Board/committee members:
Heidi Hutman, PhD, chair
Chaska L. Gomez, PsyD, vice chair
Amanda Barrett, MA
Deirdre Bradley, PhD
Dawn Greathouse, PhD
Kalyani Gopal, PhD
Shane Jimerson, PhD
Marc Eric S. Reyes, PhD
Joann Sorra, PhD
Eboni C. Winford, PhD
Staff liaison:
Sonja Wiggins, MBA
Overview
The Membership Board was tasked with responding to NBI 17E: Expansion of Membership Eligibility to Master’s Level Psychology Professionals, which proposes that master’s level HSP professionals can become full members of the APA. Currently, graduates of terminal HSP master’s degrees are eligible for membership within the APA under the associate category. Allowing master’s level HSP professionals to be full members would render them eligible for positions, such as serving on the Council of Representatives and on the Board of Directors. In so doing, the minimum degree requirements would change for the full membership category from a doctoral degree to a master’s degree.
Strategic alignment
Promoting inclusion and access among master’s level professionals within the APA aligns with the strategic goal of preparing the field of psychology for current and future opportunities and challenges by enhancing the collective voice of the organization and its ability to respond to the complex and evolving mental health needs of the public and society at large.
Outcome
Although members of the Membership Board supported the intention behind the NBI, they ultimately could not approve the NBI as it was stated that such changes would bring about undue labor for staff and unintended consequences for master’s level professionals (e.g., paying higher dues while having less earning potential than their doctoral level counterparts). The Membership Board recommended that a bylaw change be explored to permit master’s level HSP professionals to serve on boards and committees rather than changing the definition of an APA member.
Overview
Historically, communication about membership-related issues from APA to divisions has occurred through the Committee on Division and APA Relations (CODAPAR) and has most typically been directed to the presidential cabinet. Although the cabinet represents an important conduit for information, the lack of direct communication to membership chairs about membership-related issues risks leaving them feeling uninformed about what resources and opportunities exist at the level of APA to promote membership engagement, recruitment, and retention within their respective divisions.
Strategic alignment
Promoting communication between membership chairs and APA’s member and division services aligns with the strategic goal of elevating the public’s understanding, appreciation, and utilization of psychology by giving divisions access to the tools, and resources needed to provide timely and relevant information to current and prospective members, thereby strengthening the public’s perception of APA and its respective divisions as enriching professional homes worth investing in.
Outcome
To facilitate more direct communication between the aforementioned groups, the Membership Board met with CODAPAR on several occasions. These meetings culminated in the creation of a CODAPAR liaison role on the Board, as well as the Membership Board chair being added to the Division membership chair listserv. Future plans include inviting division membership chairs to a meeting to learn more about their experiences, needs, and pain points.
Background
Membership chairs at the Division level often work to recruit, retain, and engage members in isolation, without knowledge of other divisions’ membership outreach efforts. Although a division membership chair listserv exists and could be used for such purposes, it has been underutilized in the past. In addition, APA membership services typically target marketing at the level of the broader organization (i.e., APA as a whole) rather than highlighting individual divisions. However, APA data suggest that APA members who belong to divisions are more likely to be retained over the long-term. Thus, it seems worthwhile to learn more about ways to support divisions in their membership retention, recruitment, and engagement efforts.
Strategic alignment
Enhancing membership retention, recruitment, and engagement at the Division level aligns with the strategic goal of elevating the public’s understanding, appreciation, and utilization of psychology by supporting divisions in working together and with APA’s membership office to share resources and best practices in growing and maintaining membership. In so doing, it is hoped that a better appreciation and understanding of psychology and its subspecialties, as represented by APA’s divisions, will be possible.
Outcome
Deputy Chief of Membership, Tabitha Brown, will offer her membership presentation to division membership chairs to provide an overview of relevant data and best practices in membership outreach at APA. In addition, a repository of resources will be created where divisions will be invited to upload their membership recruitment, retention, and engagement initiatives, resources, and tools so each division can learn and benefit from one another’s efforts. A possible incentive for doing so could be ‘winning’ the division spotlight on the APA homepage for a week, so that division obtains increased visibility and marketing.