From One Dupont Circle: Quarterly Update

Happy New Year!

The New Year is off to a very exciting beginning! Our colleagues in New Orleans are reopening and students returned in greater numbers than any had expected. Congratulations to the many student affairs educators and other academic colleagues for the untold hours and weeks of work to prepare a “new” learning environment for students! That’s what it’s all about…………..student learning and experiences!

Our nation’s capital was focused on the Supreme Court nomination process and nominees. Congress has been on recess over the holidays and is just getting back to the other agendas at hand, which includes the Higher Education Reauthorization Act (HERA) and reconciliation bills. Given midterm elections, it is uncertain if the HERA will be passed this session.

Given most of our attention is focused on the upcoming 82nd Annual Convention in Indianapolis; I would like to share three important initiatives that are underway or ongoing this spring:

• ACPA Governance Task Force – the volunteer leadership has been actively engaged at reviewing member feedback and association organizational structure options in hopes of putting together a more functional and responsive governance structure that will take the Association into the 21st Century. We are preparing for the next millennium for student affairs educators and the time is now for a careful look at how we aggressively accelerate our mission and core values. The Task Force members under the leadership of Dr. Patty Perillo have done an outstanding job ensuring all Association voices are included. The results will be presented at the Convention.

• Executive Council approves a resolution on “Sustainable Development.” “Sustainable development, democracy and peace are indivisible as an idea who time has come.” – Wangari Maathai, Noble Peace Prize Recipient

As we look to the future and to a more global society, we as college student educators must share our values and vision for a greater society and help navigate, with our students, the upstream struggle for equality. More information on this agenda is forthcoming in the future. See attached resolution in its entirety.

• The Certification Task Force is preparing a “midterm” progress report for distribution with the Association’s President Blimling has appointed additional committee members to move the recommendations to the next level. This will be shared with the membership prior to the Convention.

There will be many opportunities for us to discuss and share perspectives on each of these issues at the upcoming Convention in Indianapolis. I hope you will pause and join us for a few days to learn, share, and experience the energy and enthusiasm of our members.

Until then,

Greg

ACPA – COLLEGE STUDENT EDUCATORS INTERNATIOAL

RESOLUTION 
In Support of the 
United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development

 

Whereas,
The United Nations has declared a Decade of Education for Sustainable Development beginning in January 2005;

Whereas,
The U.S. Partnership for the Decade of Education is convening, catalyzing and communicating among sectors of society to engage in the Decade;

Whereas,
The Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future is facilitating the engagement of higher education institutions for the U.S. Partnership;

Whereas,
ACPA – College Student Educators International is a leading organization representing educators in student affairs on campuses world wide;

Whereas,
ACPA’s programs would be enhanced by available materials and new projects focusing on education for sustainable development;

Be it resolved by the Executive Council of ACPA – College Student Educators International:

That we support this effort in concert with the U.S. Partnership for the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, and

Be it further resolved that ACPA will collaborate with the Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future to promote programs for the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development among ACPA members, institutions and affiliated state and international divisions.

Approved by the Executive Council, ACPA – College Student Educators International, February 2006.