We all have a role to play in addressing sexual violence on campus. We built Foundations to help student affairs professionals understand their role and contribute to their institution's strategy for addressing sexual violence. The six-module course is taught by NASPA staff with expertise in social work, student affairs, public health, peer education, assessment, and violence prevention. Thanks for joining us - we're so glad you're here!

The course is self-paced, takes about 4 hours, and all modules must be completed in order. Within each session, you'll find the session slides and learning objectives, presenter bios, and recorded presentations. After the final session, you be asked to take a learning assessment. Once you've passed the assessment, you'll receive a certificate of completion.

Introduction 

Prepare to become a Certified Student Affairs Educator with the NASPA Certification Exam Prep Course! This five-week exam prep program for the Certified Student Affairs Educator Core Exam includes four live, moderated study sessions plus a library of on-demand and self-paced exam prep resources. Through this enhanced exam prep program, you will have the opportunity to connect with other prospective certificants, learn from colleagues who have taken and passed the exam, and brush up on your student affairs knowledge and skills through a series of self-paced study modules.

The Certification Exam Prep Course is available at a member rate of $75 for members of ACUHO-I, ACUI, AFA, ASCA, NACA, NASPA, and NIRSA, and a general non-member rate of $175. Participants will need to create a free NASPA account and complete a short registration in order to access the course, which is hosted in the NASPA Online Learning Community.

About

The course combines a variety of synchronous and asynchronous learning and study opportunities designed to prepare prospective Certified Student Affairs Educators for all aspects of the exam. Live sessions in weeks 2-5 include a kickoff session, two learning labs, and a wrap-up session. In between these live sessions, there are eight self-paced study modules based on the Student Affairs Educator Certification Domains, which form the basis of the exam. Each module includes an on-demand recording and accompanying slide deck, a list of additional resources, and an ungraded quiz of example questions to test your knowledge. All self-paced elements of the course are optional and can be done at any time and in any order, allowing you to choose whatever is most helpful for your own individual exam preparation. We recommend completing the self-study elements each week in order to keep your exam prep on schedule.

Course Syllabus

Week 1: April 28-May 2

Self-paced Pre-work Module: Get Ready to Get Certified!

This optional pre-work module includes on-demand recordings of general information sessions about Student Affairs Educator Certification and the test-taking experience, and a self assessment to help you plan your exam prep efforts.

Week 2: May 5-9

Live Session: Certification Exam Prep Course Kickoff | Tuesday, May 6, 1:00-2:00pm Eastern

Self-paced Study Module: Foundations of the Profession Domain

Self-paced Study Module: Student Learning, Development, and Success Domain

Week 3: May 12-16 

Live Session: Learning Lab | Tuesday, May 13, 1:00-2:00pm Eastern

Self-paced Study Module: Assessment and Evaluation Domain

Self-paced Study Module: Social Justice and Inclusion Domain

Week 4: May 19-23

Live Session: Learning Lab | Tuesday, May 20, 1:00-2:00pm Eastern

Self-paced Study Module: Leadership Domain

Self-paced Study Module: Talent Management Domain

Week 5: May 26-30

Live Session: Certification Exam Prep Course Wrap-up | Tuesday, May 27, 1:00-2:00pm Eastern

Self-paced Study Module: Crisis and Risk Management Domain

Self-paced Study Module: Financial and Facility Management Domain

Spring Exam Cycle

Getting your exam date on the calendar is a great way to stay motivated. Apply to take the exam as part of your exam prep efforts! 

Applications open: April 1 - May 16
Exam period: May 19 - June 30

Course Details

Access to self-paced elements will open on April 28, 2025. The first live session will be held on May 6 at 1:00pm Eastern Time. All live session times are listed in Eastern Time. Live sessions will be discussion-based and will not be recorded.

Following the conclusion of the live sessions, the self-paced elements of the course will remain available to you for one year. For the duration of the year, you may also choose to roll your registration forward into the next course (winter, spring, summer, fall) to participate in additional live sessions. 

Questions? For technical assistance, please reach out to us at virtuallearning@naspa.org. For content-based questions, please email tgillmor@naspa.org. 

Dates: May 5 - June 9, 2025

Description

This essential short course explores the crucial intersection of campus design and mental health in higher education. As we navigate an academic landscape marked by increasing mental health challenges, it’s clear that depression and other mental health concerns, compounded by academic stress, lead to negative outcomes, including higher dropout rates. This course highlights the vital role of administrators and student affairs staff in fostering a culture of wellness and understanding on their college or university campuses. Through comprehensive insights from experts, we'll explore various mental health models, assess campus-specific needs, and develop actionable, sustainable strategies to enhance campus-wide mental health. Join us on this transformative journey to better support your students and colleagues, and to create a thriving, supportive academic environment.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted nature of mental health and well-being on college campuses, including relevant challenges, terminology, and models. 
2. Develop the ability to assess campus-specific mental health needs through data analysis, self-study, and policy review.
3. Understand the roles and responsibilities of various campus and community stakeholders in promoting mental health and well-being, fostering collaboration for a holistic approach.
4. Synthesize the course content to create a campus plan that addresses mental health needs, exhibits appropriate intervention selection and adaptation, and ensures long-term sustainability for the benefit of the entire campus community.

Course Outline

Section 1 - Introduction: Mental Health and Well-being on the College Campus

Section 2 - Campus Assessment and Building a Community of Care

Section 3 - Developing and Implementing a Campus-Wide Strategy: Policies, Procedures, and Programs

Section 4 - Strategy Evaluation and Program Sustainability

Course Live Session Dates

Monday, June 9, 2025        3:00 p.m. (ET)

Course Commitment and Expectations

The course will require 1-2 hours per week with assignments, engagement, and live sessions. All participants are expected to contribute to discussions and be present during live sessions. The course requires participants to have access to a computer, wifi, and webcam. All live sessions will be via Zoom, providing presentation slides and closed captioning. 

Guidelines for earning CE credit: 

5 CSAEd Core CEs are awarded for completing this course. Completion includes viewing all recordings, attending all live sessions, and completing the Feedback Survey. 

No partial credit will be awarded; full completion is required. 

Participants must also complete the feedback survey in the Online Learning Community.

Credit is only available for attending the live session.

To receive CSAEd credit, attendees must complete the Feedback Survey in the online event offering the certification. Once the survey is completed, your Certificate will be available in the event modules. The Certificate of Completion, which will show the event and credit earnings, is available for download and/or print from the event in your Online Learning Community.

NASPA has been approved by the Higher Education Consortium for Student Affairs Certification to provide CE credit for Certified Student Affairs Educators (CSAEd). NASPA is solely responsible for all aspects of this program.

Dates: June 16 - July 21, 2025

Description

Designed by members of the NASPA Health, Safety, and Well-being Initiatives team, this short course is designed to guide student affairs professionals through a comprehensive understanding of holistic well-being. Focusing on fostering a shared commitment to well-being in educational environments, particularly through the integration of research-based strategies that support mental, emotional, physical, and social health, the course includes interactive discussions, reflection activities, and actionable insights aimed at enhancing campus and community engagement. Through this course, participants are encouraged to cultivate an inclusive culture that prioritizes the health and well-being of the entire campus community.

Learning Outcomes

1. Define the concept of well-being within the context of higher education.
2. Analyze and apply the principles outlined in the Okanagan Charter to guide health promotion efforts in academic settings.
3. Evaluate and integrate various health promotion models and theories to inform the design and implementation of comprehensive well-being programs.
4. Recognize the roles and responsibilities of key team members, including administrators, faculty, staff, and student leaders, in promoting well-being on campus.
5. Understand and apply the Collective Impact framework as a collaborative approach to addressing complex social issues within the college context.
6. Assess and evaluate the effectiveness of well-being programs.

Course Outline

Section 1 - Understanding Well-being in Higher Education

Section 2 - Roles, Collaboration, and Collective Impact on Promoting Well-being

Section 3 - Developing a Comprehensive Well-being Strategy on Campus

Section 4 - Cultivating a Well-being Culture

Section 5 - Assessing and Evaluating Well-being Programs for Sustainability and Long-Term Planning

Course Live Session Dates

Monday, July 21, 2025 at 3:00 PM ET

Course Commitment and Expectations

The course will require 1-2 hours per week with assignments, engagement, and live sessions. All participants are expected to contribute to discussions and be present during live sessions. The course requires participants to have access to a computer, wifi, and webcam. All live sessions will be via Zoom, providing presentation slides and closed captioning. 

Guidelines for earning CE credit: 

4 CSAEd Core CEs are awarded for completing this course. Completion includes viewing all recordings and completing the Feedback Survey. 

No partial credit will be awarded; full completion is required. 

Participants must also complete the feedback survey in the Online Learning Community.

To receive CSAEd credit, attendees must complete the Feedback Survey in the online event offering the certification. Once the survey is completed, your Certificate will be available in the event modules. The Certificate of Completion, which will show the event and credit earnings, is available for download and/or print from the event in your Online Learning Community.

NASPA has been approved by the Higher Education Consortium for Student Affairs Certification to provide CE credit for Certified Student Affairs Educators (CSAEd). NASPA is solely responsible for all aspects of this program.