"For the online meetings, there were more than 30-40% fewer papers submitted than for recent in-person meetings. For the Central Division, the online meeting registration was 14% lower than the 10-year average. For the Pacific Division, the online meeting registration was 28% lower than the 10-year average."
"Many people join the APA or renew their membership to submit papers or get meeting discounts. Lower participation in online meetings contributed to a decrease of nearly 1,500 members as of February 2026."
"Meeting evaluation survey results for both online meetings included some comments expressing appreciation for the online format for its accessibility. However, more participants expressed negative feelings about the online meeting format, including technology issues, the cost of registration, limited networking opportunities, and low attendance in sessions."
The APA's three divisions decided to end the 2+1 experiment, which combined online and in-person divisional meetings, returning to exclusively in-person meetings starting in 2027. This decision was driven by substantial declines in participation metrics: online meetings experienced 30-40% fewer paper submissions compared to recent in-person meetings, with Central Division registration down 14% and Pacific Division down 28% from 10-year averages. The experiment's conclusion resulted in nearly 1,500 APA membership losses by February 2026, as members typically join or renew specifically for meeting participation and discounts. While survey feedback acknowledged online format benefits for accessibility, most participants reported negative experiences citing technology issues, registration costs, limited networking, and low session attendance. The divisional executive committees recognized the importance of accessibility, inclusion, and sustainability values but determined in-person meetings better serve member needs.
#apa-meetings #hybrid-format-experiment #membership-decline #participation-metrics #accessibility-and-sustainability
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