Welcome to your Go-To Resource Hub for

IEEE Women in Engineering Affinity Groups!

Whether you’re a passionate advocate looking to start a new Professional Affinity or Student Branch Affinity Group, a newly appointed officer stepping into your role, or a seasoned volunteer seeking a centralized guide for managing your group, this page is designed with you in mind. Here, you’ll find a comprehensive collection of tools, guides, and support materials to help your affinity group thrive, no matter its stage of development.

WIE Affinity Group How-Tos

  • Connect Locally: Build a strong network with peers and professionals in your area who share your passion for women in engineering.
  • Community Engagement: Inspire future engineers by organizing outreach activities in schools and local communities.
  • Increased Visibility and Impact: Elevate the presence of women in engineering within IEEE and the broader STEM community.
  • Mentorship Opportunities: Foster meaningful connections between students, early-career professionals, and experienced engineers through mentorship programs.
  • Collaboration Across IEEE: Partner with other IEEE societies, technical chapters, or regional groups to co-host events and expand your reach.
  • Recognition and Awards: Become eligible for IEEE WIE Affinity Group awards that celebrate outstanding contributions and achievements.
  • Free IEEE Web Hosting: Launch and maintain your group’s website at no cost through IEEE’s hosting services.
  • Event Funding Opportunities: Apply for financial support for your group’s events and initiatives. (Requests must be submitted and approved by the IEEE WIE Committee.)
  • Promote Your Activities: Share your group’s news and upcoming events in the IEEE WIE Newsletter. (Send submissions to wie-newsletter@ieee.org.)
  • Access Free Promotional Materials: Receive complimentary IEEE WIE-branded items to support your events. (Available while supplies last.)
  • Leadership Development: Gain hands-on experience in organizing, managing, and leading initiatives—skills that benefit both academic and professional growth.

Before forming a WIE Professional Affinity Group or WIE Student Branch Affinity Group, it’s important to first check whether a group already exists in the section or university you’re interested in. You can do this by visiting the pages linked below, which list all current WIE groups.

If no group exists in your area, you’re welcome to proceed with forming a new one.

To start a new WIE Professional Affinity Group or Student Branch Affinity Group, you’ll need to submit an IEEE Geographic Unit Petition through the designated portal, which you can access here. Please note that the requirements differ depending on the type of group. Refer to the chart at the bottom of this page for a detailed comparison.

Recruiting volunteers starts with clearly defining the role you need to fill.

Before reaching out, make sure you have a well-written role description that outlines the responsibilities and the estimated time commitment. This helps potential volunteers understand exactly what’s expected and decide if the role is a good fit for them. Providing written instructions not only supports recruitment but also improves retention. Without clear guidance, individuals may hesitate to volunteer or they may accept a role without fully understanding it, leading to confusion or disengagement later on. Once your role description is in place, you can begin identifying and approaching individuals who are well-suited to the role.

When you’re ready to begin recruiting volunteers, there are several effective strategies you can use.

  • One of the most powerful tools available is the IEEE Volunteering Portal—an exclusive platform for IEEE members that hosts a global directory of volunteer opportunities across the organization. Here, you can post detailed descriptions of the roles you’re looking to fill, including responsibilities and time commitments, and receive expressions of interest from qualified members who are actively seeking ways to get involved.
  • In addition to the portal, you can also connect with potential volunteers through the IEEE Collabratec® Member Directory, which allows you to search for members based on location, technical interests, and professional background. This is a great way to identify individuals who may be a strong fit for your group’s needs.
  • Of course, don’t overlook the value of your existing network. Reaching out to colleagues, peers, and past collaborators can be one of the most effective ways to find committed and enthusiastic volunteers.

By combining these approaches, you’ll be well-positioned to build a strong, engaged team that supports the success of your WIE Affinity Group.

In order to maintain viability and to ensure that all Geographic Units are meeting the needs of their members, each WIE Professional Affinity Group is required by the Member and Geographic Activities (MGA) Board to submit annual reports of the following:

  • Meeting Reporting – reported using vTools Events.
    • Deadline: 15th of March, of each year.
  • New Officers and Officer Changes – reported using vTools Officer Reporting.
    • Deadline: 15th of March, of each year.
  • Financial Reporting – reported using IEEE NextGen.
    • Deadline: 28th of February, of each year.

For a more detailed summary of IEEE Geographic Unit Required Reporting & Rebates, refer here.

Student Branch Affinity Groups should follow the reporting procedures required by their Student Branch Chapter.

All WIE Professional Affinity Groups and Student Branch Affinity Groups are required to report their meetings and events.

For WIE Professional Affinity Groups, receiving the annual rebate is contingent upon submitting an Annual Meeting Report (along with a financial and officer report) that includes at least two group-interest meetings per year. WIE Professional Affinity Groups that fail to meet the required meeting criteria for three consecutive years – with annual notices of delinquency – will result in the automatic dissolution of the group.

Student Branch Affinity Groups should report their events in vTools to maintain a record of their activity and vitality, and to enhance visibility and promotion of their initiatives.

This makes timely and accurate meeting and event reporting essential for both WIE Professional Affinity Group and Student Branch Affinity Groups. Meeting and event reporting is managed through IEEE vTools and involves a two-step process:

  1. Scheduling the meeting/event in vTools Events.
  2. Reporting the meeting/event afterward in vTools Events, including the number of members and guests who attended.

Scheduled events are automatically displayed on the WIE Affinity Group Events page, in IEEE Collabratec™, and the IEEE Event Finder mobile app (available for iOS and Android), increasing visibility and engagement.

  • To schedule an event in vTools, refer to this tutorial.
  • To file a report for an event in vTools, refer to this tutorial.
  • To file a report for an event not already in vTools, refer to this tutorial.
  • For a complete repository of vTools Event tutorials, refer here.

In addition to promoting your event through social media, you can use vTools eNotice, an electronic mail subscription service that has been developed for IEEE organizational units to facilitate email distribution of newsletters, meeting notices, and other IEEE announcements.

  • To send an eNotice from an event, refer to this tutorial.
  • For a complete repository of vTools Enotice tutorials, refer here.

All WIE Professional Affinity Groups and Student Branch Affinity Groups are required to report their officers.

For WIE Professional Affinity Groups, receiving the annual rebate is contingent upon submitting an Officer Report (along with an activity and financial report).

Student Branch Affinity Groups should report their officers in vTools to ensure an accurate record of their volunteer leadership is maintained.

This makes officer reporting essential for both Professional WIE Affinity Group and Student Branch Affinity Groups. Officer reporting is managed through IEEE vTools.

  • To add or edit an officer, refer to this tutorial.
  • For a complete repository of vTools Officer Reporting tutorials, refer here.

If you need assistance with reporting officers, please email vtools-officer-report@ieee.org.

Become a WIE Newsletter contributor by submitting articles, profiles, videos, and images of your event. Visit the IEEE WIE exchange page Call for Contributions to learn more and submit content.

WIE Affinity Groups have access to two types of funding opportunities

Initial Funding: Newly formed WIE Professional Affinity and Student Branch Affinity Groups – defined as those established in the current or previous calendar year – are eligible to request up to $200 in initial funding. This funding is available only once, therefore groups that have not previously received it may apply. Requests must be submitted by one of the group’s officers. For more details and to apply, click here.

Special Funding: Established WIE Professional Affinity and Student Branch Affinity Groups may apply for up to US $400 in special funding to support unique projects or initiatives. This opportunity is open to all groups, regardless of when they were formed, but groups that have received special funding must wait at least 12 months before applying again. As with initial funding, the request must be submitted by a group officer. For more details and to apply, click here.

WIE promotional items are available to support Affinity Group events and activities, helping to increase visibility for IEEE Women in Engineering. To ensure timely delivery, please submit your request at least three (3) weeks prior to your event. Quantities are limited, and items are intended to supplement your primary source of promotional materials. Each Affinity Group is permitted one request per calendar year, and the request must be submitted by a group officer. To request WIE promotional materials, click here.

WIE Affinity Groups are encouraged to establish their own websites. Website hosting and templates are available to Professional Affinity Groups and Student Branches through the IEEE Entity Web Hosting Program.

A free IEEE email alias is available for WIE Affinity Groups. A functional alias is defined as a non-personal IEEE email alias that forwards to an individual. For example, scanner@ieee.org would forward messages to j.smith@yahoo.com or sb.mit@ieee.org, an MIT Student Branch alias which forwards to the Student Branch counselor. To submit an alias request, click here.

The mission of the IEEE Women in Engineering Distinguished Lecturers Program (virtual) is to help enhance the professional knowledge and vitality of IEEE Women in Engineering members by apprising them of the latest industry trends, research results, and their practical applications. The Distinguished Lecturers Program highlights IEEE WIE’s partnership with the Societies/Council Program.

This program will allow IEEE WIE Affinity Groups to virtually invite the lecturers to speak at their events. IEEE WIE hopes that the wealth of knowledge these distinguished lecturers possess will help enrich WIE Affinity Group events and strengthen IEEE WIE’s endeavor to provide support to its members.

To request a Virtual Distinguished Lecturer, visit our directory here. Once you’ve found a lecturer you’d like to invite, click “Request Lecturers” to fill out a form. This will automatically send your request via email.

The IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) Affinity Group of the Year Award is given annually to one IEEE WIE Professional Affinity Group that has shown outstanding leadership and initiative in organizing activities. The award is based on programs that took place during the period of 1 January to 31 December of the preceding year.

The IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) Student Branch Affinity Group of the Year Award is given annually to one IEEE WIE Student Branch Affinity Group that has shown outstanding leadership and initiative in organizing activities. The award is based on programs that took place during the period of 1 January to 31 December of the preceding year.

  • To apply for the IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) Affinity Group of the Year Award, click here.
  • To apply IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) Student Branch Affinity Group of the Year Award, click here.

Please note: The awards nomination window is open annually from January through March. Once the window closes, nominations will not be accepted until the next cycle begins.

The Spotlight on WIE Affinity Groups Workspace is designed to serve as a dedicated space for conversations about the activities, events, and updates across all WIE groups. We highly encourage you to utilize its networking capabilities throughout your Affinity Group’s lifetime. Click here to join.

The IEEE WIE Global Network is an online platform that allows women engineers, scientists, and educators worldwide to network, connect, and collaborate with individuals from various technical backgrounds. Click here to join.

Let the rest of our global network know you’re here by joining these online communities and introducing yourselves!

Petition Requirements

WIE Professional Affinity Group WIE Student Branch Affinity Group
Organizers
  • The Organizer (and Co-Organizer, if applicable) must be an active IEEE member of Graduate Student Member grade or higher for a minimum of 6 months
  • The Organizer shall serve as the interim Affinity Group Chair pending election at a later date

Note: For Joint Section Affinity Groups, there must be one Organizer/Co-Organizer from each contiguous section involved.
  • The Organizer must be an active IEEE member of Student or Graduate Student Member grade and attend the school
  • The Organizer shall serve as the interim Student Branch Affinity Group Chair pending election at a later date
Endorsers Affinity Group petitions must be endorsed by the following:

  • Section Chair

Joint Sections Affinity Group petitions must be endorsed by the following:

  • Section Chair for each Section involved

Note: If the Organizer does not report to a Section, the petition will be endorsed by the Region Director.

Endorsers will be invited to endorse the petition once the petition has been verified by IEEE Staff.

 Student Branch Affinity Group petitions must be endorsed by the following:

  • Student Branch Affinity Group Advisor, who must be an active IEEE member of Graduate Student Member grade or higher and a Faculty Member of the school, teaching in the IEEE designated fields of interest

Endorsers will be invited to endorse the petition once the petition has been verified by IEEE Staff.
Petitioners Affinity Group petitions must be signed by the following:

  • 6 active IEEE members of Graduate Student Member grade or higher, who are members of the Section(s) involved for a minimum of 6 months
  • 3 of the 6 required Petitioners must be active members of Women in Engineering, if applicable.

Qualified members will be invited to sign the petition once the petition has been endorsed by all Endorsers.

 Student Branch Affinity Group petitions must be signed by the following:

  • 6 active IEEE members of Student or Graduate Student Member grade who attend the school
  • The Petitioners must be active members of Women in Engineering

Qualified members will be invited to sign the petition once the petition has been endorsed by all Endorsers.
Approvers Affinity Group petitions must be approved by the following:

  • Region Director (or their designee)
  • Chair of each Sponsoring Entity involved

Approvers will be invited to approve the petition once the petition has been signed by 6 Petitioners.

 Student Branch Affinity Group petitions must be approved by the following:

  • Region Director (or their designee)
  • Regional Student Activities Chair
  • Chair of the Sponsoring Entity (or their designee)

Approvers will be invited to approve the petition once the petition has been signed by 6 Petitioners.

Affinity Group Officers

Officers of the Affinity Group shall include at least a Chair, a Vice Chair, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The Affinity Group may combine the offices of Secretary and Treasurer. Each member of the Affinity Group Committee shall be an IEEE member of Graduate Student Member, Member, Senior Member, or Fellow grade. In the case of IEEE Women in Engineering Affinity Group Committee members, each IEEE member shall also be a member of IEEE Women in Engineering.

Affinity Group Chair

The Affinity Group Chair shall serve as Chair for all meetings of the Affinity Group and the Affinity Group Committee.

Affinity Group Vice Chair

The Affinity Group Vice Chair shall assist the Chair in the coordination of all Affinity Group activities. At the request of the Affinity Group Chair or in the absence of the Affinity Group Chair, the Affinity Group Vice Chair shall chair meetings of the Affinity Group and the Affinity Group Committee.

Affinity Group Secretary

The duties of the Affinity Group Secretary shall include correspondence, the keeping of the minutes of the Committee meetings, mailing notices, and submission of MGA Operations Manual, Section 9 page 123 meeting reports and roster of members and officers to the Section/Council at the end of each year, and such other duties as are assigned by the Chair.

Affinity Group Treasurer

The duties of the Affinity Group Treasurer shall include the development of an Affinity Group budget for approval by the Section/Council, accounting of all Affinity Group funds, keeping financial records, and submitting a financial record to the Section/Council.