Membership is open to all UNCW full-time and part-time faculty members, current and retired, and enrolled graduate students. Membership to the UNCW chapter is free.

UNCW chapter membership is free, but you are not an AAUP member until you join the national organization. Joining is good for your chapter, your country, and you. Dues-paying members enjoy a host of services, including legal resources, media resources, guidance, advocacy, shopping discounts, and lots of other things. The chapter's November 2025 Newsletter explained many of the key benefits of joining national AAUP.