Student membership programs in associations face unique challenges due to the nature of their audience. This article explores effective strategies to enhance student membership retention and engagement by reducing barriers for students and implementing procedures to prevent misuse of the program's lower costs.

Understanding Barriers to Student Membership

Students often face more significant barriers to joining and renewing memberships compared with other member categories. Their professional identity is not yet fully formed, and they are typically very busy and under-resourced. Making the join/renew process as straightforward as possible is crucial for the long-term member retention and growth student membership categories are meant to encourage.

Secure and Grow Your Student Membership Programs

Streamline information collection.
Collecting relevant information from student members is essential. Details such as university, major, degree, and expected graduation date can help verify student status without being a barrier for genuine students. Additionally, collecting both school and personal email addresses is important as this audience is most likely to change locations and contact information in the very near future. Automating a verification email to the school address can discourage ineligible individuals from attempting to join — even if you’re not spending money on technology to actually verify it! Regularly reviewing member data, such as birth dates, can help identify discrepancies and address them promptly.

Enhance visibility of member status.
Displaying a “student” banner or flag in community posts and membership directories can act as a deterrent for poor behavior while simultaneously highlighting young members who may need additional support from your member network. Clearly marking student status on event badges can help regular members identify and assist student members as they familiarize themselves with your organization and start building their professional network.

Implement membership duration limits.
Establishing a policy where student membership is limited to a certain number of years (e.g., six years) can be effective in limiting the impact of bad behavior. Members who remain students beyond this period can request an extension or renew under a different membership type. This ensures that only genuine students benefit from the program’s lower costs.

Manage benefits and costs.
Evaluating the benefits provided to student members and considering moving some benefits like newsletters to online-only formats can reduce costs. For programs like student travel support and awards, implementing additional verification steps, such as requiring transcripts or letters from advisors, can ensure eligibility and lower the downside risk.

Ensuring Student Memberships Work — for Everyone

By addressing these key areas, associations can reduce barriers to entry for students while discouraging ineligible individuals from taking advantage. Leveraging existing data, automating processes, applying social pressure, and managing costs effectively can lead to higher compliance and engagement without significant ongoing effort.