By Hank Sobah, ASQ Software Division Vice-Chair, Member Services
Several people have asked “How do I become a Senior (or Fellow)?” Well you don’t need to be old, to be a Senior. The process is fairly simple, but (of course) has different requirements for each. As illustrated by the fact that there are so many more Senior members than Fellows, the process for becoming a Senior Member of ASQ is fairly straight forward. The process for becoming a Fellow can be a little more complex.

I’ll try to clarify both a little bit in this article. The first thing that you might want to know is, “what does it do for me?” The answer is several things, from being recognized by your peers for your time and expertise in the Quality Profession, to networking opportunities and even additional benefits from ASQ.

Those who represent the upper echelon of the quality profession serve as the backbone of the profession and of the ASQ and deserve some amount of praise and recognition for their commitment and dedication. ASQ wants to notice and recognize your professional achievements and accomplishments and has geared the Member Advancement program to doing just that.

So what do you get? ASQ makes some additional benefit options available to Senior and Fellow members. You’ll get your choice of one of the extra benefit options below, which is included with membership dues of $119.

Select one journal of your choice
Select two divisions of your choice
Select one additional section of your choice

OK then, what does it take, you may ask? For detailed information, you can visit ASQ’s web site, and review the UPGRADE membership page.

Both Senior and Fellow Membership is available to qualified Individual ASQ Members. So let’s take a look in a little more depth, at what’s required to attain Senior and Fellow Membership consideration.

Senior Membership

Achieving Senior membership in ASQ is an indication of professional growth and accomplishment in quality or the related arts and sciences. To be eligible for Senior Membership, you must be able to demonstrate professional growth and significant achievements in the profession.

If you meet the following criteria, you may simply apply for Senior membership:

Been an ASQ Regular member in good standing for one year
Have 10 years of professional experience
Meet one of four professional criteria outlined on the Senior Membership application

ASQ’s Membership and Community Growth and Development is the workgroup responsible to review, process and enroll all Senior Member applicants that meet the requirements.

If you’re interested in becoming a Senior Member of ASQ, you have to complete the Application for Advancement to the Grade of Senior and, you must include the information and data necessary to support your qualifications. Once you’ve filled out the application, you will send it to ASQ’s Membership and Community Growth and Development workgroup.

To apply for advancement to Senior, download an application.

That’s about all there is to it. Document your achievements, fill out the application, and simply self-apply. So if you meet the criteria for Senior, what’s holding you back? There’s no time like the present to visit ASQ’s web site and download the application. It’s simple, painless and gives you a little higher standing within the society and the profession.

Fellow Membership

Fellow status has been part of ASQ since it was first founded in 1946 but was somewhat easier to attain at that time. Back then, a Senior Member at least 33 years old who had worked in the quality field for at least 10 years could simply petition for an upgrade. If the board of directors unanimously approved, that member would be recognized as a Fellow. In 1948, there were 43 Fellows; by 1956, this had increased to 218; by 1988 there were 472; and today there are 612.

So what is the requirement? You need to be an Individual member of ASQ who represents the highest level of the quality profession. If so, you deserve recognition for your years of dedication and practice as a quality professional, and your long-term involvement with ASQ. You’ll continue receiving the same benefits as Regular members, and more!

ASQ Fellows are recognized by their peers for distinction and accomplishment.

The Fellow experience also includes networking opportunities and new levels of ASQ involvement.
Nomination requires concrete evidence of any activities or accomplishments.

Fellow Membership may be attained only by advancement from the grade of Senior Member through the process of nomination, and may not be attained by application. A nomination will be endorsed by two current officers of an ASQ Member Unit; Preferably the Chair and the Examining Committee Chair. To be considered for Fellow membership you must be an individual ASQ member in good standing and meet the following criteria:

You must have 15 years of quality-related experience.
You meet minimum-score requirements across six professional categories.
You’re sponsored by peers and endorsed by your ASQ Section and/or Division.
You must have been a Senior member for five years or longer.
Fellows must be nominated by their section, forum/division or International Chapter.

A Fellow Candidate will be someone who has attained distinction in one or more of the following ways:

Planning or operation of quality related work activities.
Teaching a major course in a quality related academic discipline at an accredited school or institution.
Developing original theories, principles, or techniques of quality related work.
Expounding useful theories, principles, or methods of quality related work.
Directing work of significant scope in the application of quality related work.

To be evaluated within the current year, nominations must be submitted to the ASQ Membership and Community Growth and Development workgroup with sufficient lead time to be received at ASQ Headquarters no later than July 1, or by the next business day if July 1 is a weekend or holiday. Submissions will include one master copy of all forms and documentation and five additional copies of the entire packet of information. Now is a great time to start compiling your information for the July 1, 2008 deadline.

Nomination forms may be submitted electronically. Electronic submission will consist of six copies of a CD containing the nomination form and all supporting documentation, accompanied by a single hard copy of the nomination form bearing the signatures of the sponsors. Electronic submissions by email will not be accepted.

The ASQ Examining Committee will use the following rating guidelines to evaluate the qualifications of Fellow nominees. A total of 28 points is the minimum for recommendation for advancement to the grade of Fellow. Points are scored in six proficiency areas, with a minimum required in each area, as follows:

Technical experience (4 points).
Occupational responsibility (3 points).
Publications (2 points).
ASQ activities (2 points).
Professional affiliations other than ASQ (1 point).
Teaching (for nonprofessional teachers) or Consulting (for professionally employed teachers) (2 points).

Each of the six proficiency areas will be evaluated and rated based on the following points

Understands and applies basic quality management concepts.
Understands and routinely applies quality related concepts.
Has been awarded the ASQ Certified Quality Technician, Certified Mechanical Inspector, or equivalent (see Fellow Matrix of Requirements).
Has achieved useful or significant results through the application of quality related concepts.
Has developed and implemented significant new applications of quality related concepts.
Has been awarded the ASQ Certified Quality Engineer, Certified Reliability Engineer or equivalent (see Fellow Matrix of Requirements); has been awarded professional licensing/registration or similar recognition.
Has made significant contributions to the development, understanding, and application of theoretical concepts and methods of quality related disciplines.
Has received formal recognition for truly outstanding technical experience in quality related disciplines.

So that’s all there is to it. Told you it was a little more complex than applying for Senior, but it is well worth the effort if you, or someone you know is qualified. If you are a Software Division member, and feel that you are qualified to attain Fellow Status, please contact our nominating chair, Doug Hamilton. We would love to help you through the process. Do you know someone else who qualifies to be recognized as a Fellow Member? To nominate them for Fellowship, please visit the Fellow Member Nomination page and download an application.