Monday, October 19, 2009

Unification Documents: Answers to many of your questions
by Dr. Tom Jackson, Jr., ACPA President 2009-10

I sincerely hope you are having a wonderful fall semester and your respective students are engaged and thriving throughout campus.

This email is a special update on the continuing discussions related to unification with NASPA. Over the past several months the presidents and executive directors of both associations (past, current, and future presidents) have been working, emailing, planning, and talking about the many dynamics involved in unification. These discussions, including two face-to-face meetings, have been incredibly collegial, strategic, and positive. We share so much in common and it truly is rewarding to be working with such a fine group of people.

Today, both ACPA and NASPA shares with you some of the work of the presidents. These “unification” documents are in response to member feedback for additional information. More specifically, the following links take you to new documents (webpages): one that speaks to the considerations we have identified (including background, rationale, and pre-unification issues); a second that articulates the values guiding this process; and a third that contains frequently asked questions and the present responses to them.

http://www.myacpa.org/unification

With these pieces in hand, you now have more context and content related to our ongoing conversations concerning the unification issue. We are also still in the process of finalizing a communications plan/timeline document. We should be able to share that with you within a week or two.

Both ACPA and NASPA share a deep commitment to our profession. In fact, ACPA leaders have attended the many different state conferences and ACPA supported professional development programs to respond to member questions. If you have comments or questions you are strongly encouraged to share them using one of the emails below. As always, you can also review and respond to any of the ACPA President blogs located at http://acpa-president.blogspot.com.

ourcommonvoice@gmail.com - (read by both Tom and Mike)
msegawa@naspa.org - (read by Mike Segawa)
acpaprez@gmail.com - (read by Tom Jackson, Jr.)

As we continue to hear your voices and utilize our legal and unification consultants, this process will certainly evolve and we will do our best to keep you apprised of our progress. What an exciting time to be a Student Affairs professional. Thank you for your commitment to ACPA.

Tom Jackson, Jr.
ACPA President