Jan. 13, 2022
Jameson Root & Leah Eickhoff
National Association for Campus Activities
In the third installment of “Thinking Ahead,” NACA is looking into the future and the considerations higher education leaders and Campus Activities professionals should think about as they begin a new year. You can access the “Thinking Ahead: Considerations for Spring 2022” resource in ENCORE, our digital resource library.
This past year, the higher education field saw an increase in staff member departures resulting in difficulty filling vacant positions, inability to effectively transition responsibilities, and strain on remaining team members. Many campuses continue to face all these challenges. With the ongoing COVID-19 variants, campus communities and professionals may need to once again plan multiple scenarios that reduce the number of attendees, offer virtual options, and increase physical distancing. For those professionals who are also supervising staff, there are some unique considerations to think about as their teams navigate the spring and plan for the future.
This resource, as with its predecessors, is aimed at helping you think about how to prepare for and adapt to emerging campus programmatic trends in 2022. The questions posed can be utilized for personal reflection and advocacy, department conversations, and/or student dialogue.
The following questions are further explored throughout this resource:
- What conversations do you need to engage in regarding the on-going effects of “The Great Resignation” within your division, department, unit, or team?
- How are you preparing for the potential for a “Great Restructure” within higher education as campuses have difficulty filling vacant roles?
- What steps are you taking as a supervisor/department head regarding staffing, onboarding, and transitioning, as well as the mental health and well-being of both students and staff?
- In what ways can you advocate for yourself, department staff, and graduate and undergraduate students?
- How are the ongoing effects of “The Great Resignation” impacting diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and social justice in your campus communities?
- What will the activities landscape look like throughout 2022? How might that shift/change if additional COVID-19 variants arise?
- How does your work advising students and/or student organizations need to adapt or evolve amid the ongoing effects of the pandemic?
- How are you preparing yourself to leave or enter a new role, onboard a new team member, or take on additional responsibilities?
Jameson Root is the chief operating officer and Leah Eickhoff is the education & research coordinator at the National Association for Campus Activities. Together, they have nearly 35 years of experience in and around the higher education industry.
Looking for Professional and/or Student Development Opportunities?
Check out these NACA programs coming this spring/summer:
New Course for Mid-Level Professionals coming this spring
The NACA Mid-Level Professional (MLP) Course is designed for higher education professionals who are preparing to make the transition from entry-level to mid-level. Participants will be engaged in a 6+ week series that involves synchronous learning, cohort discussions, and personal reflections of each topic. Learn more at
naca.org/mlp.
In-Person NACA Institutes returning this summer
Attend an in-person NACA Institute where you can have fun, learn valuable skills and network with both seasoned professionals and fellow students. Institutes provide you with the skills to further excel as a leader on your campus. Learn more at
naca.org/institutes.
Virtual NACA Summer Series
The NACA Summer Series is a virtual education program that focuses on various themes throughout the summer. Through live virtual sessions developed to improve knowledge, build connections, and engage in shared learning experiences, these weeks will provide campus professionals and students an opportunity to learn in a virtual environment. Learn more at
naca.org/summerseries.
