THE KOREAN-AMERICAN INTERCOLLEGIATE NETWORK

[
What is KIN? | History of KIN | Member Benefits | KIN Organization ]




What is KIN?

The Korean-American Intercollegiate Network (KIN) is a student-run organization designed to promote the interests of Korean-American students across the country. KIN works to promote its vision on two different levels.

On a daily basis, KIN is a network set up over the internet used as an information resource for the Korean-American student community. KIN's network, set up utilizing students' university e-mail accounts, works through the vast network of members across the country. All messages and information that flows through the network originates from its members or outside sources that use KIN to distribute information and material in the interest of Korean-American/Asian-American students. Fulfilling KIN's objective to "promote issues relevant to Korean-Americans" requires the participation of all its members whether this be by merely forwarding messages to the national office or to regional chairs or actively creating advertisements or other informative messages that other members would find interesting. If you would like to use KIN's network to distribute information that is applicable to the Korean-American or Asian-American community, we encourage you to send the message to KIN at kin@dolphin.upenn.edu or to any of KIN's other National Contacts. After receiving the information, KIN will forward the message to its members. To view the type of information that KIN members receive, check out our Activities page.

In order to create a greater impact for the Korean-American community, KIN also works on a second level by undertaking major projects beneficial to our members and in the spirit of KIN's vision. Most of KIN's projects are selected as a result of the demand by KIN's members and through its Students' Delegates Assembly held annually at the Korean-American Student's Conference (KASCON). KIN undertakes projects on a National and Regional level. To check on the status of the KIN's projects regionally, click here.


KIN History

Galvanized by the LA riots of 1992, a group of students created a network which could provide for the quick dissemination of information and the rapid mobilization of Korean-American students. KIN began as the Korean Ivy Network, a loose, information exchanging network amongst the Ivy-League schools after KASCON VII in San Francisco. However, during the period between KASCON VII and KASCON VIII, the Korean Ivy Network changed its name to the Korean Intercollegiate Network to accommodate the apparent need and demand for a communication network.

It wasn't long before the officers and members of the newly formed Korean Intercollegiate Network saw the potential in forming a national organization from the seeds of the existing information network. A task force of Korean-American student leaders was organized to draw up a proposal to make KIN a national organization and presented it to the student delegates present at KASCON VIII in Philadelphia. The proposal passed unanimously.

KASCON VIII saw the birth of the newly named, Korean-American Intercollegiate Network (KIN) and the election of KIN's first national officer board. Since then, KIN has taken up the responsibilities of the coordination of the National Korean Student Assembly, held annually at KASCON. With the Assembly and a handful of other projects, KIN is working at fulfilling its promise to galvanize the Korean-American student community.


MEMBER BENEFITS

  1. Free advertising - Local KSA's and individual KIN members can advertise to all the KIN members of a particular region or the entire nation.
  2. An On-line Directory - Whether to ask for advice or to send out news, local KSA's and KIN members can contact other members through our network.
  3. Information - KIN members will receive up-to-date information of current events and issues pertinent to the Korean-American community.
  4. Career and Job Information - KIN can assist its members who are in the job market by posting job offers and career opportunities on its network.
  5. Mobilization - KIN can provide the means for effective educational and political mobilization when the need arises, from the local to the national level.


HOW IS KIN ORGANIZED?

Kin, until recently, had the local KSA as its foundation for membership. Now KIN has gone a step further and opened up membership to the individual student. Information and all communication with the group is mediated by a designated KIN contact person or directly by the Chairperson of your region. This person relays information between you and the National Information Officer, who receives, processes, and distributes all messages and announcements. The standard protocol for information passage on the network is:

  1. Write the message on email including all possible information on the topic and a contact name, number, and email address.
  2. Send the message to your local Regional Chairperson/KIN contact.
  3. This message will be sent to the National Information Officer who will process the message into standard KIN format, and re-send the message to appropriate parties.
KIN has divided the US into five geographical regions, each region with its own Chairperson and staff. The
National Executive Board is comprised of the Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, and Information Officer. This National Executive Board along with five Regional Chairpersons make up the KIN National Board. Elections for these offices are held annually at the conclusion of the National Korean Student Assembly at KASCON.


[ Home | General | Profiles | Recent Activities | What's New | Projects ]
[ Contact KIN ]