Steven Rathgeb Smith, the executive director of the American Political Science Association, outlines the history and future of academic associations in the United States.

1. THE FUTURE OF
ACADEMIC
ASSOCIATIONS
BY STEVEN RATHGEB
SMITH
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
AMERICAN POLITICAL
SCIENCE ASSOCIATION
March 2014

2. The Growth of Academic
Associations
 Academic associations, including the large
disciplinary associations, prospered in the post-
World War II period due to rising federal and
foundation funding of higher education, the
increase in faculty, and the steady proliferation of
journals.
 These associations also had a monopoly since
potential members of these associations, such as
the American Political Science
Association, needed to join the association in
order to attend the conference and receive the
association journals.

3. Changing Context of Academic
Associations
 More competition: In the last 25 years, many
new and specialized academic associations
have been created. Many of these
associations have grown rapidly, attracting
individuals who were previously members of
the large disciplinary associations.
 Stagnation in faculty salaries: More difficult
for potential members to afford association
dues.
 Growth of Adjunct Faculty: Fewer regular
rank faculty has led to a smaller pool of
potential association members.

4. The Changing Context of
Academic Associations
 Higher membership fees: Associations have
been forced to raise fees, due to rising
expenses and in some associations declines
in membership.
 Declines in federal funding of the social
sciences: This shift has led to fewer research
projects and more competition for remaining
research funding. This funding reduction in
turn means that association members have
less funding to join and participate in
association activities.

5. The Changing Context of
Academic Associations
 Incentives to attend the annual conference
are changing
 Constraints on faculty travel budgets
 More competition for space on the conference
program, especially the large disciplinary
associations.
 The rise of citation indexes, impact factors and
other evaluation techniques means that
participation at the annual research conference is
less essential for promotion and advancement.
 Rising conference fees and related expenses.

6. The Changing Context of
Academic Associations
 Challenges to Association Revenue
 Threats to royalty income from journals. Movement
toward open source publishing and funding
constraints from libraries has placed pressure on the
income of publishers.
 Limited individual philanthropy. Members are inclined
to give to specific projects such as awards rather than
the association operating budget.
 Shift in foundation priorities. Foundations have turned
their attention to more applied projects such as early
childhood education, economic development. Limited
funding for association infrastructure support.

7. The Changing Context of
Academic Associations
 Challenges to Association Revenue
 Stagnation in membership and conference fee
revenue
 Limited earned income potential. Most academic
associations do not have products or services
that they can easily translate into a substantial
earned income stream, except for the conference
and their journals.
 Modest endowments. Most academic
associations do not have substantial
endowments.
 Undercapitalization. Many associations do not

8. What Should Academic Associations
Do?
 Rethink the Value Proposition for Membership.
 Innovation in programming and operations.
 Organizational adaptability. Ability to quickly and flexibly
respond to emergent trends and developments.
 Collaboration. Need to work closely with external
stakeholders and other associations in support of
organizational goals and priorities.
 A networked organization. Create new networks within the
organization and externally.
 Diversity and inclusiveness. Increasing diversity of
association membership requires
 Create a learning organization. Associations need to
promote an environment that promotes new ideas and
learning in support of association programs and member
services.

9. Strategies and Next Steps
 A different connection of the association to
members
 Association website as the portal to important
content and benefits. A cutting edge website is
critical to delivering value to members, especially
with the explosion in social media.
 New approach to member benefits. Associations
need to think carefully about the benefits
available for membership and use different
benefits strategically in support of increased value
to members.

10. Strategies and Next Steps
 A different connection of the association to
members
 Conference is not a one-time event. Association
need to leverage the content at the conference for
the benefit of members. Examples include
videotaping conference presentations and posting
on association websites.
 Innovation in conference format. Associations
should offer varied formats and approaches at
their conferences. New approaches to engaging
members in the conference need to be explored.

11. Strategies and Next Steps
 Advocacy and Public Engagement
 Advocacy needs to connect with the ongoing
concerns of members
 Partner with other associations in support of
association goals and priorities
 Associations should advocate not only for their
own priorities but more broad-based concerns
related to higher education
 Need to think broadly about advocacy and public
engagement. Associations should offer a bridge
between individuals members and policymakers
and support the public engagement activities of
members.

12. Strategies and Next Steps
 Regular surveys of the members
 Governance structure is critical. Associations
need to ensure that their governance structure
allows proper accountability, flexibility and the
ability of the board to engage in strategic
planning and ongoing governance.
 Current strategic plan to guide the association
and its programming.

13. Acknowledgements
 A previous version of this presentation was
given at a panel on academic associations at
the Southern Political Science Association
meeting, January 2014, in New Orleans. The
author gratefully acknowledges the helpful
feedback of fellow panel members and the
audience. In addition, the author would like to
thank Putnam Barber, Pat Dobel, Rob
Hauck, Barbara Walthall, and the staff of
Cambridge University Press for feedback on
earlier versions of this presentation.