Resources: Development Opportunities

Below are examples of professional development opportunities that the ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ offers. Many of these offerings are low- or no-cost. Please visit the websites below to get started.

  • Workshops and Seminars: These are short-term training sessions that cover specific topics related to skills, leadership, technology, diversity and more.
  • Certificate Programs: These programs can range from a few months to a year. Please also refer to department websites for discipline-specific certificate programs.
  • Conferences and Events: These conferences, symposia and events offer networking and learning opportunities in various disciplines.
  • CU Women Succeeding Symposium- CU SYS
  • Women’s Leadership Symposium- ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ
  • CU Social Justice Summit- CU SYS
  • Ignite Social Justice & Leadership Conference- ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ 
  • Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit
  • Online Courses: We offer online courses through platforms like Coursera, edX and other learning management systems, providing flexibility for employees to develop skills at their own pace. Please also look at specific departmental offerings.
  • Leadership Development Programs: These programs aim to enhance leadership skills and often include workshops, coaching and mentorship.
  • Tuition Assistance: Tuition assistance is for employees pursuing further education, such as advanced degrees or specific certifications.
  • Coaching and Mentoring: Coaching or mentoring programs help employees develop specific skills or navigate their careers.
  • Wellness and Personal Development: Employee well-being, stress management and work-life balance are priorities at CU. The College of Arts and Sciences has made this a priority since initiating the Be Well program in 2018, and has now expanded to its Let’s CU Well speaker series.

The organizations listed below offer a range of resources, conferences, publications, webinars and networking opportunities that can greatly benefit professionals working in administration in higher education. Keep in mind that the landscape of professional organizations may evolve over time, so it is a good idea to explore their websites for the latest information and offerings.

Below is a list of professional organizations that are relevant to the field of administration in higher education:

  • National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA):
  • Website: 
  • Focuses on student affairs professionals and offers resources, conferences and networking opportunities.
  • American College Personnel Association (ACPA):
  • Website: 
  • Provides professional development and advocacy for college student educators.
  • Association for Institutional Research (AIR):
  • Website: 
  • Offers resources and support for professionals involved in institutional research and planning.
  • National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO):
  • Website: 
  • Focuses on business and financial administration in higher education institutions.
  • Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE):
  • Website: 
  • Addresses sustainability challenges and solutions in higher education institutions.
  • Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers (APPA):
  • Website: 
  • Focuses on facilities management and administration in higher education.
  • American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO):
  • Website: 
  • Supports professionals working in admissions, enrollment management and records management.
  • Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE):
  • Website: 
  • Provides resources and networking for advancement professionals, including fundraising and communications.
  • American Association of University Administrators (AAUA):
  • Website: 
  • Offers opportunities for professional development and networking among university administrators.
  • American Association of Community Colleges (AACC):
  • Website: 
  • Supports community college administrators, faculty and staff in their roles.
  • Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU):
  • Website: 
  • Represents public research universities and provides resources for administrators and leaders.
  • National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA):
  • Website: 
  • Focuses on research administration and compliance in universities and institutions.

Below is a list of professional organizations that are relevant to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in higher education:

  • National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE):
  • Website: 
  • Focuses on advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education leadership.
  • National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in American Higher Education (NCORE):
  • Website: https://www.ncore.ou.edu/
  • Offers an annual conference and resources addressing racial and ethnic issues in higher education.
  • American Association of Blacks in Higher Education (AABHE):
  • Website: 
  • Focuses on advancing African Americans in leadership positions within higher education.
  • The American Council on Education (ACE) - Center for Education Attainment and Innovation:
  • Website: https://www.acenet.edu/Programs-Services/Pages/Centers-for-Education-Attainment-and-Innovation.aspx
  • Addresses issues related to access, equity and attainment in higher education.
  • NASPA - Center for Women:
  • Website: 
  • Focuses on promoting the leadership development of women in higher education.
  • American Association for Access, Equity, and Diversity (AAAED):
  • Website: 
  • Addresses equal opportunity, diversity and affirmative action in higher education.
  • Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) - Inclusive Excellence Group:
  • Website: https://www.aacu.org/inclusive-excellence
  • Provides resources for advancing diversity and inclusion in higher education.
  • Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC):
  • Website: 
  • Focuses on promoting diversity and equity in faculty and staff recruitment.
  • Council for Opportunity in Education (COE):
  • Website: 
  • Advocates for low-income, first-generation college students and individuals with disabilities.
  • Diversity Abroad Network:
  • Website: 
  • Addresses diversity and inclusion in study abroad and international education.
  • Society for Diversity in Higher Education (SDHE):
  • Website: 
  • Offers resources and networking opportunities for diversity professionals in academia.
  • Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD):
  • Website: 
  • Focuses on accessibility, equity and inclusion for individuals with disabilities in higher education.

Below is a list of professional organizations that are relevant to finance in higher education:

  • National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO):
  • Website: 
  • Focuses on business and financial administration in higher education institutions.
  • Eastern Association of College and University Business Officers (EACUBO):
  • Website: 
  • Provides professional development and networking for finance professionals in the eastern United States.
  • Southern Association of College and University Business Officers (SACUBO):
  • Website: 
  • Offers resources and support for finance professionals in the southern United States.
  • Western Association of College and University Business Officers (WACUBO):
  • Website: 
  • Supports finance and administrative professionals in the western United States.
  • National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA):
  • Website: 
  • Focuses on financial aid administration and provides resources for financial aid professionals.
  • Council of Higher Education Management Associations (CHEMA):
  • Website: 
  • Provides a platform for collaboration among higher education management associations, including finance-related associations.
  • Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE):
  • Website: 
  • Addresses sustainability challenges and solutions, including financial sustainability, in higher education institutions.
  • Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU):
  • Website: 
  • Represents public research universities and provides resources for finance and administrative professionals.
  • Higher Education Financial Wellness Alliance (HEFWA):
  • Website: 
  • Focuses on promoting financial wellness and literacy among students, faculty and staff in higher education.
  • American Association of Community Colleges (AACC):
  • Website: 
  • Supports community college finance administrators, faculty and staff in their roles.
  • Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA):
  • Website: 
  • While not specific to higher education, offers resources for government finance professionals, including those in higher education.
  • National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA):
  • Website: 
  • While not exclusively finance-focused, addresses research administration and compliance in universities and institutions.

Below is a list of professional organizations that are relevant to human resources (HR) in higher education:

  • College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR):
  • Website: https://www.cupahr.org/
  • Focuses on HR practices, policies and issues specific to colleges and universities.
  • Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM):
  • Website: 
  • While not specific to higher education, offers resources, networking and certification opportunities for HR professionals across industries.
  • Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC):
  • Website: 
  • Focuses on promoting diversity and equity in faculty and staff recruitment in higher education.
  • College and University Work-Life-Family Association (CUWFA):
  • Website: 
  • Addresses work-life balance, family support and well-being issues for higher education employees.
  • American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO):
  • Website: 
  • Provides resources and support for professionals working in admissions, enrollment management and records management, including HR roles.
  • American Association for Employment in Education (AAEE):
  • Website: 
  • Focuses on recruitment, hiring and career services in education, including higher education.
  • CUPA-HR Eastern Region:
  • Website: https://www.cupahr.org/about/about-cupa-hr/regions-and-chapters/eastern-region/
  • Offers regional networking and professional development opportunities for HR practitioners in higher education in the eastern U.S.
  • CUPA-HR Southern Region:
  • Website: https://www.cupahr.org/about/about-cupa-hr/regions-and-chapters/southern-region/
  • Provides regional resources and connections for HR professionals in higher education in the southern U.S.
  • CUPA-HR Western Region:
  • Website: https://www.cupahr.org/about/about-cupa-hr/regions-and-chapters/western-region/
  • Offers networking and development opportunities for HR practitioners in higher education in the western U.S.
  • Association for Title IX Administrators (ATIXA):
  • Website: 
  • Focuses on Title IX compliance, including HR-related issues, in educational institutions.
  • Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE):
  • Website: 
  • Provides resources for advancement professionals, including HR-related roles, in higher education.
  • Association for Talent Development (ATD):
  • Website: 
  • While not specific to higher education, focuses on training and development, including HR aspects, in various industries.

Below is a list of professional organizations that are relevant to enhancing the student experience in higher education:

  • National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA):
  • Website: 
  • Focuses on student affairs professionals and offers resources, conferences and networking opportunities to enhance student development and success.
  • American College Personnel Association (ACPA):
  • Website: 
  • Provides professional development and advocacy for college student educators to promote student learning and engagement.
  • Association for the Assessment of Learning in Higher Education (AALHE):
  • Website: 
  • Focuses on assessment and evaluation strategies to enhance student learning and the overall student experience.
  • National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS):
  • Website: https://transferinstitute.org/
  • Addresses transfer student issues and aims to improve the transfer student experience and success.
  • Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U):
  • Website: 
  • Offers resources and conferences focused on improving the quality of student learning and the overall college experience.
  • Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education (NODA):
  • Website: 
  • Supports professionals working in new student orientation, transition programs and student retention efforts.
  • National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition:
  • Website: 
  • Offers resources, research and support to enhance the first-year student experience and transition to college.
  • National Society for Experiential Education (NSEE):
  • Website: 
  • Focuses on experiential learning opportunities that contribute to student development and success.
  • Association of College and University Housing Officers - International (ACUHO-I):
  • Website: 
  • Addresses issues related to on-campus housing and residential life, contributing to the holistic student experience.
  • American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO):
  • Website: 
  • Provides resources for professionals working in admissions, enrollment management and student records management.
  • National Association of Campus Activities (NACA):
  • Website: 
  • Focuses on campus activities, programming and student engagement to enhance the college experience.
  • Association of College Unions International (ACUI):
  • Website: 
  • Addresses the role of college unions and student activities in enhancing campus life and the student experience.

Below is a list of professional organizations that are relevant to the first-year student experience in higher education:

  • National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition:
  • Website: 
  • Focuses exclusively on research, resources and best practices related to the first-year college experience and student transition.
  • Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education (NODA):
  • Website: 
  • Supports professionals involved in new student orientation, transition programs and student retention efforts.
  • American Association for the Advancement of Curriculum Studies (AAACS):
  • Website: https://www.aaacs.org/
  • Offers resources and discussions related to curriculum design and development, including for the first-year experience.
  • National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC):
  • Website: 
  • Addresses issues related to college admission and counseling, which can impact the first-year experience.
  • National Academic Advising Association (NACADA):
  • Website: 
  • Supports academic advisors and provides resources for advising practices that impact the first-year experience.
  • American Association for the Study of Higher Education (AASHE):
  • Website: 
  • Addresses various aspects of higher education, including those related to the first-year experience.
  • American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE):
  • Website: 
  • Focuses on teacher education, which can impact the preparation and support of educators involved in the first-year experience.
  • American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO):
  • Website: 
  • Provides resources for professionals involved in admissions, enrollment management and student records, which impact the first-year experience.
  • Council for the Study of Community Colleges (CSCC):
  • Website: 
  • Focuses on research and issues related to community colleges, including the first-year experience.
  • Community College Research Center (CCRC):
  • Website: 
  • Focuses on research and resources related to community college student success, including first-year experiences.
  • Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U):
  • Website: 
  • Offers resources and conferences focused on improving the quality of student learning, including in the first year.
  • The International Society for Exploring Teaching and Learning (ISETL):
  • Website: 
  • Focuses on teaching and learning research and practices, which impact the first-year experience.