As of year-end 2011, including student members, SPE membership totaled approximately how many individuals?

As of year-end 2011, including student members, SPE membership totaled approximately how many individuals?

• A. 75,000
• B. 120,000
• C. 104,762
• D. 50,000

Answer: (C)

Understanding yearly membership totals helps you read how a professional society measures its reach. The number shown is the exact total SPE reported for year-end 2011, counting all members including students. This means both professional members and student members are included in that one total, reflecting the organization’s overall membership at that time. The other figures don’t match the published year-end total, so they don’t represent the same measurement. Including student members also shows the pipeline of future professionals into the field, which is why the total can be higher than professional-only counts.

Understanding yearly membership totals helps you read how a professional society measures its reach. The number shown is the exact total SPE reported for year-end 2011, counting all members including students. This means both professional members and student members are included in that one total, reflecting the organization’s overall membership at that time. The other figures don’t match the published year-end total, so they don’t represent the same measurement. Including student members also shows the pipeline of future professionals into the field, which is why the total can be higher than professional-only counts.