Headshot of Gregory Roberts

Greetings!

I hope your summer is proceeding slowly, so you may enjoy the last few weeks before campuses return to “full bloom” as usual.

While many of you are preparing your campuses for the new academic year, so is ACPA. The leadership of the association comes together once each year to orient new leaders, discuss priorities and the future direction of the association.  Many of you may have heard of SLM (Summer Leadership Meeting).  We have just completed the 2012 SLM in Las Vegas, the site of the 2013 Co-located Annual Convention with NIRSA (National Intramural Recreation Sports Association).  In addition the 2013 Convention Planning Team was also onsite finalizing the plans with NIRSA for what will be a great convention and expo.  The theme:  “Inspiring Communities of Wellbeing”.   There is still time to submit a program proposal, if you haven’t done so already.

What happens at SLM, one might ask?  The State and International Division leaders, Commission chairs, Standing Committee chairs, and Assembly Coordinators meet to discuss and plan their entity educational programs for the year.  The Governing Board met to focus on a new 3-5 year Strategic Plan for the association.  This plan is being formulated reflecting feedback from the membership survey results.  (Many thanks to all who completed the survey.)  This leadership assembly also meets as a collective to discuss and act on new initiatives and proposals.

Over the next few weeks I will share with you the results of the important topical conversations that will be moving forward.  These topical conversations include:

  • Strategic Goals
  • Global Initiatives
  • Institutional Councils
  • Professional Development Advisory Board
  • External Relations Advisory Board
  • Transfer Student Task Force
  • Student Veteran Concerns and Issues
  • The 90th Anniversary of ACPA (2014)
  • Credentialing Implementation Team
  • Memorial to Phyllis L. Mable

On a special note, Dr. Kristan Cilente Skendall completed her Ph.D. in May and will be returning to the staff at the University of Maryland – College Park in mid August.  We want to thank Kristan for her services as an International Office staff member and for moving forward the C3 program and the Phyllis L. Mable New Professionals Institute.  We are currently in a national search to fill this position of Director of Professional Development in the International Office.

Until the next time,

Greg