An Update from the ACPA Executive Director, Chris Moody
As we turn the page to a new academic year, many of us usually look to August with cautious optimism—a chance to reset, recharge, and welcome new students into our campus communities. But let’s be honest: this year feels different.
The past few years have left many of us weary. Burnout is real. The rapid pace of change, political headwinds, and pressures on our institutions have taken a toll. You might be entering this season not refreshed but overwhelmed – grappling with uncertainty and wondering how much more we’re expected to handle.
If that sounds like you, know this: you are not alone. The work you do matters – deeply. And if our work wasn’t critical, it wouldn’t be under such scrutiny or attack. Thank you for continuing to show up with resilience, courage, and what we like to call “critical hope.” Your commitment to centering students—their learning, development, and belonging—is the heartbeat of our profession.
ACPA’s Advocacy in Action
ACPA continues to actively work with colleague higher education associations in advocating for our members and our field, as we believe our efforts are strongest and more amplified together. Over the summer months, ACPA joined the higher education community in sponsoring the following advocacy initiatives; a few recent examples include:
- Harvard v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services et al. Amicus Brief (June 2025)
- Letter to the U.S. Congress to protect Pell Grant funding (June 2025)
- Letter to the U.S. Senate on the proposed Reconciliation Bill (June 2025)
- Letter in support for the Title II Web Access Rule, in collaboration with AHEAD (July 2025)
We believe in collective impact. Our advocacy doesn’t stop here—updates are published regularly in our weekly eCommunity newsletter and on the ACPA Public Policy and Governmental Affairs website at https://myacpa.org/advocacy/.
The ACPA Policy Pulse series offers open community conversations and webinar-style learning sessions focused on our latest efforts and legislation impacting members. These virtual sessions occur monthly, with the next opportunity occurring on Wednesday, 17 September 2025 at 1pm ET (10am PT) – Learn more and register
The 2025 ACPA & ASHE Presidential Symposium, Imagining the Path Forward: History, Mentorship and Critical Hope in Higher Education (virtual event on 26 September 2025), will offer a space to reflect on the complexities of the current moment in higher education while envisioning new possibilities for the future. I hope you will register and join us for this collaborative experience.
Forecasting has become more art than science—and that’s why your engagement and membership are more vital than ever. Renewing your membership, showing up to events, and getting involved with ACPA initiatives isn’t just participation—it’s preservation. The Leadership Council is working toward a new strategic plan for the association, intended to launch in 2026. Early drafts of the new strategic plan include a recognition of the increasing influences of public policy issues on higher education.
Your presence fuels our ability to lead, advocate, and reimagine the future of higher education and student affairs. We are committed to embracing this uncertainty with care and strategy, and I thank you for being part of this journey with ACPA.
Best wishes as we begin a new academic year,
Chris Moody, Ed.D.
ACPA Executive Director