Students with exceptional academic standing have the opportunity to apply for membership in a local chapter of the International Robotics Honor Society (IRHS) to earn accredited graduation honors for their participation in a host of high school robotics competitions. Each chapter is required to complete one or more annual service learning projects that provide unique opportunities for chapter members to assist their community while promoting STEM education and involvement.
Service Project Requirements
The Constitution of the International Robotics Honor Society requires that each chapter member participate in an individual component of at least one STEM or robotics-related service project each year.
While every service project looks different, each must meet the following criteria:
- Fulfill a need within the school or community
- Have the support of the administration and the faculty
- Be appropriate and educationally defensible
- Be well planned, organized, and executed
Choosing a Service Project
Chapters are encouraged to choose projects that accurately represent their unique community and reflect the ethos of their school. Projects may be as short as one day in length, can span an entire competition season, or anything in between.
The chapter advisor should work together with the chapter officers to determine a method that will be used to accept proposals for potential service projects, and adopt a process for selecting the projects that the chapter will approve. This procedure must be documented and publicized in the chapter bylaws and available for all chapter members.
There is no limit to the number of service projects that a chapter can complete in a year, as long as each of them meet the IRHS requirements and are approved by the individual chapter.
Service Project Committees
Each service project should be managed by one or more chapter members, in coordination with a chapter advisor. The project manager is responsible for ensuring that the project stays on schedule, keeps within budget, is promoted appropriately, and meets all IRHS requirements.
Committees should give progress reports and updates at chapter meetings, and maintain regular communication with chapter advisors and school administrators.
Service Project Documentation
Chapter members are responsible for keeping accurate records and documenting all participation in service learning projects throughout the year. Members should adopt a “record as you go” method as best practice, in order to avoid having to recall details at a later date.
- Attendance records
- Number of hours spent
- Photos
- Letters of support
- Collaboration agreements with exterior entities
- Other important information
Service Project Promotion
Chapters are encouraged to promote their service learning projects in their local community and within their robotics program, and even to the broader population. The IRHS Constitution requires that each chapter publicize its projects in a positive manner, which should be in keeping with all regulations regarding the advertising or promotion, and within all social media guidelines and youth protection policies of their school or organization.