In an effort to provide ongoing professional development opportunities for SAAL members, the Professional Development Committee hosts Structured Conversations. Structured Conversations are monthly interactive assessment webinars. A listing of upcoming webinars and past records can be found below. Check the professional development calendar for a full listing of events.
SAAL Structured Conversations are designed with you in mind. Recognizing the expertise of our colleagues in Student Affairs assessment, we are issuing a call for presentations to share your expertise, perspectives, and best practices in student affairs assessment.
Ready to submit a proposal? Please fill out the form below. SAAL typically hosts one Structured Conversation per month and we accept submissions on a rolling basis. The SAAL Professional Development Committee will coordinate all the logistics for the session including technical support and promotion.
Pathways to Senior Leadership, Part I: Navigating Career Progression and Senior-Level Roles in Student Affairs
Register for the April Structured Conversation: Pathways to Senior Leadership, Part I
If you are unable to attend live, register to receive the recording and any available resources.
Abstract:
Assessment professionals bring critical skills, such as strategic thinking, evidence-based decision-making, and institutional perspective, that are increasingly essential at the senior leadership level in student affairs. Yet the pathway from assessment-focused roles to senior leadership positions is often unclear. This Structured Conversation explores how student affairs leaders with assessment backgrounds navigated their career progression into senior roles such as Assistant Vice President and Vice President. Panelists will reflect on how they prepared for leadership beyond director-level assessment roles, the challenges they encountered when stepping into broader portfolios, and how their day-to-day responsibilities shifted as they moved into senior leadership. Designed for assessment professionals who are curious about the next stage of their careers, this session emphasizes professional identity, mindset shifts, and leadership realities.
Pathways to Senior Leadership, Part II: How Skills Used in Student Affairs Assessment Help Staff Advance to Senior Leadership
Register for the May Structured Conversation: Pathways to Senior Leadership, Part II
If you are unable to attend live, register to receive the recording and any available resources.
Abstract:
Interested to hear from student affairs senior leaders about what skills to develop to get to the senior level in student affairs? This panel helps staff learn about what skills are needed at the senior level from an assessment perspective. A moderator first introduces key skills that are needed at Assistant Vice President (AVP) level in student affairs. She then asks panelists about their student affairs career paths and how others from student affairs career paths can advance to an AVP position within student affairs using these skills. The panelists share their experiences and explain how assessment and other skills assisted them in applying and succeeding in these higher-level positions.
Panelists:
Collaborative Inquiry Across Associations: Methodological Insights from Analyzing 1,000 SAAL Listserv Threads with Dr. Shaun Boren
Register for the June Structured Conversation: Collaborative Inquiry Across Associations
If you are unable to attend live, register to receive the recording and any available resources.
Abstract:
A joint project was conducted by representatives from SAAL, NASPA’s AERKC, and ACPA’s CAE to analyze roughly 1,000 listserv threads from 2020–2024 to understand practitioner needs and shifts in student affairs assessment. The inter-association team used a two‑round coding process to categorize posts into announcements, job postings, and practitioner inquiries. Professional development dominated discussions, while methodological questions and peer troubleshooting highlighted the listserv as a shared community of practice. Rising director‑level and institutional research postings signaled expanding career pathways. Findings underscore the value of coordinated cross‑organizational inquiry to pool capacity, strengthen networking, and broaden perspectives.
Learning Outcomes:
Structured Conversations are FREE and anyone can participate. If you are unable to attend a Structured Conversation live or want to review a past Structured Conversation, recordings going back to 2016 are available on the SAAL YouTube Channel.