The AAR and Student Members

From undergraduates to those completing doctoral dissertations, students comprise nearly a third of the AAR’s membership. Student members are a significant constituency in the life of the Academy and are the future of the Academy itself. The AAR has made great strides to address the particular concerns and issues of students by providing opportunities for students to be fully engaged through governance, programming, and scholarship.

The AAR is NOT a meeting. It is a professional organization. That means that the AAR exists to serve its members, including student members, throughout the year. While it is the case that ultimately all aspects of the AAR affect student livelihood, there are structures in place that provide reference points for student development and connection to the guild.

Resources for Student Members
Student Liaisons (SLs) are the single most significant student voice in the AAR. The Student Liaison Group is comprised of these Liaisons, who represent institutions granting the PhD in Religion and Theology throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Student Liaisons serve as the primary link between the AAR and student members “on the ground.” They report to the Student Director.

A Student Director (SD) is elected by the membership every two years. The Student Director’s job is basically to serve as a liaison between students, Student Liaisons, the Graduate Student Committee, the AAR staff, and the Board of Directors. On this last point, the SD is a voting member of the Board of Directors for the duration of her/his tenure.

The Graduate Student Committee (GSC) is a standing committee of the AAR Board of Directors charged with addressing the needs and concerns of graduate students and promoting their professional development and participation in the American Academy of Religion and the academy as a whole. The GSC oversees the "Especially for Students" programming for the Annual Meeting as well as numerous other programs and services for students.

"From the Student Desk" is a regular feature of Religious Studies News (RSN), AAR’s newspaper of record. AAR student members are invited to submit articles on issues and topics especially for students. The Student Director appoints the "From the Student Desk" editor who serves a two year term. Don’t forget to look for these articles when you receive your RSN.

Some Issues Facing Student Members
Job Placement and Preparation: Anxieties about getting a job are high among student members of the AAR, and with good reason. The depressing academic job market in religion and theology generally, along with the increased reliance on contingent faculty and the high material cost of graduate education, makes the prospects look daunting for those who desire to have a traditional academic career. However, a career in traditional university, college, and/or seminary and divinity school settings is not desirable for some student members. How to cultivate meaningful vocational discernment, as well as come to terms with and connect with the very real option of a career in religion outside of traditional academic arrangements, is a topic of ongoing conversation among those who serve student members of the AAR. All student members are invited to join this discussion with various parties in the AAR.

Preparing Scholars for the 21st Century: The job market is only one aspect of a larger, broader issue directly involving student members: how scholars of religion are educated at this particular historical moment, in this particular cultural context. What problems, prospects, and possibilities surround the preparation of the scholars who are future leaders in the Academy, no matter their career trajectory? What does the shape of the study of religion look like for the future? How can we best address emergent needs? We invite student members to contribute to this conversation as well.

What Are Your Issues and Concerns as an AAR Student Member?