Information and Decision Sciences Student Organization at UIC

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New Member Orientation

Welcome to the IDSSO community

This packet has the essential information you need to get started with IDSSO. Our goal is to make your onboarding smooth and efficient, so you can quickly become an active member.

01

Orientation overview

  1. 1

    Getting started

    Learn about IDSSO's purpose, mission, vision, and virtues, and how you can contribute to our community.

  2. 2

    Leadership and involvement opportunities

    Discover the exclusive resources, events, and support available to you as a member.

  3. 3

    Policies and guidelines

    Understand the code of conduct, participation standards, and important policies that keep our environment professional and respectful.

Connect with the e-board

Our e-board is here to support you. Email us anytime with questions, ideas, or concerns, or if you'd like help getting involved in a committee, project, or event. We'll connect you with the right next step.

Email the e-board

02

Meet the team

12 officers and chairs lead IDSSO. If you're new, unsure where to start, or want to get involved, reach out at eboard@idssochi.org and we'll help you find a clear next step.

  • TrinityPresident
  • KarenVice President
  • StefanSecretary
  • EdgarTreasurer
  • DamianVP of Membership
  • JennyDirector of External Affairs
  • EvelynCo-Director of Marketing
  • CiciCo-Director of Marketing
  • MaiEvent Planning Chair
  • JoseFundraising Chair
  • SunnyCorporate Outreach Chair
  • MadihaUndergrad Outreach Chair
See the full e-board

Our advisor: Dr. Selva Nadarajah

Our dedicated advisor plays a crucial role in supporting the organization by helping achieve its goals. The advisor helps uphold fairness in discipline and election processes. The advisor is a non-voting member selected from university faculty or staff, appointed by the e-board in collaboration with the Center for Student Involvement, with terms subject to mutual agreement and annual renewal.

03

About IDSSO

IDSSO fosters an inclusive community which:

Develops members as analytical, collaborative leaders

We will achieve our purpose through our mission:

  • Deliver hands-on projects, workshops, mentorship, and industry engagement.
  • Build career pathways through networking, guidance, and internship readiness.
  • Connect students through cross-disciplinary, skill-building collaboration.

Purpose

The purpose of this organization shall be to foster an inclusive, cross-disciplinary community that empowers students to grow as analytical leaders and collaborative problem solvers by equipping them with the skills and perspective needed to excel as data-driven thinkers and leaders. Guided by our virtues of open-mindedness, informed perspective, constructive collaboration, continuous development, accountability, and social responsibility, we connect students, alumni, and industry partners to advance individual and collective professional development.

Mission

The mission of IDSSO is to provide students with hands-on learning opportunities, professional development programming, industry engagement, and collaborative projects that strengthen analytical, technical, and decision-making skills. IDSSO serves all UIC students interested in Information and Decision Science topics by offering workshops, networking events, panel discussions, mentorship, and leadership opportunities that support academic and career success.

What IDSSO will look like this year

  • Build

    Build UIC's recognized IDS community of excellence

    IDSSO is a newly established student organization, and this semester, we're seeking to grow our membership, become visible on campus, and build partnerships with faculty, other student organizations, and IDS employers. This piece of our vision recognizes that we are a new student organization and sets out our aim of establishing a community with the membership, processes, and partnerships necessary to develop our members as analytical, collaborative leaders.

  • Explore

    Explore IDS disciplines

    Discover the diverse paths within the IDS major, from Supply Chain Management to Information Systems and Data Analysis. Our organization offers a space to explore your interests, develop leadership skills, and learn how to present yourself professionally for future success.

  • Strengthen

    Strengthen technical skills and human skills

    Our goal is to help members enhance both their technical expertise and their interpersonal abilities such as communication, presentation, and leadership.

  • Lead

    Lead conferences, fundraisers, and community-building initiatives

    Our members are seen as leaders who actively volunteer and take leadership roles in upcoming and future events such as fundraisers and conferences.

  • Partner and connect

    Partner with alumni, industry, and nonprofits

    We aim to provide opportunities for our members to engage with outside organizations, fostering partnerships in both commercial and nonprofit fields.

  • Be recognized

    Be recruited for integrity, maturity, and collaboration

    Our vision is to build a community where members are recognized and recruited for their knowledge, professionalism, and commitment, by embodying the virtues that unite the members of our organization.

The virtues that unite IDSSO's members

  • Open-mindedness

    Seeking understanding before judgment

    We approach people, ideas, and problems with curiosity and respect. An open mind allows data, dialogue, and diverse perspectives to shape stronger decisions.

  • Informed perspective

    Thinking with evidence and intent

    We make decisions grounded in data, reason, and context. An informed perspective means engaging critically with information and applying it responsibly.

  • Constructive collaboration

    Building together, not just working together

    We collaborate to create outcomes, not to comply. Constructive collaboration combines skills, data, and insight to produce results greater than what any individual could achieve alone.

  • Continuous development

    Committing to learning and improvement

    We believe growth is a discipline. Continuous development reflects our commitment to evolving skill, judgment, and understanding through curiosity and consistent improvement.

  • Accountability

    Owning outcomes individually and collectively

    We honor commitments, measure results, and learn from the impact of our actions. Accountability protects our standards and strengthens our culture.

  • Social responsibility

    Giving back to our community

    We recognize our responsibility to uplift the communities that support us. We seek opportunities to make a positive impact through service, philanthropy, and sharing our expertise.

04

Conduct and standards

Professional conduct

  • Present yourself professionally; model our virtues
  • Follow UIC policies
  • Zero tolerance for discrimination or harassment
  • Zero tolerance for hazing
  • Issues handled through progressive discipline

Progressive discipline

  1. 1Written warning
  2. 2Leadership review
  3. 3Written decision
  4. 4Appeal

Participation standards

  • Maintain UIC student status
  • Attend one meeting each month
  • Message the Secretary about exigent conflicts with attendance expectations
  • Contribute to planning and leading ongoing initiatives and to participating in our programming
  • Conduct yourself constructively and professionally

05

Membership benefits

  • Career readiness you can use immediately

    • Resume, LinkedIn, and interview support through workshops and peer review
    • Internship and early-career guidance from students, alumni, and professionals
    • Opportunities to practice professional communication and presenting

  • Hands-on learning and project experience

    • Team-based projects where you apply concepts to real problems
    • Practice with tools and workflows used in business and analytics
    • A chance to build portfolio-ready work when you participate in projects

  • Industry and alumni exposure

    • Guest speakers, panels, and workshops with professionals in IDS-related fields
    • Employer engagement events that help you learn what roles actually look like
    • Opportunities to ask questions, network, and follow up with contacts

  • Community and accountability

    • Meet students who are serious about growth and showing up for each other
    • Study support, co-working sessions, and peer mentorship opportunities
    • A place to find teammates, collaborators, and friends in your major

  • Leadership and involvement opportunities

    • Committees where you can contribute right away
    • Chairperson and officer pathways for members who want leadership experience
    • Experience planning events, coordinating teams, and executing goals
  • Students seated in a conference room watching a presentation on two wall screens

06

Leadership and involvement

E-board roles

  • President
  • Vice President
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • VP of Membership
  • Director of External Affairs
  • Co-Director of Marketing
  • Event Planning Chair
  • Fundraising Chair
  • Corporate Outreach Chair
  • Undergrad Outreach Chair

Committee chairpersons

Committee chairpersons lead a specific area of IDSSO's work, such as events, marketing, or professional development. They work closely with the e-board to set clear objectives for their committee, organize members into actionable tasks, and keep progress moving from idea to execution.

Interested in becoming a chairperson?

Reach out to any e-board member. We'll match your interests and strengths to a committee function, outline expectations, and help you get started quickly.

List of committees

  1. 01Event Planning
  2. 02External Outreach
  3. 03Internal Outreach
  4. 04Fundraising
  5. 05Marketing

07

Constitution and election guide

The constitution is our governing document. It covers membership, officer roles, elections, meetings, and committees.

Read the constitution

Officer elections quick guide

When

Held each spring semester. Elections run February through early March.

Who can run or vote

Active members. Those who meet the officer eligibility requirements may run.

Nominations

Self-nominate or be nominated at the second general meeting in February, or submit in writing before that meeting. Self-nominating nominees submit standard question responses as part of the nomination process.

Candidate forum

At the next general meeting, each candidate gives a statement of two minutes or less and answers questions in a moderated session.

Voting and results

Voting is by secret ballot. The ballot opens within 24 hours after the forum and stays open one week. Plurality wins. An election is valid only if a simple majority of active members in good standing vote.

Ties go to a one-week runoff. If there is no quorum, a new election is held within four weeks.

Integrity

The advisor oversees the process and certifies results. Candidates cannot collect or tabulate ballots for their own race.

08

Getting started

What members can expect from IDSSO

  • A welcoming, inclusive environment where you can contribute and grow
  • Transparent, timely communication about meetings, events, and opportunities
  • Opportunities for involvement and leadership development through committees, projects, workshops, networking, and mentorship

Where to go next

  1. Complete the orientation form (required)

    Please review each section before completing the form. This helps us tailor your member experience and connect you with the right resources.

    Orientation form

  2. Introduce yourself in Teams

    Suggested format: name, major or concentration, what you want to explore in IDS, and one way you'd like to get involved.

    Post your introduction

  3. Start getting involved this week

    Check the events calendar and the announcements channel for what's coming up.

    Upcoming eventsCheck announcements