At the October meeting of the AUPHA Board of Directors, the Board spent considerable time discussing the membership structure of the Association and how we might become more inclusive of a broad variety of programs. After much discussion, the Board voted to remove the requirement that Associate Member Programs commit to accreditation or certification within 8 years of joining the Association. This change will expand the potential membership base significantly.
The Board recognized that such an expansion might have a long-term impact on the composition of the membership, and recognized that it would be important to give further careful consideration to the issue of governance that is created by this potential membership expansion.
To ensure that the concerns of the current voting membership were taken into account, Board members made individual calls to each of our Full Member Program Directors to seek their input on the membership structure change and issues to consider in contemplating a governance role for Associate Members in the Association.
The Governance Committee has been tasked with the next steps in formulating bylaws changes, should they be warranted, to address any governance changes that might come about. AUPHA continues to welcome member input on these changes and anyone may send comments to me at lmiddleton@aupha.org.
The specifics of the membership changes approved at the October meeting can be found in the Fall 2009 AUPHA Exchange. The following additional information should answer some questions you may have...
Why did AUPHA make this decision?
If AUPHA is going to fulfill its visionof improving healthcare, we must acknowledge that the world ofhealthcare management educationis a great deal larger than those programs currently in AUPHA's membership. Our research suggeststhat AUPHA represents approximately 1/3 of thetotal number of programspreparing graduate and undergraduate students in healthcare management. If we seek to speak on behalf of the field we must represent a majority of the field.
Additionally, we recognizethat there are a great many graduates from non-member programs that are entering the workforce, workingside‐by‐side with graduates of our member programs and impacting the deliveryof healthcare every day. The morewe as an association can do toimprove the education that all of those students receive,the better off the graduates of all programs, as well as the public, will be.
Finally, we recognize that by limiting our potential membership, we also limit futureresources and capacity. Additional programs will generate additional revenue, thus enabling AUPHA to provide more and better services and benefits to all program members.
Will my Associate or Full Member benefits change?
No, you will continue to receive the same benefits as you do currently.
Will my dues change?
No, there will be no dues increase in 2010 for full or associate member programs. Going forward, we will base dues on number of degrees granted, but we have set tiers of dues at a level to ensure that all current full members would fall into the lowest dues category.
Does this mean that XYZ University can be a member of AUPHA now?
Yes, any program in a regionally accredited university can be a member of AUPHA now, though they will not receive the same level of benefits as the Full Member programs.
Will XYZ University get the same membership benefits that my program does?
No, as in the past, Associate Candidates and Associate members will receive a sub-set of the full member benefits. Associate Candidates will be eligible to nominate students to the Winston Fellowship, but otherwise all scholarships, prizes, etc. will be benefits of Full membership only.
Will all members have access to the resources on the Network?
Yes, we feel it is important to make these resources available to all members, program and individual. By making this widely accessible we will have broader impact on improving programs and the teaching therein as well as will engender more engagement and exchange of ideas.
Will Associate members be allowed to serve on the Board or vote?
They do not currently have that right. However, the Governance Committee will be considering this issue and may propose bylaws changes that would allow for some level of representation on the Board for Associate Candidate or Associate Program members.
Is it possible that Full Members could become the minority?
While that is possible, it isn't likely in the near term. And even if that does happen at some time, Full members will continue to retain the highest level of benefits. More resources will allow us to provide more opportunities for Full Members to have contact and interact as a group more frequently.
I hope that this answers your questions, but if it does not, please don’t hesitate to contact me or any member of the Board for more information about this membership change. Additional changes to expand membership options are explained in the AUPHA Exchange, and Liane Kluge or Lacey Meckley can answer questions regarding how those changes work.
My very best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving and upcoming holiday season.
Lydia