Professional Development for Staff
Professional development is a wide-ranging term that applies to activities and opportunities that help one grow in terms of performance, satisfaction, and status within the workplace. We believe that personal and professional growth and fulfillment of one’s potential are integral to UNA achieving its mission.
Professional development can involve job enrichment and expanding one’s current position through adding new responsibilities, taking on new projects; lateral movement into different area/unit of the University; and/or vertical movement to positions of higher status and greater responsibility.
Given our academic environment, professional development activities can take the form of staff attending classes, lectures, conferences, and other academic and cultural events that are part of the University calendar; volunteering and participating in a number of civic engagement opportunities at the College and University levels; and undertaking mentoring and training opportunities aimed at staff.
Learning & Professional Development Opportunities
UNA offers programs, courses, certificates, and online opportunities through our Employee Remission of Tuition and Fees benefit program. Also, the Center for Learning and Professional Development provides learning opportunities for staff and residents of the Shoals area to update workplace skills and productivity-improving knowledge.
Staff Mentoring Program – COMING SOON
Staff mentoring advances the individual and campus community through learning from others. This endeavor will:
- Assist the University in retaining talent
- Foster professional growth of its mentors and mentees
- Provide enhanced connectivity and communication
- Instill a sense of belonging
Service Opportunities
There are several opportunities for staff to engage and become involved in and contribute to the University, Colleges, and Divisions on campus.
Shared Governance Committees
Staff can volunteer to serve on executive, strategic, and/or task committees constituted via our Shared Governance structure to discuss and decide on staff/faculty/university-related policies, strategic initiatives, training programs, and other professional development opportunities. Please communicate with your manager, supervisor, direct report of your interest in serving on these important committees.
Non-UNA Professional Organizations
UNA encourages all staff to participate in organizations aimed at supporting professional development of administrative professionals and managers. Below is an extensive list.
Academic Affairs
Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)
Collegiate Information and Visitor Services Association (CIVSA)
National Academic Advising Association (NACADA)
National Association of Academic Advisors for Health Professions, Inc. (NAAHP)
National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)
National Career Development Association (NCDA)
National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals (NAGAP)
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA)
National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA)
Southern Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (SACRAO)
Administrative
American Association of Higher Education (AAHE)
American Association of University Administrators (AAUA)
American Society of Administrative Professionals (ASAP)
Association of College Administration Professionals (ACAP)
Association of Executive and Administrative Professionals (AEAP)
National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)
University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA)
Athletics
American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)
American Football Coaches Association (AFCA)
National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A)
National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC)
National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA)
U.S. Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA)
Business and Financial Affairs
Amercian Payroll Association (APA)
Association for Facilities Engineering (AFE)
Association of Physical Plant Administrators (APPA)
College and University Professional Association of Human Resources (CUPA-HR)
Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA)
National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAAHR)
National Association of College Auxiliary Services (NACAS)
National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS)
Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM)
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
Association of Blacks in Higher Education (AABHE)
Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD)
Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA)
International Organization of Administrative Professionals (IAAP)
National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP)
National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE)
National Association of Veterans’ Program Administrators (NAVPA)
Student Affairs
American College Personnel Association (ACPA)
American College Counseling Association (ACCA)
American Counseling Association (ACA)
American Student Government Association (ASGA)
Association of Collegiate Conference and Events Directors-International (ACCED-I)
Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I)
Association of Higher Education Parent/Family Programming Professionals (AHEPPP)
Association for Orientation, Transition, Retention in Higher Education (known as NODA)
Association of Student Conduct Administration (ASCA)
Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCCD)
Association of Fraternity Advisors (AFA)
Association of Student Judicial Affairs (ASJA)
National Association of Campus Activities (NACA)
National Association of College and University Resident Halls (NACURH)
National Association of Student Affairs Professionals (NASAP)
National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA)
National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA)
National Orientation Directors Association (NODA)
Southern Association of College Student Affairs (SACSA)
Southeastern Association of Housing Officers (SEAHO)
University Advancement
African American Development Officers Network (AADO)
Alumni Career Services Network (ACSN)
American Marketing Association (AMA)
Annual Giving Directors Consortium (AGDC)
Association of Advancement Services Professional (AASP)
Association of Donor Relations Professionals (ADRP)
Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)
Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA)
Association of Governing Boards (AGB)
Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)