The Student Affiliates Program introduces undergraduate students to the profession of chemistry, to their responsibilities as chemists, and to the benefits of professional association with the ACS . The program also introduces students to careers in chemistry related fields and to the practical applications of chemistry. Affiliation is designed to encourage communication between students and the community of chemists as well as among students in Student Affiliates chapters. Although affiliation is possible on an individual basis, students in more than 850 colleges and universities in the United States and Puerto Rico have chartered SA chapters. National studies confirm that peer-support mechanisms like SA chapters improve the quality of the student academic environment and the overall preprofessional development experience.
Students find the wide variety of chapter activities professionally and personally enriching.
One major benefit of having a chapter on campus is the intellectual stimulation that occurs when students with similar interests participate in professional activities. Chapters also enable students to make contacts that will prove invaluable throughout their careers. Participation in chapter activities can help students develop important leadership, organization, and communication skills.