The purpose of the Duke Student Section of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers is: to provide an opportunity for students to begin their professional careers by joining a professional engineering society; to inform students of recent developments in the field of mechanical engineering through publications, field trips speakers, and meetings; to promote fellowship and interaction with other student sections, as well as professional sectors of the Society.

Undergraduate membership in the society is limited due to set ASME regulations. Requirements for membership are:

Enrollment in an approved engineering or engineering technology curriculum.
Any student regularly enrolled in a two-year pre-engineering curriculum which is equivalent to the pre-engineering part of an approved curriculum is eligible for student membership.