, and holding office (through their delegates).  Affiliate members can neither vote nor hold office, but are allowed full participation in UCGIS activities.

Can an individual become a member of UCGIS?

Individuals cannot become members of UCGIS.  However, if your institution is a UCGIS member, you are eligible to participate in UCGIS activities. Only delegates may vote in council meetings and hold office.

What steps does my institution need to take to become a member of UCGIS?

Obtain support from your institution’s senior administration (president, provost, or comparable administrator).  This requires that the official accept responsibility for financial support of UCGIS membership.

Prepare a web portfolio that contains information on Research and Related Activities, Teaching and Curriculum, Facilities, Multidisciplinary Connections, and Staff for your institution  (An application template is available at http://www.ucgis.org/Membership/applicationtemplate.htm.

Contact the UCGIS Executive Director or UCGIS Membership chair with any questions you may have about your application.

Submit your application to the UCGIS Executive Director by April 30th or December 15th. 

The application needs to include:

1. A formal letter of application from the president, provost, or comparable administrator recognizing the institution's financial obligation to the UCGIS.
2. The names and email addresses of two delegates plus any alternates (designating lead and 2nd delegate).
3. The URL of the web portfolio that describes how your institution will fulfill/contribute to the mission statement of the UCGIS.

What should I list under facilities?

Facilities can include labs, library holdings, teaching rooms, software and other infrastructure support.

What’s the importance of the UCGIS web portfolio?

The portfolio, with the five components covers many bases.

1. It’s the core of our application for membership.  The only other thing that you need is a letter from your administration.
2. Its an ongoing component of the UCGIS website – and is the outer face of the organization.
3. Members can use it to attract students and on-campus activities.  For example, a GIS course guide can lead students to the proper courses without their searching all over campus.

Where can I view other institutions’ web portfolios?

Please go to the Members page of the UCGIS web site - http://www.ucgis.org/Membership/members.asp.  Some very good pages include:

• University of Arizona
• George Mason University
• Oregon State University
• University of South Carolina
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

What happens after I have submitted my institution’s application for UCGIS membership?

• The UCGIS Executive Director notifies the Membership chair of the URL for the web portfolio.
• The Membership chair then circulates the URL to the members of the membership committee who view the web site and determine whether the applicant has the critical mass of resources to make a significant contribution to the mission of the UCGIS.
• The membership committee may make suggestions or request corrections on the web page.
• Fifteen to thirty days before the scheduled UCGIS meeting held in February or early summer, the membership chair then advertises the URL to the UCGIS delegates for their review.
• The UCGIS council votes on membership applications at at its Summer Retreat and at the Winter Meeting, normally held in Washington, DC. The vote is usually conducted at the beginning of the Council meeting.
• Membership becomes effective immediately after a vote to accept.
• New members may participate fully in the rest of the council meeting.

What are the costs of UCGIS membership?

As of January 1, 2006, annual dues are $2000, billable each year and payable on receipt of an invoice.
New members (regular and affiliate) must pay an Initiation Fee.
The fee for those accepted into membership in the Winter is $4000, which includes dues for the first year.
The fee for those joining at the summer meeting is $5000 and covers dues for 1.5 years.

Government affiliates are billed separately.

Activity fees are required for various events, such as the Summer Assembly. A lower fee will be charged for regular members and affiliates. Government affiliates will pay the external rate. Changes in dues and fees will be specified at http://www.ucgis.org/Membership/membershipfees.htm