The Student Affairs Assessment Leaders (SAAL) Board has been hard at work this year, and we’re excited to share a few highlights and updates with our incredible community of practice!
We hosted our 2nd Annual SAAL Awards to ring in the year by recognizing the outstanding contributions of assessment professionals who are moving the field forward with integrity, creativity, and equity at the center. Thank you to everyone who nominated, celebrated, and helped lift up our peers.
We also wrapped up our 2nd Annual Fundraiser! A heartfelt thank you to all who donated. Your investment in SAAL helps sustain our mission by empowering our volunteer leaders to grow, innovate, and provide tools, resources, and professional development to those dedicated to improving student experiences through data-informed practice.
Our SAAL work is thriving, including the Open Course, which just completed its ninth successful year. Special thanks to Dr. Joe Levy and this year’s faculty, Dr. Ciji A. Heiser and Dr. Kevin Wright, for continuing this legacy of equity-centered learning. As we celebrate nine years of the Open Course, we are deeply grateful for the continued dedication of our faculty team, course sponsors, and the thousands of learners who keep pushing the field of student affairs assessment forward. Here’s to building on this legacy in year ten and beyond!
Behind the scenes, we're strengthening our foundation by documenting standard operations for everything our board does. We are finalizing our 501(c)3 status with the IRS to be officially recognized as a non-profit, opening the door for more sustainable funding opportunities, formal partnerships, and expanded programming that aligns with our mission to support the student affairs assessment community. While we’ve always valued transparency and strong assessment practice, we’re diving deeper into building continuity for future leaders. Yet, we find ourselves at a critical crossroads. SAAL is thriving in its programming, learning opportunities, and research contributions but we are falling short in financial sustainability and long-term organizational viability. Like many volunteer-run communities, we’re also facing challenges with accountability and maintaining consistent engagement.
While we’ve considered introducing a membership fee, doing so would require new infrastructure and software, adding overhead we’re not currently equipped to manage. Instead, we’re committed to exploring alternative solutions that preserve access while supporting growth. As such, we appreciate your attention and consideration when we engage in fundraising efforts or other means to garner necessary support. And, should you have any ideas to support our financial stability, we're open to entertaining them.
Looking ahead, SAAL is entering a major leadership transition, and we’re still evaluating whether our current governance structure is equipped to support our long-term goals. A majority of current Board members complete their terms December 31st, and we’ll be recruiting passionate, committed professionals to help shape SAAL’s future. We’re making onboarding smoother than ever, so if you’ve been waiting for a sign to get involved this is it!
We also know we need help to grow smarter. If you have expertise in fiscal strategy, nonprofit management, community engagement, or digital infrastructure, we’d love your help brainstorming how to move SAAL forward. We’ve made great strides, but we can’t sustain or scale without support from our brilliant community. We need you now more than ever, please complete the following 2026 SAAL Election/Volunteer Interest Form if interested in brainstorming our organizational viability as a primary volunteer organization or interested in a board role: https://forms.gle/VQWayxMjAhQ4RZZi9.
SAAL has been around for 16 years because of people like you. Whether you’re new to assessment or a seasoned pro, there’s a place for you here (and an opportunity for you to help grow and lead our continued success!). Stay tuned for more ways to connect, contribute, and lead with SAAL.
Thank you for being part of our story and for helping us shape what comes next.
The SAAL Board