Welcome to the SWE Members at Large website!

This website is the portal to learning about the SWE Members at Large (MALs).  Here you will find information on the MAL organization within SWE as well as news, key dates, awards, outreach resources. and leadership positions.

---

Social Media

• View and Join our Facebook page!

Important Dates

WE21 - Conference 
Oct 21-23
Indianapolis, IN

Watch for events from National Engineering Week February 21 to 27, 2021. If you are looking for ideas you can find some under National Society of Professional Engineers.

March 14, 2021 is PI day.  Help us celebrate by sending us you articles on your events. 

Please review our Survey from 2020 and our newest Newsletter.  

Member at Large (MAL) General Information

What is a MAL?
SWE's bylaws define a Member at Large (MAL) as a member who is not a member of a section.
  
SWE has more than 100 professional sections (which cover geographic areas) and 300 collegiate sections and collegiate interest groups (which are located on campuses). Sections may be formed only in the United States and Puerto Rico. Internationally members form international affiliate groups.

How many MALs are there?
More than 800 members are MALs, and approximately 4 percent of SWE’s professional members are MALs.

How are members assigned?
Unless a member opts for a different assignment, the member is assigned as follows:

1. An undergraduate collegiate member enrolled at an institution with a collegiate section or collegiate interest group is assigned to it. If the institution does not have a collegiate section or interest group, the collegiate member is assigned to a professional section, the MALs, or the international members, based upon the member’s preferred mailing address.
2. A professional member or collegiate member in graduate school is assigned to either a professional section, the MALs, or the international members based upon the member’s preferred mailing address.
   

How can I become a MAL?
If you live in an area covered by an existing professional section or are enrolled at an institution with a collegiate section or collegiate interest group, you are encouraged to support it. However, some members who otherwise would be assigned to sections or the international members prefer to be MALs, usually for one of these reasons: 

• Some sections cover vast geographical areas. In many cases, members in outlying parts of such sections may find that the "local" activities are so far away that they cannot participate. Instead of remaining in the section, they become MALs. 
• Some members travel extensively or relocate frequently. Rather than changing sections, they keep in touch with SWE as MALs. 
• Some members may not be interested in their section's programs and activities, yet they support SWE's overall objectives. It's easier for them to "sit on the sidelines" as MALs.
• Some members are pursuing engineering degrees later in life as reentry or non-traditional students.  Their interests may differ from the more traditional students at the institution so they opt to be MALs.

Whatever your reason may be, the choice is yours. If you are already a member of SWE, all you have to do is send a message to membership@swe.org and request that your assignment be changed to the MALs. If you aren't already a member of SWE but would like to join as a MAL, simply indicate that when you apply.