ACUHO-I and six other higher education associations have joined forces to offer a new Student Affairs Educator Certification program. These certifications, which will encourage lifelong learning and support professional advancement for educators across institutional types and functional areas, will include a core credential as well as ones for housing and residential life, college unions, student conduct administration, campus activities, campus recreation, and fraternity and sorority life.
The launch of this new professional certification marks the culmination of a multi-year development process led by the Higher Education Consortium for Student Affairs Certification – a new organization collaboratively established by ACUHO-I, ACUI, AFA, ASCA, NACA, NASPA, and NIRSA. Certification development involved hundreds of practitioner and graduate faculty subject matter experts in student affairs/services across multiple professional associations.
Certification includes a core student affairs educator credential (CSAEd) and specialty credentials in the functional areas of campus activities, campus housing and residential life, campus recreation, college unions, fraternity and sorority life, and student conduct administration. All certifications were developed to benefit eligible mid-level professionals by formally recognizing their knowledge gained through several years of student affairs/services work experience and ongoing professional development.
Certification was intentionally designed to complement and build upon the critical foundation provided by graduate education programs while also acknowledging pathways into and throughout student affairs for the many educators whose highest degree earned is a bachelor’s or an associate’s. Through certification, mid-level educators can formally demonstrate their ongoing learning through work experiences, and gain a tool to advocate for professional advancement into senior-level positions and transitions across student affairs/services functional areas.
The pilot program of Student Affairs Educator Certification successfully occurred in Fall 2022. Applications for the Spring Certification Window will open on Monday, February 13, 2023. Individuals who are members of any founding partner association may apply for certification at a discounted rate.
For additional details about Student Affairs Educator Certification, visit https://studentaffairscertification.org/ or reach out to info@studentaffairscertification.org with any questions.
