Doctoral students are a vital part of AERA, representing 25% of the total membership of more than 25,000. Institutions that participate in the AERA Doctoral Student Cohort Program collaborate with AERA to allow first time AERA members who are in the doctoral program to join with reduced dues of $25 instead of the regular student dues of $55, giving students the opportunity to experience AERA membership.

Benefits for AERA Doctoral Student Cohort Program members:

• Receive reduced member dues of $25 (compared to $55).
• Select free membership in an AERA Division and additional Division memberships for just $5 each.
• Join Special Interest Groups (SIGs); the $7 SIG administration fee is waived for cohorts.
• Receive complimentary subscriptions to Educational Researcher (ER) and one additional AERA journal of choice.
• Subscribe to additional AERA journals at the special student rate of $10. Take advantage of valuable networking opportunities through SIGs, Divisions, and the AERA Graduate Student community.
• Receive the AERA Graduate Student Newsletter, Connections, published three times a year.
• Attend AERA Annual Meeting with special graduate student events at discounted rate.

How does the AERA Doctoral Student Cohort Program work?
The program is a partnership between graduate schools of education and AERA. AERA reduces the membership fee by $15, the school donates $15, and the first time AERA member doctoral student pays only $25 to join. The AERA Doctoral Student Cohort Program is available at the end of August and closes February 15th.

What is required of the institution?
AERA asks that a program coordinator be appointed who will be responsible for reaching out to professors and students about the AERA Doctoral Student Cohort Program. In order to ensure a vibrant doctoral student network, AERA asks that the coordinator actively promote the program. To make this as easy as possible, AERA will provide an announcement that the program coordinator can distribute by email to students and post in the department. AERA will provide to the program coordinator the website and passcode for students to join and pay their portion of the dues ($25) with a credit card. Coordinators will not need to handle any paper applications.

What is the first step?
If a School of Education is interested in the AERA Doctoral Student Cohort Program, please contact [email protected] or call 202-238-3200.