July 2024

In response to increasing demand and the critical need for supporting emerging scholars, AERA will launch a coordinated campaign in September to raise a minimum of $25,000 per year for the Annual Meeting Graduate Student Assistance Fund. After a successful pilot of the fund for the 2023 and 2024 Annual Meetings, AERA Council approved its continuation through the 2027 Annual Meeting at its June meeting.

AERA will provide $25,000 from its operating budget to provide 50 awards per year. The fundraising campaign aims to minimally match that level of funding through donations, potentially doubling the number of awards available.  

The fund, directed to AERA graduate student members with demonstrated need, aims to assist them with registration and travel costs for the Annual Meeting.

“The rationale for the Annual Meeting Graduate Student Assistance Fund at its inception remains as much an imperative today as when we piloted this initiative,” said AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine. “Graduate students are the future of the field of education research, and their participation in the Annual Meeting is crucial for their professional development as scholars.”

During its inaugural year, the fund distributed $54,500 across 109 awards, reaching students from 93 institutions, including six international and 12 minority-serving institutions. In 2024, the fund distributed $44,500 to 89 awardees from 81 institutions, including eight international and one minority-serving institution.

The fundraising campaign, set to launch in September, will use multiple communication channels, including direct emails, social media appeals, and targeted outreach from division and SIG leaders. The goal is to provide a member-friendly way to contribute conveniently, whether through membership renewal or online donation processes.

The fund’s extension is seen as a vital investment in the future of education research. “Even in tight-budget times, it remains important to continue to support graduate students to enable their participation in the Annual Meeting,” Levine said.

AERA Council will review the initiative in June 2027 to assess its impact.