function bp_set_member_type( $user_id, $member_type, $append = false ) {
	// Pass an empty $member_type to remove a user's type.
	if ( ! empty( $member_type ) && ! bp_get_member_type_object( $member_type ) ) {
		return false;
	}

	$retval = bp_set_object_terms( $user_id, $member_type, bp_get_member_type_tax_name(), $append );

	// Bust the cache if the type has been updated.
	if ( ! is_wp_error( $retval ) ) {
		wp_cache_delete( $user_id, 'bp_member_member_type' );

		/**
		 * Fires just after a user's member type has been changed.
		 *
		 * @since 2.2.0
		 *
		 * @param int    $user_id     ID of the user whose member type has been updated.
		 * @param string $member_type Member type.
		 * @param bool   $append      Whether the type is being appended to existing types.
		 */
		do_action( 'bp_set_member_type', $user_id, $member_type, $append );
	}

	return $retval;
}