UCAR

The Membership Committee collects new and renewal applications for membership by North American academic institutions between January and April each year.

The Membership Committee reviews membership applications and makes recommendations for the university Members' vote in October at the UCAR Annual Members Meeting.  

THE 2026 RENEWAL APPLICATION DEADLINE IS Thursday, April 30, 2026.

MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA

Universities and nonprofit corporations organized and operated for educational or scientific purposes, and located within the United States, Canada, or Mexico, are eligible for UCAR membership provided they meet the following criteria:

  1. Program of studies and research. Has made a definitive, substantial, and continuing commitment to a full, coherent, and integrated program leading to a baccalaureate, doctorate or other graduate degree in one or more of the atmospheric sciences or related fields.*
  2. Progress in the atmospheric sciences. Has made a definitive, substantial, and continuing commitment to progress in the atmospheric sciences or related fields as evidenced by scholarly works of significance by its faculty in the atmospheric sciences or related fields.
  3. Participation in the activities of UCAR. Has made, or — as might be the case of new members — is willing to make, a clear commitment of active participation in UCAR activities, including its governance, programs, and facilities.

*Note: "Related fields" are those that deal directly with the study of the atmosphere, including astrophysics, biogeochemistry, hydrology, geography, oceanography, space physics, and related societal research.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL APPLICATION PROCESS

1. The UCAR Governance office will email member representatives a notice of renewal in December. Member representatives should reply to that email with their intention to renew their membership.

2. The 2026 UCAR Membership Renewal application form is available here. Email the completed application to UCAR Governance staff before April 30, 2026.

3. Submit a letter to the UCAR president from your university’s President or Vice President of Research affirming the university’s commitment to Earth system science programs at the university. Your application is not complete without this letter! Email the letter to UCAR Governance staff before April 30, 2026.

The Membership Committee will review applications in the summer and make recommendations to the Members for their vote at the October Members Meeting.

MEMBERSHIP TERM AND FEE

Membership in UCAR is for an eight-year renewable term. Membership starts when the UCAR Members vote to approve the membership application at the UCAR Annual Members Meeting in October of each year, then runs through the end of the eighth calendar year after that. 

For example, Members who are approved in October 2025, expire on December 31, 2033.  Those Members would be invited to submit a renewal application by April 30, 2033 and have their renewal voted on in October, 2033. 

The renewal fee is $3,500 every eight years, and may be paid annually ($437.50), if preferred. The invoice will be sent after the October Members Meeting, if the application is approved by the Members. 

Final Note: Institutions are responsible for submission of the required materials by the advertised deadline.

Partial or incomplete submissions may result in membership admission delay or renewal lapse. Receipt of complete application materials by the deadline is extremely important in order for the Membership Committee to have sufficient time to give the application full and proper consideration. If the application materials are not received by the deadline, the Membership Committee will not have sufficient time and will not be able to vote on the application. In the case of renewals, the result will be that membership will lapse. In the case of new applications, membership will be delayed.  - Updated by the UCAR Membership Committee, February 2016

CONTACT US

Aneka Finley Erhart
Assistant Director, UCAR Governance
afinley@ucar.edu
303-497-1655

Rachel Dammann
Membership & Governance Specialist
rdammann@ucar.edu
303-497-1658