Higher Ed./Student Affairs Professional Associations

Professional associations exist to bring like-minded professionals together to share information, understand issues within a profession, and help people connect and collaborate. There are many associations that a budding professional can join. The question for me is "what is the best fit?" I am taking inventory of my interests and I'm trying to identify which professional organizations will help me learn more about how my interests intersect with the profession.This post will review three associations. I will look at the organization's purpose, membership benefits, and cost of membership (student level).

NASPA (Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education)-This organization's vision is "Fulfilling the Promise of Higher Education" and it has been in existence since 1918. NASPA bills itself as the leading voice of student affairs. Its mission "drives innovation and evidence-based, student-centered practice throughout higher education, nationally and globally." Their guiding principles are "Integrity, Innovation, Inclusion, and Inquiry". NASPA is an international organization with Regions that pair areas of the United States to areas within other countries. New York state is part of Region II, which also includes Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Canal Zone, Afghanistan, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Italy, and Turkey. Students pursuing a master's degree pay $37 annually. A full list of benefits can be found here, but I found that discounts on NASPA events and learning opportunities and the chance to engage with Constituent Groups (special interests within higher education) seemed really appealing.

NCDA (National Career Development Association)--This organization was created in 1913, but its name changed in 1985. They tout being the first and longest-running "preeminent career development association in the world". NCDA develops standards for the career development profession, for the provision of career counseling programs and services, and the evaluation of career development materials. NCDA works with licensing and credentialing bodies to support the preparation and recognition of career counselors and career development practitioners. NCDA also sets ethical standards for the career development profession including guidelines for the provision of career services on the Internet. A full list of member benefits can be found here. Discounted conferences and professional development opportunities are available for members. Networking opportunities available through a "members only" area of the website is an interesting offering. Student membership cost is $40 annually (undergraduate and graduate students).

AAHHE (American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education)- This organization "addresses issues and concerns affecting Hispanics, with a focus on higher education". Their site rightfully points out that "while the Hispanic population is the largest ethnic minority population in the United States, Hispanics are underrepresented in the undergraduate, graduate enrollments and in graduation rates". AAHHE is also concerned with the fact that Hispanic faculty in tenure track positions represent about four percent of the total faculty in colleges and universities. AAHHE member benefits include discounts on conferences and educational opportunities along with access to publications. A full breakdown can be found here. A focus on increasing a Latinx presence in higher education makes this organization sound promising because this is an area of interest for me. Student membership is $50 annually and memberships run from July 1 to June 30.