Announcing NASPA's New 3-Year Public Policy Agenda

Greetings from NASPA's Public Policy Division. I am excited to announce an updated tool that will help guide our Association's public policy focus for the next three years: The 2021-2024 NASPA Public Policy Agenda. One of the Division's major responsibilities is developing a policy agenda for the Association. This agenda was developed with broad-based input by our members in the midst of a global pandemic and other political and societal challenges. Given the tumultuous times in which we are living and serving our campuses and students via our respective roles, the relevance of the new Public Policy Agenda cannot be understated.

I’m extremely appreciative of the collaborative work on this document from start to finish. The Public Policy Division leadership team formed a subcommittee tasked with leading the effort, and it was my privilege to chair this stellar group comprised of the following individuals:

• Diana Ali, NASPA’s Associate Director of Policy Research and Advocacy

• Darlene Esparza, Region VI Representative; Director of Campus Organizations, University of California, Irvine

• Kerry Foxx, Region II Representative; Director, Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement, Rochester Institute of Technology

• Heidi Hoskinson, Small Colleges and Universities Division Representative; Vice President for Enrollment Management & Registrar, Rogers State University

• Katy Launius, Community Colleges Division Representative; Dean & Title IX Coordinator - Student Success and Wellness, Eastfield College

• Shane Long, Region I Representative; Director of Student Conduct, University of New England

We heard from numerous colleagues who participated in six listening sessions from late May through mid-July 2020. Several NASPA members were "frequent flyers," participating in several of the listening sessions, and we especially appreciated their commitment, input, and support.

Following the listening sessions, the subcommittee met five times in August and September 2020, engaging in a robust, iterative framing process. Early on, we decided to use the 2019-2024 NASPA Strategic Plan as the framework for the new Public Policy Agenda. A final draft was reviewed by the NASPA Board and select NASPA staff in early October 2020, and feedback was overwhelmingly positive with no major substantive changes recommended. The subcommittee met on November 3, 2020 to finalize the document for submission to the NASPA Board. We were pleased with the end product and its clear connectivity with the association’s strategic plan. The NASPA Board adopted the 2021-2024 NASPA Public Policy Agenda during its winter meeting on December 3, 2020.

The new Public Policy Agenda will be presented during the 2021 NASPA Virtual Conference, specifically, at the Division's Town Hall session set for Tuesday, March 23, at 3:00 p.m. EDT. Be sure to register for the conference to participate in this and so many more engaging programs. 

 

Brent A. Marsh, Director, Public Policy Division