Guiding Principles
Integrity
Committed to high moral principles exhibiting authentic, honest, just, and ethical behavior.
Innovation
Continuously seeking improvement through new and creative approaches.
Inclusion
Seeking ways to ensure access, voice, acknowledgement, opportunity, and participation at all levels.
Inquiry
Supporting research and scholarship to add to the knowledge base of the profession and ensure that data informs practice.
Vision and Mission
Our Vision
Fulfilling the promise of higher education.
Our Mission
As the leading voice of student affairs, NASPA drives innovation and evidence-based, student-centered practice throughout higher education, nationally and globally.
Our Strategic Plan
NASPA’s current strategic plan is coming to a close and the NASPA Board of Directors is excited to announce the launch of our strategic planning process, a collaborative effort to shape the Association’s priorities and direction for the next three years. This inclusive initiative will bring together voices from throughout our community - including leaders, volunteers, and general members to ensure that our plan reflects the diverse perspectives and expertise within NASPA.
We believe input from our community is essential in developing a roadmap that will guide our new mission and amplify our impact in higher education. This process will culminate with an unveiling of the new strategic plan in March of 2026. Along the way, we will provide meaningful ways for you to contribute. Stay tuned for more details on how to get involved, and thank you for joining us in shaping the future of NASPA and the field of student affairs.
Join Us: Become a Member Today
Connect with community. Access high-quality, actionable content. Enhance your own learning and development. Build your network. Drive the future of student affairs on your campus.
NASPA Strategic Priorities and Long-Term Goals
Our Strategic Priorities & Long-term Goals
Elevate the Value of Student Affairs
●Build awareness and understanding of the student affairs profession and its impact on student success among students, faculty, and administrators to drive support and interest in the field.
●Curate and communicate the evidence-base for student affairs’ measurable impact.
●Increase recognition of student affairs’ strategic value among institutional leaders.
●Strengthen partnerships that amplify the influence and visibility of student affairs.
Enhance the Career Pathways and Well-Being of Student Affairs Professionals
●Advocate for equitable workload, compensation, and career development standards.
●Strengthen career progression, retention, and advancement through targeted support and professional development.
●Personalize NASPA’s learning portfolio.
●Integrate well-being and belonging across NASPA’s learning and affinity programs.
Provide Timely Advocacy, Policy, and Practice Resources
●Build organizational capacity and practice to respond to major policy shifts and debates.
●Provide policy and advocacy resources designed to build member capacity for policy understanding and advocacy.
●Deliver timely and accessible analysis of federal and state policy developments.
●Advance a research-to-practice agenda for evidence-based guidance on effective professional practice.
Strengthen Member Experience and Organizational Resilience
●Implement an integrated content strategy.
●Update and implement a new financial model to ensure solvency, transparency, and impact.
●Use data on engagement and satisfaction to drive continuous improvement of the member experience.
●Modernize technology infrastructure for efficiency, security, and personalization.
Advance Inclusive and Impactful Governance
●Implement a volunteer leadership and engagement strategy that deepens the membership's connection to NASPA's mission and equips members to govern strategically and inclusively.
●Clarify roles and strengthen coordination among the Board, volunteer leaders, and staff to ensure coherence and shared accountability.
●Evolve governance structures and strengthen communication channels between members, volunteers, and staff to ensure decisions are informed by diverse perspectives and communicated transparently.
Strategic Priorities | Long-term Goals
●Build awareness and understanding of the student affairs profession and its impact on student success among students, faculty, and administrators to drive support and interest in the field.
●Curate and communicate the evidence-base for student affairs’ measurable impact.
●Increase recognition of student affairs’ strategic value among institutional leaders.
●Strengthen partnerships that amplify the influence and visibility of student affairs.
●Advocate for equitable workload, compensation, and career development standards.
●Strengthen career progression, retention, and advancement through targeted support and professional development.
●Personalize NASPA’s learning portfolio.
●Integrate well-being and belonging across NASPA’s learning and affinity programs.
●Build organizational capacity and practice to respond to major policy shifts and debates.
●Provide policy and advocacy resources designed to build member capacity for policy understanding and advocacy.
●Deliver timely and accessible analysis of federal and state policy developments.
●Advance a research-to-practice agenda for evidence-based guidance on effective professional practice.
●Implement an integrated content strategy.
●Update and implement a new financial model to ensure solvency, transparency, and impact.
●Use data on engagement and satisfaction to drive continuous improvement of the member experience.
●Modernize technology infrastructure for efficiency, security, and personalization.
●Implement a volunteer leadership and engagement strategy that deepens the membership's connection to NASPA's mission and equips members to govern strategically and inclusively.
●Clarify roles and strengthen coordination among the Board, volunteer leaders, and staff to ensure coherence and shared accountability.
●Evolve governance structures and strengthen communication channels between members, volunteers, and staff to ensure decisions are informed by diverse perspectives and communicated transparently.