2015 Young Professionals Survey Report Out

Survey Team: Kim Hicks, Ryan Rudy, Justin Kugler, Shawn Allgeier, Brian Pomeroy

Background and Objectives

• Background: The Young Professional Committee conducted a survey among AIAA’s Young Professional members to identify any key programming that could be offered to improve member services.

• Objectives: The objectives of the survey included, but were not limited to: Develop a demographic profile of Graduate Students and Young Professional members Determine the key benefits of membership for Graduate Students and Young Professional

members Measure interest and engagement in key AIAA activities designed for younger members Understand the efficacy of key communication tools for AIAA and its Young Professional

Committee Determine levels of interest in Graduate Students and Young Professional members in

mentoring programs

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Respondent Profile

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Respondent Profile

• Roughly 50/50 split between students and YPs Obtained many undergraduate student data due to errors in the survey

filters • 80/20 Male/Female split• Majority of Student members < 25 yrs old• Majority of YPs > 30 yrs old• For both YPs and students, majority < 5 yrs membership• Top 3 Work Classifications for YPs: Industry, Govt, Academia• Roughly even split between AIAA regions

R VI slightly more, R IV and R V slightly lower4

Member Benefits

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Member benefits (YPs and student responses)

• Most votes as Extremely Important: Networking Print and online technical publications AIAA Daily Launch Email

• Fewest votes as Extremely Important: Continuing education courses Local section programs Aerospace America Public policy participation

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Member benefits summary

• Networking and industry news were the most valuable perceived benefit derived from AIAA membership

• Daily launch was often cited as valuable source of news• Conferences were frequently described as too expensive,

as were conference proceedings Some YPs would attend more conferences or forums but

cannot due to costs not covered by their employer, or lack of support from their management (specifically middle management)

• AIAA’s offerings are too expensive for the perceived value of membership

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Member Engagement

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Student & YP Engagement At a Glance

• YPs are more likely than students to participate on technical and program committees, support publications and journals, and attend conferences, when asked More than 90% of both students and YPs have not been

involved with committees or policy advocacy at all

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Student Young Professional

76% 70%% Yes• Most believe there are

sufficient opportunities to participate when asked and when aware

Trends in Engagement

• YPs aren’t being reached by the local sections Only one-third of YPs report being welcomed by their

local section, as opposed to nearly half of students Most are not aware of local programs for YPs (42%) and

those that are only rate them at a moderate value• Less than one-quarter of all young members have

attended the Forums Only one-quarter of young Forum participants attended

RLA events, favoring networking opportunities (62% or better) over speakers (no greater than 30%)

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Themes for YP Engagement

• Several themes emerged from the commentary: Some YPs choose other engineering organizations that provide more

consistent access to networking events Programming should be interdisciplinary, intergenerational, and relevant to YP

interests in personal & professional development Conferences (including travel costs) are often prohibitively expensive, time-

consuming, and difficult to justify to employers, despite being the best growth opportunities

Local events are often seen as geared towards K-12 and college students or more senior professionals

• Key Takeaways: YPs want to build communities they can trust and give direct input to the direction of our industry in a time of deep uncertainty regarding the future of aerospace

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Member Communications

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Usefulness of Communication Tools

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Direct emails from AIAA on specific events

Young Professional website Young Professional Committee website

YP Newsletter YP Facebook group

88%

65%57% 56%

48%

90%

57%49%

65%

43%

Student Young Professional

Q: Please rate the usefulness of the communication mechanisms below using the following scale: (% answering Very/Somewhat Useful)

• Direct emails from AIAA on specific events are the most useful communication tool for everyone

YP Newsletter

• Over half of YPs read the YP Newsletter Graduate students have

only JUST begun to receive the YP newsletter and emails from the YPC

Of those who read the newsletter most are interested in the sections on career development, events and “in the news”.

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If you read the YP Newsletter, please rate your interest in the Newsletter sections using the following scale:

(%Very/Somewhat Interested)

Young Professional

Career Development 91%

Events 91%

In the News 89%

Media 75%

Introductory Note 69%

YP Corner 75%

Young Professional Member Profile 62%

YP Committee

• A Super majority of YPs and Students say that it appears that AIAA is concerned with young professionals needs.

• However, less than half think the YPC is effective in communicating benefits and services available to young professionals

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Student Young Professional

77% 80%% Yes

Student Young Professional

40% 47%

% Yes

Q: Do you think the Young Professional Committee (YPC) is effective in communicating the benefits and services available to Young Professionals?

Q: Does it appear that AIAA is concerned with Young Professionals’ needs?

Career Development and Mentoring

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Support Of AIAA Activities

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• Most student’s supervisors are members of AIAA (50%)

• Most YP’s supervisors are not members of AIAA (43%)

Yes No Not Sure

55%

12%

33%

52%

20%28%

Q: Does your immediate supervisor/department head support your AIAA membership/activities?

What types of support does your organization provide for your AIAA activities?

Student Young Professional

None 42%* 34%Paid travel expenses 37% 43%Paid Forum registration fees 29% 38%*Paid time at conference (didn’t have to use vacation/sick time) 24% 44%*Paid time to write papers for presentation at an AIAA Forum 21% 29%*Allowed you to use vacation/sick/flex time to attend conference 10% 20%*Paid time to attend AIAA Section or Region events 10% 7%

Mentoring Programs

18Within my local Section Within my organization/site Within my state (if International, within my

Country)Geography doesn’t matter

55%

42%

34%29%

54%

37%

29%

36%

Student Young Professional

• There is much interest among YP’s (75%) and Grad Students (83%) to participate in an AIAA Mentoring Program

• Most would like to pair with a mentor in their local section• Students prefer YPs as mentors (25-35 years old)

• Preference to SME’s, Mid/Entry-career, Professors, department heads• YP’s prefer mid to late career mentors

• Preference to SME’s, Senior Managers, Mid-career peers, and Executives

What YPs and Grad Students Want Out of Mentoring Programs

• Networking and greater industry connections• Career Opportunities

Career advancement and mapping • Career Guidance

Work/Life Balance guidance Career Advice Woman’s perspective/experience in aerospace

• Professional Advocacy• Visibility with Industry Leaders • Leadership Development

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Summary and Key Recommendations

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Summary and Key Recommendations

• Most important member benefits: Networking, technical publications, AIAA Daily Launch

• AIAA’s offerings are perceived as too expensive for the perceived value Especially with difficulties in getting middle management

support for funds, time off, and travel.• Sufficient opportunities for YPs to participate within AIAA

when aware and when asked• YPs aren’t being reached by local sections or by Forums

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Summary and Key Recommendations (Cont)

• Direct, personalized emails are best communications method

• AIAA is perceived as concerned with YP needs; the YPC has work to do to effectively communicate AIAA benefits and opportunities

• MUCH interest in an AIAA mentoring program Preference for local mentors

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BACK-UP

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Changes in the Young Professionals Committee

• Current Committee Membership = 27 Increase of 9 since last report

Currently working on restructuring YPC to align with results of YP Survey

Currently developing AIAA YP strategy

• Chair: Kim Hicks

• Deputy Chair: Tim Hinerman

• Acting Deputy Chair: Justin Kugler

• BoD Liaison: Ryan Rudy

• Has established presence on social media through Facebook

422 Members (and growing) - Up 31 members from last report!

Plan to establish presence on Twitter nextYPC BoD Liaison: Ryan

RudyActing Deputy Chair: Justin

Kugler

YPC Deputy Chair: Tim Hinerman

YPC Chair: Kim Hicks

Current YPC Liaison Positions

Corporate Member: Tim Hinerman

Public Policy: Justin Kugler

Technical Activities: Greg Johnston

YP Committee Vacancies to be filled: • Will establish a new Liaison Position with the Career & Professional Development Committee

• Looking for a new Liaison for this committee • Looking for a new Communications Subcommittee Chair• Looking for new Programs and Events Subcommittee Chair