IFA! What is it good for? Say it again. IFA!

[drpeterwardle]

We could do this but this Irish system covers excavation not the full range of things archaeologists do now we are "historic environment professionals".

What we need is a simple system so that people cannot, without qualifications or extensive experience, call themselves archaeologists and advertise their services. I know how about anybody with a degree and three years experience and have been in charge of a project like an evaluation which found something whioch proved satisfactory to a consultant and curator alike.

Peter

[Ilikediggingunderwater]

Actually getting student status isn't that easy. I am a part-time student and study at university 6-8 hours a week (plus home study), but I have a job so I am not allowed student status as I can 'afford' in the view of the IfA Affilate status and apparently student status costs them money because sending out a couple of magazines a year costs loads more than the ?20 student fee. In October I will be a full-time masters student but still will work 2 days a week, but then I will be allowed to swap from Affilate to full-time status because I will not be deemed to 'afford'to pay Affilate rates. It is a gob-smacking policy because some of the lovely people I help train to dig over the summer do no more time than me as full-time students and loads of them have jobs. I have been invited to apply for corporate status but currently my main income isn't derived from archaeology and I am dammed if I am going to pay corporate rates on that basis.

[oldgirl]

Can't comment on you getting student status I'm afraid, can't remember the exact rules! (and I vaguely remember that Student/Affiliate isn't that much difference in cost? The IfA didn't exist when I was a student.....)

The transfer of large numbers to Affiliate is (I would suggest) mostly individuals who have completed the extra year after graduation and have now transferred.

[Tile man]

The subscription fees are:Subscription rates for April 2009 ? March 2010
? Affiliate subscription fee: ?37.00 (by cheque) ?35.00 (by Direct Debit)
Student subscription fee: ?16.50 (by cheque) ?15.00 (by Direct Debit)
All corporate members (PIfAs, AIfAs, MIfAs)? pay according to annual income:
Payment by cheque/postal
order
Payment by Direct Debit
?5,000 - ?10,000 ? ?40.00 ?37.00
?10,001 - ?14,197 ?67.00 ?62.00
?14,198 - ?16,536 ?101.00 ?92.00
?16,537 - ?20,000 ?138.00 ?126.00
?20,001 - ?28,000 ?179.00 ?163.00
More than ?28,001 ?208.00 ?191.00
?from
http://www.archaeologists.net/modules/ic..._rates.pdf
student application:
Student membership may be obtained during a period of relevant study. It is for those following a
course which is
? full- or part-time, constituting at least half the working week (?half-time?) or the equivalent
? in archaeology, heritage/historic environment or a closely related subject studied in greater
or equal weight to another subject
? at undergraduate or postgraduate level
Those studying courses by distance learning, for HNDs or accredited certificates may also apply if
they match these requirements.
Those whose course does not meet these requirements can still apply for Affiliate grade.
Those employed within the historic environment at the same time as they study will be expected to
join at the appropriate corporate grade
from
http://www.archaeologists.net/modules/ic..._guide.pdf

[YellowPete]

um?


txt is
Mike

[1man1desk]

Posted by likediggingunderwater:

quote:Actually getting student status isn't that easy. I am a part-time student and study at university 6-8 hours a week (plus home study)... some of the lovely people I help train to dig over the summer do no more time than me as full-time students and loads of them have jobs.

The college at which you are studying will define the number of hours of study they expect from you as a part-time student, including both formal teaching and personal study time. According to the criteria posted by Tile Man, if that adds up to 'half the working week' or more (say, 20 hours), you qualify for IfA student membership - if it doesn't, then you don't.

When I did my MA part-time a few years ago, I had about 6-8 hours of formal teaching a week (about the same as you), but the uni expected at least 20 hours study time over all (based on half of what they expected from full-time students), and that was defined in the course paperwork. That was sufficient for me to qualify as a student for Railcard purposes, even though I was still working more than half-time, and I imagine it would have qualified me for student status in the IfA if I hadn't already been a corporate member.

1man1desk

to let, fully furnished

[medi-evil]

"Err, that would appear to be a grey area."

[Ilikediggingunderwater]

I think the IfA representative was a little confused as he likened what I was doing to doing the NAS PART III, but that is totally adhoc. Some people take ten years to finish that and it is not a degree. I had 80% attendance requirements. Anyway I now have a shiny new degree certificate and hope to do a more conventional part-time MA and I am going to ask them for student membership again! The reason given to me was, but you have a job and a student doesn't - so thanks to those people who quoted the IfA rules as I shall quote them back to them. Job interview not in archaeology on Fridsy which will hopefully help pay for it (fingers cross), plus my redundancy from my current job.

[oldgirl]

Good luck, with all.[8D]