By Malenah Hunter, Associate Director of Membership and Awards, AACRAO
In 2023, the AACRAO Board of Directors, in partnership with the Membership Team, implemented a change to the membership structure that allows member institutions to add an unlimited number of members. The new structure welcomes unlimited staff to join their institution’s membership roster, including students, and the change has added over 8,000 new members. Our mission is to ensure that higher education and postsecondary institutions of all sizes, and individuals at every stage of their careers, can benefit from AACRAO resources, such as The Exchange, our online community now celebrating two years of conversations and connections.
Keep Up with How AACRAO Membership is Growing & Changing
Check out the Demographics pages for snapshots of our membership based on census data compiled annually. Or see Our Impact on higher education as it happens with live membership numbers.
Your demographic details help us better understand the higher education and postsecondary learning industry and inform our progress towards our strategic goals. By sharing this information with AACRAO, you directly influence the direction of our goals and mission. Help us stay on track by logging in to update your demographic information now.
When YOU… | AACRAO… |
Update your areas of responsibility. | Creates new programming with compliance and industry standards in mind. |
Choose your professional interests. | Supports you in your current role and provides opportunities for your future career aspirations. |
Provide your highest degree earned. | Learns what you need for your next achievement and how you can help the next generation. |
Share your years of experience. | Tailors learning to serve professionals at every level of their career. |
Optimize Your Account
Primary contacts can now easily add their whole team to their roster without dipping into their budget after dues have already been paid; no more tough decisions on swapping out the people that could (and should) benefit. And with more focus on cross-office coordination, faculty and staff from any department on campus can join their active roster in a few steps to gain access to all the same resources as their colleagues.
It’s important to keep this data accurate and up-to-date so that we can continue to be the premier organization for professional development. Removing those no longer at the institution and adding more members to the roster is not just about the savings and statistics.
Meet Our Membership Team
Since 2020, AACRAO has focused on a strategic plan that strives to better serve our members, the profession, and higher education as a whole. This presented us with an incredible opportunity to reach both new and experienced professionals who may have been unfamiliar with AACRAO before the membership structure change. By reaching deeper into our member institutions, we are strengthening the AACRAO membership community and ensuring our guidance and resources reach as many individuals on campus as possible. Higher education professionals have always faced some immense challenges—tightened budgets, staffing shortages, declining enrollments, and an evolving federal landscape. If you keep up with our weekly Transcript newsletter, you’re aware that recent events have not made our profession any easier, though our commitment to learners remains. AACRAO is grateful to have such a dedicated community. Meet the professionals who power our membership engine.
Alex Lojko, Director of Membership and Operations, has worked at AACRAO for ten years and has led the Membership Team for the last three years.
“Helping to bring the unlimited member structure to fruition was a rewarding experience. It has been amazing to see how this change has grown the AACRAO community and given us new opportunities to connect with our member institutions.”
Orlando Mayorga, Assistant Director of Membership, has been at AACRAO for three years, and prior to that, he worked three additional years as an intern during his undergraduate studies at George Washington University.
“Providing answers to member inquiries and assisting with the daily operations of the organization has been a rewarding and fulfilling experience.”
Malenah Hunter, Associate Director of Membership, has met many of our members in person while contributing to and attending AACRAO meetings throughout the year.
“Getting the chance to hear what our members are saying and experience the value of engaging and networking with members from near and far, and at different points in their career journey, is especially rewarding.”
Do you have colleagues at your institution who would benefit from joining AACRAO? Spread the Word
Since opening rosters to unlimited members, the number of AACRAO members has grown exponentially. We’re proud to say that over 90% of AACRAO institutions choose to renew their membership each year, with 87% of members remaining active and engaged on their institution’s roster.
A membership with AACRAO is an intangible return on investment in the very people who serve the institution. Member discounts, directory access, and exclusive content are a few of the ways your team can attend valuable meetings, learn from experts, and connect and learn from peers. Why stop at your department? Our goal is to get the necessary resources to as many people as possible, so that they can better work together to serve their students and the higher education industry as a whole. When more people get the support they need to do the important work, the better the outcomes for everyone in the community.
Not sure about your membership status or if you can join for free today? Check your status here or reach out to the Membership team at membership@aacrao.org or (202) 355-1040.