Community Engagement 101: How to Earn Recognition and Advanced Benefits With Your Industry Engagement

By Amber Walters, Community Success Coordinator, Industry Engagement

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Part two of a series of blog posts exploring opportunities to connect with the community as part of your Internet2 Industry membership

Internet2 Industry membership offers limitless opportunities to make your company stand out from the competition. As a part of the Internet2 community, Industry members can gain trust and recognition by demonstrating a better understanding of the networking, cloud, security, and identity, and overall technology needs of universities. Engagement is the best way to connect and build relationships with Internet2 members that transcend traditional sales relationships. 

Here is a checklist of steps you can take to ensure you’re taking advantage of Internet2 Industry member benefits specifically designed to help you strategically engage with the research and education community. to amplify your impact and awareness within the community. 

Host webinars with topics of interest to the community
Submit research and education- focused case studies, blog posts and press releases to feature on Internet2 channels
Get involved and participate in one of the many Internet2 community groups
Respond to calls for presenters for in-person or virtual events
Participate in members-only sessions 
Attend community events and conferences
Connect to the Internet2 Network to collaborate with other Internet2 members at unparallelled speeds
Become a NET+ cloud service provider (pending intake requirements)
Participate in the Cloud Scorecard (currently in pilot)
Join the InCommon Federation
Leverage the eduroam WiFi sharing service
Become an InCommon Catalyst (additional requirements)

If you checked off any of the engagement opportunities on the list, you’re one step closer to Industry membership rewards. Internet2 Industry members can earn points every time they engage with and make a contribution to the research and education community toward Industry advanced membership status. Each of our three advanced tiers – Mega, Giga, and Tera – delivers added levels of benefits, exclusivity, and recognition to our most engaged members. Advanced membership status is achieved through a combination of Engagement Points and Contribution Dollars. 

Advanced membership levels achieved during a calendar year will be valid until the end of the following calendar year. All Industry Members are eligible to participate in the Internet2 Advanced Industry Membership pilot program, but enrollment is not automatic. Contact industry@internet2.edu to get started earning rewards. 

ICYMI: Read the first installment of the Community Engagement 101 series!