Professional Levels

To better support the professional development of all attendees, professional levels for NODAC 2025 will be defined as: Emerging Professional, Advancing Professional, Established Professional and Strategic Professional. A detailed description of each level is below. Our intention is that these broadened categories will help participants to better align themselves with their skills and abilities when selecting a level, and/or feel empowered to float between two if needed. We also believe the levels will assist educational programming presenters/facilitators to be more informed when making audience selection(s) during the Call for Session submission process and developing their content.

  • This level represents individuals who are in the early stages of their career in higher education
  • Emerging Professionals benefit from guidance, mentorship, and supervision to further develop their skills
  • They are typically in entry-level roles, gaining foundational knowledge and skills
  • Professionals at this level are actively learning about the field, beginning to apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings
  • Professionals at the advancing level have acquired more experience and are developing a deeper understanding of higher education
  • Contribute to the improvement of programs and services of their unit
  • They may serve as departmental leadership in the absence of their leadership
  • These individuals demonstrate a growing ability to manage complex issues, support/supervise newer staff
  • They take on increased responsibilities and may begin to specialize in specific areas
  • Individuals may be preparing for a more strategic role within their unit/organization
  • Significant experience and expertise in higher education 
  • Tenured understanding of the field and leaders for specific functional areas
  • Manage large-scale initiatives, influence policy decision making, mentor and develop staff
  • Subject matter experts who contribute to strategic planning at their institution from the lenses of their functional area  
  • High-level leaders in higher education with advanced expertise in the field. 
  • Critical role in shaping and aligning programs and support with institutional mission, vision, and values. 
  • Provides comprehensive leadership and supervision to multiple levels of staffing. 
  • Oversight of multi-faceted initiatives, programs, and budgets, influencing change at divisional or institutional level.
  • Involved in long-term planning, innovative programming, and engagement with divisional and institutional stakeholders.

CORNERSTONE CONVERSATIONS

Cornerstones Conversations is a short-form speaker series capturing the extricable connection between the personal and professional aspects of our work within orientation, transition, and retention within the context of higher education. During NODAC, four individuals will have the opportunity to share a relevant experience connecting to one of our conference cornerstones and identify a meaningful takeaway (or thesis) on how their personal and professional work embodies one of the endless possibilities of these tenets of our work. Our four conference cornerstones are:

Ensure that orientation, transition, and retention programs are accessible and engage all campus and community stakeholders.

Foster a culture of creativity and forward-thinking approaches in orientation, transition, and retention practices.

Strengthen the sense of community among orientation, transition, and retention professionals and campus stakeholders, emphasizing collaboration and shared values.

Promote continuous improvement and development in orientation, transition, and retention practices.  

Conference Panel

Our first speakers and special initiatives event will be our all-conference Contemporary Perspectives in Higher Education Panel to start NODAC Day 2. Joining us will be four industry experts on neurodiversity, college student development, the intergenerational workforce, and technology and AI in (higher) education. This will be an opportunity to engage with panelists on the endless possibilities for the future of higher education and student affairs. Panelists will be announced later this summer! Stay tuned for more info.

Featured Speakers

Our second speakers and special initiatives event will be our professional levels featured speakers. In lieu of an all-conference keynote speaker, we will host four different featured speakers for our new professional levels (emerging, advancing, established, and strategic). This will be an opportunity to engage with a featured speaker who is focused on one’s professional level and to provide attendees with a more tailored experience for their professional development. Featured speakers will be announced later this summer! Stay tuned for more info.

Workshop Information

The Speakers & Special Initiatives Co-chairs will also be hosting Cornerstone Conversations Speakers’ Workshops to aid those who are thinking about submitting an application. Click the dated links below to register for a workshop!

Additional questions may be sent to NODAC2025@umn.edu.