On July 21, 2026, APA began taking new division membership applications for 2027. Anyone joining your division on or after this date will be added to the upcoming January 1–December 31, 2027 membership year. Now is a great time to plan for updates your division may need to make to prepare for a new membership year. Below are some suggestions to consider.
American Psychological Association. (2026, July 20). Begin preparing 2025 membership materials. https://www.apa.org/about/division/digest/leader-resources/preparing-membership-materials
Update your website
Take a look to see what changes may need to be made, particularly around:
- membership dues rates;
- membership benefits;
- anything expired that needs to be removed or upcoming that should be added;
- division officers and contact information.
Review the new member welcome message
Read through what is sent to your new members and determine what updates need to be made. If APA manages your division membership and you’d like to see the current welcome message or make updates, please contact your division engagement liaison.
Prepare your division for the APA Community
The APA Communityopens in new window is an exclusive online destination where members can cultivate meaningful relationships. Like a social media platform, the APA Community is a place to network, find collaborators, and exchange information. All divisions have the opportunity to have a division space within the APA Community. If you have questions about your existing division space, or need to have your division added, please contact your division engagement liaison
Plan touchpoints to increase engagement
Plan for how you will engage with members throughout the year (see how to create a touchpoint calendar)in a way that will help them feel welcomed into your division, connected and up-to-speed on the division’s activities. Consider sharing what’s important to your division, news or opportunities, and items you’ll want to post to your listserv or social media. Having a communication plan set up ahead of time will help increase opportunities to connect for new members and will raise satisfaction levels of all members.
Do you have tips to share for how to engage with members? Consider sharing them for an upcoming issue of Division Digest. Contact your division engagement liaison for more information.