At its recent fall meeting, the AAR Board of Directors took two actions regarding membership dues:

1. After careful consideration, and on the recommendation of the Finance Committee, the Board approved a 10 percent dues increase, effective January 1, 2012. This decision was based on a careful review of the Academy’s operating revenue over the last several years. In order to better ease the transition to the new dues structure, the Board wanted to give members the opportunity to renew 2012 memberships at the current rates. So if you renew your 2012 membership before the end of 2011, you can effectively delay the increase for fifteen months.

2. On the recommendation of the Program Committee, the Board approved a policy change regarding Annual Meeting proposals. Beginning in 2012, only AAR members will be permitted to submit session or paper proposals. This decision will greatly simplify the administration of our Online Proposal System (OP3) and is consistent with most of our peer associations in the American Council of Learned Societies. Please note one detail carefully: AAR membership will only be required of the member submitting the proposal. Other participants listed in proposals need not be AAR members at the time of submission. Two elements of our current policy will remain. If a session is accepted, all participants must become AAR members by June 15, 2012. Our waiver policy, which allows scholars from fields other than religion to participate, will also continue. Waiver requests should be made to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by March 31, 2012.

Thank you for your continued support of the AAR. If you have any questions about AAR dues or membership benefits, please send an e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .