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  • ACPA and NASPA Consolidation update

    By Eric Stoller November 29, 2010 4:30 am EST

    ACPA and NASPA are the largest higher education associations for student affairs practitioners. With a total membership of almost 20,000 student affairs professionals, these two associations play a pivotal role in the future of the profession. The topic du jour for most association members has been the conversation taking place regarding the issue of consolidation. Taking two associations and turning them into one mega-student-affairs association is no small task. According to the latest consolidation proposal, unification has been an ongoing conversation topic for the past 30 years. However, this latest attempt at creating a single association has achieved a momentum that hasn't occurred in prior years. It would appear that we are at the cusp of the creation of a brand new organization. With a tentative consolidation vote to take place in the spring of 2011, student affairs professionals are scrambling to find out information about the future of ACPA and NASPA.

    Both associations have created centralized information portals for their members:

    • ACPA - ACPA and NASPA: Exploring a Common Voice
    • NASPA - Consolidation Discussion

    With so much information being presented on both association sites, it can be a bit overwhelming. I know that I have had a heck of a time keeping track of all of the various communication channels that have been used to disseminate information and to capture member feedback. As a friend and member of both associations, I am hesitant to critique the communication strategy of this process, but I think things need to be more streamlined. The conversation seems to be getting quite fragmented due to too many disparate channels. An upcoming webinar on consolidation (For ACPA members, Monday, December 13, 2010, 2pm–3:30pm EST, Registration is required) should hopefully clarify some of the recent proposals. I know that I will be "attending."

    Having said that, here are a few of the information pieces / feedback forums that I have found to be quite helpful as I formulate my own opinions regarding consolidation:

    • Proposal for the Consolidation of ACPA and NASPA - the definitive document on what the new association might look like.
    • ACPA Consolidation Frequently Asked Questions - a great read on questions that a lot of members have asked.
    • Advantages and Disadvantages of ACPA/NASPA Consolidation - I'm a fan of content that lists the pros and cons. Consolidation is an extremely complex process.
    • Consolidation Concerns and Rationale - I really appreciate this sentiment: "Instead of a house divided, why not move forward united?"
    • NASPA Public Comment Board - You have to sift through the comments, but there are some good points that have been submitted.
    • ACPA Consolidation Discussion Board on Facebook - I'm not sure if Facebook is the right place for commentary, but there are some insightful posts that caught my eye.
    • ACPA/NASPA Professional Competency Areas - this is worth another read as it showcases how the future association might approach technology (thread vs. competency)

    I think that consolidation will eventually happen. Both associations have served their members well and a newly formed association will continue the traditions and legacies of both organizations. I applaud all of the leaders involved in the process as most of them are employed at institutions throughout the country. Their service is inspiring as they help to transform the future of student affairs.

    What do you think? Is consolidation going to happen? Why? Why not?

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Comments on ACPA and NASPA Consolidation update

  • nicely done
  • Posted by Lulu on November 29, 2010 at 9:00am EST
  • Nicely done Eric pulling all these resources into one blog posting. I am ending up spending one full day of reading through all these documents to make sense of it all. Can't wait for the Dec. 13 webinar. "see you there"
  • Consolidation
  • Posted by Stephanie at Iowa State on November 29, 2010 at 9:30am EST
  • I think in many ways consolidation makes sense and will happen. One concern I have is whether having one large national association limits the amount of people who can experience a large national convention. At my previous institution, only a certain number of people were allowed "out of the office" at a certain time. If there is only one national convention then who does the department send? Of course, on the other hand, this might increase participation in regional conferences.

    I think the main difference between student affairs conventions and something like AERA is that if faculty are out of town, those most likely impacted are students in their classes. But most student affairs departments can't realistically have their entire professional staff out of the office.

    Thanks for compiling all of the information, I hope this allows people to become knowledgeable about the topic.
  • Another Resource and Thoughts
  • Posted by Kristen Abell , Associate Director, Residential Life at University of Missouri-Kansas City on November 29, 2010 at 11:00am EST
  • Eric - nice resource post. Here is a link to the power point presentation that Elizabeth Griego, the NASPA President is presenting at all of the regional conferences right now: http://www.naspa.org/files/regions/regioniv-w/FINAL%20PPt%20on%20Consolidation%2011%201%2010.pdf

    I have to admit, personally I struggle with the idea of a consolidated organization. I serve on a regional advisory board for NASPA, and I've had some really incredible experiences through that. I wonder if I would have the same opportunity in a larger organization - I mostly think that I wouldn't. I also struggle with the idea that there will only be one voice for student affairs - will there be an option for dissenters? Not that our voices have varied greatly over the years, but there have been times when one organization has served a specific population better than another, and I think it's been to the advantage of our members (for both organizations) that we've had that capability to find the organization that fits us best. I'm currently just a member of NASPA, although I was previously an ACPA member, so I've had experiences with both organizations. I have to wonder how many people see these organizations as something more than a national conference, and therefore see the larger implications of a consolidation like this on the greater organizational structure - both positive and negative.

    Anyway, just my two cents - not that I've spent any time thinking about it or anything ;-). Thanks for providing the resources and the forum for discussion.
  • Not So Fast My Friend
  • Posted by George McClellan , Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne on December 2, 2010 at 4:46pm EST
  • Eric,

    I suppose it's not surprising that some feel the consolidation is a done deal give that the communication to members and others about the proposal has largely been controlled by those who support consolidation. However, there are many who have grave concerns about both the proposal and the process. I encourage you to be in touch with Michael Jackson, former president of NASPA and senior student affairs officer at Univ. of Southern California, who is heading up the growing group of those working to promote collaboration between ACPA and NASPA without sacrificing either through consolidation. The two associations have distinct and valuable cultures, and many of us believe this is a case where 2 is better than 1.

    Thanks for the great coverage you give to our profession throughout the year!

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