Student Groups
Student Groups
Graduate students at the San José State University School of Information are highly encouraged to participate in the student chapters of professional associations and special interest groups. It’s a great way to meet peers, gain experience for resume building, and network.
Check out the student groups offered at the SJSU iSchool:
- American Library Association Student Chapter website.
- ASIS&T Student Chapter website and blog.
- Society of American Archivists Student Chapter website, blog and digital publication.
- Special Libraries Association Student Chapter website and blog.
- REFORMA Student Group website and blog – Focused on serving Latino and Spanish speaking communities.
- VCARA Virtual Center for Archives and Records Administration website and blog – Designed for students and alumni interested in virtual worlds, virtual reality, and related aspects of information science, including archives, education and libraries.
- First Generation Student Group website and blog – Created for students who are the first person in their family history to pursue a master’s degree.
- Advocacy San José State University School of Information Student & Alumni Group
- The UX Student Group is for students interested in UX Design opportunities and careers.
- The Student Research Journal (SRJ) is a double-blind peer-reviewed, open access journal developed and led by current graduate students at the School of Information.
Award-winning Student Chapters
The SJSU iSchool’s student chapters have won numerous awards recognizing their excellence and their innovative approach to serving online students. The ASIS&T Student Chapter has been named the association’s Student Chapter of the Year. The SLA Student Chapter has received the organization’s Student Group Certificate of Merit for Innovative Programming. The SLA Student Chapter was the only U.S. student group to be recognized for the 2014/2015 academic year. In addition, the ALA Student Chapter has been named Student Chapter of the Year five times!
Get Involved
Many of the school’s student groups host meet-ups, special events, and networking opportunities – both virtual and in-person. Check the SJSU iSchool Facebook page often for updates about upcoming events and the Pinterest board for fun pins. The SJSU iSchool student groups also have their own social media. In addition, the student-run Student Research Journal editorial team manages a Student Resource blog.
It’s a Home Run! iSchool Students and Faculty Partner with University Baseball Team on New Sports Analytics Club
The newly launched Sports Analytics Club represents an incredibly exciting and innovative partnership between the San José State University School of Information and the university’s baseball team. The club, which met for the first time in November 2022, is led by Master of Library and Information Science degree program students and club co-presidents Cori Garfias and Michelle Miyoshi.
Student Chapter of the Year Award Goes to ALASC
iSchool Students Recognized for their ‘Incredible Work’
The American Library Association Student Chapter at the San José State University School of Information has been awarded Chapter of the Year. This is the fifth time the ALA Student Chapter has won this prestigious award. One of the main reasons ALASC was chosen was due to their member engagement, as well as the chapter’s ability to create opportunities for leadership, especially during the pandemic.
Virtual Center For Archives & Records Administration (VCARA)
An iSchool student group, VCARA is a MARA-created space and community based in the virtual world Second Life (SL). We offer many resources both in SL and online including annual conferences, events, exhibits, trainings, and webcasts.
VCARA is open to all students, alumni, educators, and other professionals interested in virtual worlds and any aspect of information science including archives, education, libraries, records, and special collections.