Latest News from ICA Headquarters

Posted By ICA Membership Team

Each year, leading up to the annual ICA conference, ICA welcomes an influx of new members, many of whom were enticed to join by member discounted pricing on conference registration. Some come to ICA with a built-in network of peers, advisors, or colleagues, that help you get started. For others, your ICA journey is just beginning, and it can be overwhelming learning where to start, how to make connections, and how to make the most of your ICA member benefits. Regardless of which category you fall into, we welcome you to ICA! Here are a few protips for getting started:

• First-time attendees, review the infographic guide on this page with specific tips for attending the annual ICA conference as a "newbie"

• Access ICA's six scholarly journals online, including all previously published issues. 

• Follow us on socials; keep up to date on all things ICA via X , Facebook, YouTube, Linkedin, & Mastodon.

• Network via ICA's engagement platform The Link. Members utilize the platform in many ways such as: posing research questions, seeking feedback, and hunting for relevant literature. Don't forget to check out the Public Channel & Latest News channel to stay updated on everything ICA!

• Join another one of ICA's 33 Divisions or Interest Groups. Every ICA member is required to join at least one division or interest group, but many elect to join more than one! They are a great way to customize your ICA experience based on your topic area(s) of interest. Contact us at membership@icahdq.org for more info on how to add a new Division/Interest group outside of the online join/renew process.

• Introduce yourself within your Division/Interest Group. Start a discussion thread or pose a question via The Link, each division and interest group has a community you can access under "my communities." Reach out to division and interest group leadership to introduce yourself as a new member. If you feel shy about reaching out, contact Julie Arnold, ICA's Director of Member Services & Governance,  who will happily connect you with leadership and introduce you as a new member. Say hello to ICA staff at the Onsite Registration during the conference booth, we love getting to know new members! 

• Explore ICA Engagement opportunities; submit an Expression of Interest during the open call period. Becoming part of a committee or task force helps get you on the radar of, and build connections with, ICA Leadership. If you're ambitious to advance within the leadership, volunteering for a committee or task force is the place to start. 

• Browse the ICA Podcast Network and ICA Podcast Recommendations

• Search ICA's Career Center: Create a profile, post, or search opportunities, and access the Career Planning Portal with helpful resources such as interviewing and resume tips.

• Student & Early Career Member Info: We have a relatively large contingent of student members at ICA, as they make up approximately a third of the overall membership. Student and Early Career members are represented at the Board of Directors level via two elected Board Student & Early Career Representatives (BSECRs). They lead programming and initiatives geared towards student and early career members organized by a standing committee called the Student and Early Career Advisory Committee. Each of ICA's 33 divisions and interest groups has an elected role of a Student & Early Career Representative (SECR).  New ICA student and early career members could reach out to the SECR for whatever division/interest groups they join as a starting point to network

• Contact the Member Services team if you need help or have questions.