FAQs

What does AHRD membership include?
AHRD membership includes a strong portfolio of benefits that support scholarship, professional growth, and year-round connection across the HRD field. Members receive online access to four sponsored journals, past conference proceedings, Special Interest Groups (SIGs), research-meets-practice initiatives, mentoring opportunities, online community and learning, and access to a broad professional network.

Why is AHRD membership valuable?
AHRD membership connects members to high-quality research, meaningful professional relationships, and ongoing opportunities to learn and contribute to the field. It offers both intellectual resources and community engagement, making membership valuable for scholars, educators, students, and reflective practitioners.

Do members receive access to journals?
Yes. Members receive online access to four sponsored journals, providing direct access to current research, theory, and applied insight in human resource development. This benefit supports evidence-based practice, teaching, scholarship, and lifelong learning.

What is the value of conference proceedings?
AHRD’s conference proceedings extend the value of the annual conference by giving members access to scholarship and presentations from past events. They also serve as a professional archive, helping members revisit important ideas, explore missed sessions, and follow the evolution of the field over time.

What are SIGs, and why do they matter?
Special Interest Groups, or SIGs, are member-only communities organized around shared interests, research areas, and professional topics within HRD. They create focused micro-communities where members can develop relationships, exchange ideas, and engage more deeply with peers who share similar interests and expertise.

What is PEN, and who can join?
The Program Excellence Network (PEN) is AHRD’s community for academic programs that are committed to strengthening HRD education and promoting excellence in teaching HRD. PEN is open to academic programs worldwide that provide instruction, research, service, and leadership in HRD, and each participating program designates a PEN delegate.

Do I need to be an AHRD member to join PEN?
Yes. To qualify for the PEN community, you must first have an individual AHRD membership. This requirement ensures that PEN participation is grounded in engagement with the broader AHRD network and its professional resources, while also creating added value for academic programs that want to connect more deeply to the field.

How does the online community strengthen the member experience?
AHRD’s community platform gives members a dedicated online space for ongoing engagement, collaboration, and connection beyond the annual conference. Features include discussion spaces, community groups for SIGs and committees, member profiles, direct messaging, social-style engagement, virtual event experiences, notifications, and engagement tools that support a more connected member journey.

What new learning features will members have through AHRD?
With AHRD’s new LMS capabilities, members will be gaining access to new online courses free and at a discounted fee. New content will be launching each quarter.

What are research-meets-practice initiatives?
Research-meets-practice initiatives help connect scholarship with real-world application in HRD. They create opportunities for academics and practitioners to share insights, apply evidence in practical settings, and strengthen the relevance and impact of the profession. AHRD Insights is the flagship publication for these ongoing efforts and collaborations - https://ahrdinsights.substack.com/

Does AHRD offer mentoring opportunities?
Yes. Mentoring is an important membership benefit because it helps members connect across career stages and build supportive professional relationships. These relationships can support leadership development, research collaboration, career growth, and a stronger sense of belonging within AHRD.

Are there any partner organization discounts available to AHRD members?
Yes. AHRD members are eligible for a 10% discount on AAACE membership. In addition, individuals working at UFHRD member universities and institutional members are eligible for 30% off the AHRD membership fee, reflecting the partnership between the two organizations.