The Florida International University Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (FIU PRSSA) has been active since 1989. PRSSA is the world’s preeminent, pre-professional public relations student organization, with more than 227 chapters located at colleges and universities throughout the United States.
FIU PRSSA, which was established with the help of the Miami Chapter of PRSA and has currently grown to more than 70 members, is an organization that helps students develop their public relations skills, network with public relations practitioners, obtain internships and ultimately become successfully employed in the field.

The organization gives students the opportunity to apply their academic knowledge in practical public relations situations. Throughout the 2002-2003 academic year, FIU PRSSA has demonstrated its excellence through developing member services, strengthening the PRSA/PRSSA relationship, enhancing community relations through numerous programs, and its leadership by receiving various awards and recognitions.
The projects that FIU PRSSA members are involved with include fundraising, community safety, providing members with internships, and helping members and overall public relations students better understand the public relations field. Although FIU PRSSA has participated in fundraising efforts for non-profit organizations like Hands in Action, an organization that helps fight child abuse, and the annual Rowan University Organ Donor Awareness Program, the organization has concentrated largely on its hurricane preparedness community service program, following Hurricane Andrew’s devastation in 1992.

After Hurricane Andrew, FIU PRSSA members recognized the need to improve hurricane mitigation. With the help of the National Hurricane Center, local emergency management experts and other outlets, the students researched and compiled the best hurricane preparedness information on what to do before, during and after a hurricane. The Get Ready hurricane guide was designed and distributed free to South Floridians through participating BP (formerly known as Amoco) service stations for 10 years. Last year’s edition of the guide was
also fully online and available to more than 44 million people living in hurricane-prone areas. The 2003 edition
of the Get Ready guide will mark its tenth year anniversary and will be available in print at participating BP stations in South Florida and online to all of the 44 million people who live in hurricane-prone coastal areas of the United States.
In 1996, FIU PRSSA integrated the Get Ready hurricane preparedness program into the Miami-Dade County Public School’s science curriculum. With assistance from the School Board, FIU PRSSA created a two-sided educational tracking map designed to teach 25,000 Miami-Dade County fourth grade students about hurricanes.

In 1997, FIU PRSSA expanded the hurricane preparedness program, printing not only in English and Spanish, but also in Braille. That year, the Get Ready guide was included in the “Disaster Planning Kit” offered by the Greater Miami and the Keys Chapter of the American Red Cross. The Guide continues to be published in Spanish.
In 1998, special initiatives included Creole and Braille versions of the Get Ready handbook

The 2000 edition of Get Ready marked the printing and distribution of FIU PRSSA’s one-millionth guide.
This year, Florida International University students will be handing out the Get Ready guide in English and Spanish to South Floridians at 167 participating Miami-Dade and Broward BP stations.

FIU PRSSA has received significant local, regional and national recognition for its commitment to community service. For example, in 1995 and 1999 FIU PRSSA was awarded the national PRSSA Dr. Frederick H. Teahan Award for Outstanding Community Service. Also, in 1995, FIU PRSSA received the PRSSA Southeast Region award for Best Community Service Project. In April 2000, the chapter was awarded FIU’s Student Life Shining Star Award for outstanding community service and ongoing diversity awareness. FIU PRSSA was a finalist for the 2001 and 2002 Student Life Shining Star Awards.

In addition, former FIU PRSSA Chapter Advisor William C. Adams, who advised the chapter from 1993-2003, was recognized for his leadership and guidance when he received the national PRSSA Outstanding Faculty Advisor Teahan Award and was named 2000 national Educator of the Year by PRSA.

One of FIU PRSSA’s most far-reaching accomplishments was producing A Student’s Guide to Public Relations Education. Designed for students interested in studying public relations, learning about university public relations programs or seeking information on the various disciplines of public relations, the free 40-page Guide was unveiled at the 2000 PRSSA National Conference, in Chicago. Based largely on A Port of Entry: The 1999 Report of the Commission on Public Relations Education, the Student’s Guide was produced in collaboration with John L. Paluszek and Dean Kruckeberg, co-chairs of the Commission, with underwriting from the Council of Public Relations Firms, PRSA and the Institute for Public Relations.

Some 20,000 copies are being distributed to PRSSA’s more than 227 chapters nationwide. FIU PRSSA also utilizes the Student’s Guide as a recruitment tool at FIU student orientations and public relations courses, as well as an introduction the field of public relations to high school students in the Miami-Dade County area.
For more information about the chapter contact chapter president Laura Langlois at langl@fiu.edu, (786) 277-2331 or chapter advisor Catherine B. Ahles, APR, Fellow PRSA at ahlesc@fiu.edu, (954) 328-9284.

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