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NASPA @ NOLA 2025

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I am very excited to get to serve on the annual conference team for NASPA 26 in KC! As part of the planning team, we have several onsite meetings. One is at this year's conference to be in transition with this year's team. Several of my staff members were able to attend the conference as well. Below are some photos with friends and colleagues who I was so happy to reconnect with! 

The rest are notes I took from a few sessions. I as going to delete them, then thought, y'all might be interested in some of the random things always on my mind and in process. Take a peek!

Also, NASPA stands for National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. While there opportunities all year long to engage with different groups and regions, in person and online, the annual conference is the premier event where you can learn and hang out with over 6,500 of your peers in higher ed work! 

























Notes:


The balance of crisis management and change management is ongoing.


Rest is essential.

Decision fatigue is real.

The work can feel isolating.

The industry is highly connected.

The pursuit of purpose is continuous.

4 priorities

Technology

1. Cybersecurity

2. AI

3. Data Privacy and Governance

Comprehensive Learner Records

Co-curricular transcripts

badges

e-portfolios

Where do they pull the evidence that they are learning everywhere? ACCRO partnered with NASPA and 100 colleges  to pilot the e-portfolios. 

Demonstrate that we have student learning outcomes that are being met.

Health, Safety, Wellbeing

Mental Health

Recruiting and retaining staff

64% of currently enrolled students claimed emotional stress or mental health concerns were significant reasons for wanting to leave.

Assessment of Programs and Services

If we don't do assessment, we will continue to be seen as crisis management and engagement. Left us out of overall student success agenda. Persistence, retention, completion. 

Assess the process, needs, outcomes. 

Show students are learning. 

Preparation pathways for the field

Strategic communication

state level doge offices

Decision making tools

Self awareness

Patience

Data Literacy

Relationship Building

Participation in these organizations provide a level of pd for staff to build an enhance skills that tie back to our mission, and support the work on campus through...

207-719-1191, aparnell@naspa.org 

NASPA Policy Resource Hub

Policy Facts Sheets

Pen America's bill tracker on academic freedom is a good resource. 

NADOHE president Paulette Granberry Russell 

changes in nomenclature, policies, programs.

Enhanced metrics and practitioner tools for metrics measuring impact

Three phases:

Amplifying student voices

1. Prioritizing belonging, inclusions, cultural relevance

2. intentional and meaningful leadership, particularly faculty to build trust in the classroom

3. elevating student voice and impact, desire for shared governance, co-constructing their experience

-enhance civic engagement

-dialogue and conflict resolutions

-feedback loops

-student representation

-expand mental health and wellbeing

4. increased institutional accountability

5. consistent dialogue spaces

Restorative Communities of Practice

Move away from the false narratives and use the language. 

Its personally and professionally challenging.

1. embed dei in plans, policies, data

2. adaptive strategies and transparent comms build trust

3. coalition building

4. student activism powers dei

5. community is essential

Future Vista Impact Summit was a virtual even a few weeks ago. 

1. Community responsibility and impact

2. innovation and future sustainability

3. educational excellence and student success

strategic partnerships and community engagement

legal and policy advocacy

technology to drive accountability

narratives and framing have missed the mark, broader benefits of dei

What will they do with the information collected? differential outcomes with graduation rates, faculty tenure, etc.....inform strategies dissecting policies, programs, practices, bringing more coalitions together, 


how do we message the value of our work in higher education? Have we missed the mark on how we define dei and its impact to everyone? 

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