This month I got approval to join the Drupal Association on behalf of my University.
We all benefit from this open source powerhouse, ask yourself why your college or university doesn't directly support the Drupal Association. The cost of Organizational Membership ($100 annually) is a small token of esteem, but what I think matters more is the public support of open source, and Drupal in particular. The Drupal Association supports DrupalCon, scholarships, and other community activies, and every institution of higher education that relies on Drupal should take the time to show their support for the community that supports us.
If you are interested in finding out what it would take to help stakeholders on your campus realize the value of Association membership, let's talk!