Our program empowers student affairs professionals for transformative careers rooted in equity and access, community and justice, and institutional change, to ultimately create better, more equitable futures. More specifically we:
- We develop student affairs professionals poised to implement inclusive education and leadership that embraces culturally responsible practices, so graduates can expertly address challenges, solve problems and relate across difference.
- We uphold a values-based commitment to broad institutional change, so graduates are united in a shared sense of responsibility to collaboratively improve their community.
- We create environments to build agency, autonomy and self-efficacy, so graduates lead in diverse settings, with the knowledge, skills and awareness to integrate and apply social justice practices.
- We cultivate individual, social and cultural growth and embolden learning that is lifelong and reiterative, so graduates are empowered to navigate systems of power and privilege.
Program History
Since its founding, over 500 students have graduated from the CSSA program. CSSA graduates hold positions in nearly every state as well as in several other countries. Alumni also hold positions at various levels of administration in colleges and universities from instructional faculty and advisors to presidents. Alumni serve on numerous advisory boards, editorial boards, and national/regional committees and held leadership positions in professional associations including:
- President of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA)
- President of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA
- President of the Association of College Unions-International (ACU-I)
- Vice President of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA)
- President of the Northwest Association of Student Affairs Professionals (formally NWCPA)
- President of the Western Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (WASFAA)
For more, visit our alumni page.
CSSA Competencies and Core Values
The CSSA curriculum is organized around a set of core competencies that represent the breadth and depth of knowledge, skills, and perspectives essential for the student affairs professional to be competent, capable, and contemporary, and successful in their professional work with students and colleagues. Additionally, the core competencies provide guidance in the orientation of CSSA students to the underpinning values of the student affairs profession and serve to inform the lifelong learning requirements for student affairs professionals.
As specified by the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education, the CSSA program includes the essential attributes of a comprehensive graduate preparation program (a) foundational studies, (b) professional studies, and c) supervised practice. In addition, the CSSA program’s courses, activities, and pedagogy place emphasis on understanding and enacting social justice practices.
Read and learn more about the CSSA Competencies and Core Values.
CSSA Curriculum
View more information about the courses offered in the College Student Services Administration program.
CSSA Faculty
The CSSA faculty have a sincere commitment to the intellectual and professional formation of those enrolled in the CSSA program. View the faculty in the College Student Services Administration program.