NASPA Graduate Associate Program (GAP) 2025–2026: Advance Your Leadership in Student Affairs

Are you a graduate scholar searching for to develop professionally in the sphere of upper schooling? The NASPA Graduate Associate Program (GAP) is now accepting purposes for the 2025–2026 cohort. This year-long skilled growth alternative is designed to empower future leaders in scholar affairs by offering significant engagement with NASPA and friends from throughout the nation.

Since its inception in 2009, GAP has helped aspiring professionals construct lasting networks, improve their management expertise, and contribute to the nationwide dialog on scholar affairs. Initially created by NASPA summer time interns Jimmy Doan and Danielle Howard, this system has developed into a strong and impactful expertise for graduate college students who’re keen about shaping the way forward for larger schooling.

About the Program

The NASPA Graduate Associate Program (GAP) is a singular management initiative that fosters neighborhood, skilled growth, and direct involvement with NASPA—the main affiliation for the development, well being, and sustainability of the coed affairs occupation. The program follows a cohort-based mannequin, providing month-to-month digital conferences, collaborative outreach actions, and alternatives to attach with seasoned professionals and fellow graduate college students.

Participants function ambassadors for NASPA inside their very own graduate packages and establishments. GAPs assist promote NASPA occasions and publications, assist scholar outreach, and contribute insights on the evolving wants of scholar affairs professionals. Most importantly, this system helps members develop essential management, communication, and advocacy expertise early in their careers—all in a versatile, remote-friendly format.

Program Eligibility

To apply for the 2025–2026 NASPA GAP cohort, candidates should meet the next necessities:

• Applicants should be an incoming or present graduate scholar pursuing a masters diploma in scholar affairs, larger schooling, counseling, or associated area. Full-time employees presently enrolled as graduate college students might apply, however ought to hold time commitments in thoughts.  Doctoral and undergraduate college students will not be eligible for this program.
• Prior involvement and expertise in NASPA is just not required to apply, however is a plus.
• Applicants should be capable of entry a tool able to utilizing the Zoom program (i.e. laptop computer, cellphone, pill) with a dependable web connection as a result of absolutely distant nature of this system.

This is a NASPA volunteer place and never a Graduate Assistant or Internship place. If you have an interest in NASPA Internships, please view all openings at this page.

Expectations and Commitments

Selected GAPs will actively take part in this system from September 1, 2025, by means of June 30, 2026. Key necessities embody:

• Participation in not less than two month-to-month digital cohort conferences per semester, sometimes held on the primary Friday of the month from 5:00–7:00 PM EST.

• Attendance on the obligatory orientation on Friday, September 5, 2025.

• At least one digital check-in with a NASPA employees liaison per semester to mirror on progress and share suggestions.

• Serving as the primary contact for NASPA engagement inside your graduate program.

• Provide NASPA with suggestions on what packages and companies college students want from NASPA
• Promote NASPA at upcoming occasions and publicize NASPA occasions on-campus
• Actively take part throughout October’s Careers in Student Affairs Month (attending webinars, sharing data with cohort, partaking throughout Instagram takeovers, and so forth.)
• Coordinate a minimal of two (2) outreach efforts (i.e. digital or in particular person occasions, blogs, social media takeovers or lives and so forth.) with one (1) going down in the Fall 2025 Semester and one (1) going down in the Spring 2026 Semester
• Volunteer for no less than one (1) NASPA Volunteer alternative (both digital or in particular person) between September 1st, 2025 and June thirtieth, 2026

Benefits for Participants

Joining the GAP program supplies quite a few skilled and private advantages, together with:

• Exclusive entry to a nationwide cohort of 30 like-minded graduate college students in scholar affairs packages.

• Monthly skilled growth alternatives led by NASPA employees and members.

• Invitations to digital and (when attainable) in-person occasions, together with these on the NASPA Annual Conference.

• One complimentary NASPA Graduate Student Affiliate Membership (valued at $40) or a membership scholarship if you’re already employed full-time.

• Graduation recognition with NASPA-branded cords or stoles.

• Eligibility to apply for the NASPA Annual Conference Internship program.

• Optional public recognition on NASPA’s official web site.

These advantages are designed to assist the skilled journeys of aspiring scholar affairs professionals and assist them achieve visibility in the sphere.

How to Apply

Applications for the 2025–2026 cohort are actually open. To apply, candidates should first create a free NASPA account.

Application supplies embody:

• Written responses to 2 short-answer prompts outlining your curiosity in this system and any related expertise with NASPA or comparable organizations.

• A present resume.

• A letter of advice from a present or former supervisor, mentor, or earlier GAP participant.

Priority Deadline: Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 11:59 PM PST
Final Deadline: Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM PST

Applications submitted by the precedence deadline will probably be reviewed first. Late submissions is not going to be accepted.

For extra data or questions concerning the application, contact Kevin Willis at kwillis@naspa.org.

Begin Your NASPA Journey

The NASPA Graduate Associate Program provides greater than a title—it provides a transformative expertise that may form your skilled id. If you’re a graduate scholar prepared to steer, interact, and develop in the sphere of scholar affairs, that is your probability to take the subsequent step.

To be taught extra about different methods to get entangled with NASPA, discover:

Apply Now and develop into part of a nationwide community devoted to scholar success {and professional} excellence.

For extra data, please observe NASPA Graduate Associate Program here.

For extra alternatives, please go to the web site of Opportunities For Youth.