Core Competencies

Individuals can use the core competencies to better understand the foundation of knowledge and expertise required in the unions and activities field.

Specifically, consider the core competencies:

When developing training programs for graduate students and staff
For self-reflection regarding skills and opportunities for growth
During career planning exercises, understanding that senior leaders must have expertise in all competency areas
As part of job descriptions, to craft consistent roles and responsibilities across the profession
When determining assessment criteria or conducting evaluation projects

Assessment, Evaluation, & Research

The ability to understand the language of assessment, evaluation, and research; collect and analyze different types of data; and communicate the results to drive decision making within the organization.

Assessment, Evaluation, & Research Skill Sets

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Assessment-, evaluation-, and research-specific language
Differences between assessment, evaluation, and research

ABILITY TO:

Understand when to use assessment, evaluation, or research methodologies based on data needed
Develop working knowledge of various reasoning methodologies
Ground assessment, evaluation, and research in relevant theory related to higher education and learning
Incorporate student voice in the assessment, evaluation, and research design process
Understand the importance of using assessment, evaluation, and research to support decisions, set priorities, and align with campus mission, vision, and values

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Assessment, evaluation, and research methods for various campus populations and institution types
Historical development and current trends in assessment methods as well as implications for application based on campus populations
The importance of using a social justice lens for assessment, evaluation, and research to prevent disproportionate harm to historically minoritized students

ABILITY TO:

Develop and utilize assessment, evaluation, and research tools to align with an institution’s priorities and values
Demonstrate critical thinking and analysis
Utilize assessment and planning as a tool to address student learning outcomes and inform institutional decision-making and accreditation priorities

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Software used for creating, implementing, and analyzing assessment, evaluation, and research projects
Research methods and applications of assessment, evaluation, and research
Correct use of assessment, evaluation, and research data to make decisions

ABILITY TO:

Develop data collection strategies that complement methodology choices
Implement data governance programs that comply with institutional policy
Employ privacy, security, and equity when collecting and utilizing demographic data
Accurately interpret data
Align decision making with desired outcomes and use of critical thinking skills
Write empirically based reports and recommendations
Share data effectively to a wide variety of audiences
Assist students in understanding the importance of assessment, evaluation, and research, and how these techniques can be used in their future work

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Ethical implications of assessment, evaluation, and research, such as human subject research, development of data-gathering tools, and interpretation and communication of results

ABILITY TO:

Conduct assessment, evaluation, and research in a socially just and equitable manner
Ethically use and share data, being conscious of issues of confidentiality and respect
Consistently ensure that references to research are appropriately cited and attributed
Create and be an active participant in scholarly contributions
Submit research proposals and follow campus-specific institutional review board guidelines

Event Management

The ability to successfully plan and execute high-quality programs with and for campus and external stakeholders.

Event Management Skill Sets

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Venue-specific scheduling and room reservation policies
Contract creation, review, negotiation, and execution
Event planning timelines
Best practices related to on-site work with contracted talent and vendors
Environmentally responsible event practices
Relevant local and national laws and ordinances

ABILITY TO:

Gather and utilize student and community input relative to proposed content
Create balanced event programming to serve the full campus community, paying attention to cultural and social identities
Develop and maintain relationships with agencies and third-party vendors
Establish event objectives, such as revenue generation and learning outcomes
Create and operate within an event budget
Develop a volunteer or staffing plan, including training
Generate assessment and post-event follow-up plans
Liaise with campus groups and event stakeholders to build relationships across campus
Organize catering and food as needed for events while following campus and venue-specific guidelines

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Various customer service models
Venue-specific layout and capacity, including software used to facilitate reservations
Basic production and audio-visual terms and capabilities
Accessibility compliance regulations and best practices

ABILITY TO:

Create diagrams utilizing software and equipment inventory
Create schedules and sequencing for staff duties
Create and implement communication plans, set-up information, day-of-show plans, and clean-up/strike plans
Enhance events through audio-visual and technology
Tactfully negotiate last-minute requests and challenges

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Emergency management, including fire code requirements
Security and risk mitigation strategies
Institution-specific event policies and insurance requirements
Venue-specific risk and safety policies and procedures
When and how to consult with upper administration, supervisors, campus partners, and institutional legal counsel related to risk and safety

ABILITY TO:

Communicate fire and safety requirements and mediate concerns
Anticipate risks, including reputational risks, and develop contingency plans
Execute emergency action plans
Navigate increased challenges of high-profile speakers/events

Facility Management

The ability to successfully create and maintain attractive, safe, fully operable, built environments.

Facility Management Skill Sets

KNOWLEDGE OF:

The management of facility operations
Facilities’ role in the institution’s educational mission
Institutional collective bargaining practices and agreements as they relate to facilities management and associated trades
Ethics in collective bargaining and contracting
The use and creation of audits, deferred maintenance, and capital renewal planning
Inventory processes and control systems
Appropriate work health and safety practices and legal requirements

ABILITY TO:

Formulate and execute operations and capital replacement budgets
Develop and implement plans to ensure work quality and service levels
Formulate and articulate risk management, emergency management, and business continuity plans per institutional guidelines as well as all relevant laws
Create and maintain policies and procedures to support diverse campus population needs
Develop and implement plans for preventative, periodic, and corrective maintenance
Implement a duty of care to provide a facility that complements the priorities of the institution

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Current practices and data used in delivering facility maintenance services, including transportation; grounds care; custodial services; access/security; furniture, fixtures, and equipment care
Tasks, planning, and impact of individual facilities management trades (such as HVAC, plumbing, and carpentry) on the facility and the building’s systems
Current products and technology for floor coverings, wall coverings, and other fixed assets
Industry standards, such as APPA (Association for Higher Education Facilities Officers) Level of Service Standards, for custodial, maintenance, and grounds
Relevant workplace health and safety requirements as they relate to the appropriate accreditation of staff and visiting trades

ABILITY TO:

Oversee daily facilities management processes including maintenance, projects, and custodial
Plan maintenance and equipment replacement cycles
Plan outages for repair needs, including communication and management action plans
Manage service contracts
Communicate and document practices, processes, and expectations
Foster and maintain positive tenant relationships
Assess staffing and services within facility against industry standards

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Space usage and the impact of losing/gaining space on programs and functions
Qualitative and quantitative measurement tools to inform facility enhancements and capital planning
Basics of building construction and engineering
Fiscal impact of design and lead time
Human resource considerations related to building construction and expansion
The impact of environmentally conscious (green) design and construction, including familiarity with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) principles and other sustainability standards
Basic principles of interior design, including lighting, decorating, furniture, and finishes
Threat and risk assessment to create and execute emergency plans

ABILITY TO:

Utilize assessment data for the long-term management and planning of facilities
Communicate efficiently with various stakeholders and the interdependent trades
Develop funding strategies for capital renewal and deferred maintenance cost

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Fundamentals of facility planning, such as feasibility studies and project delivery approaches
Principles of universal design and applicable laws related to ability
P3 (Public Private Partnerships) concepts
Institutional master plans and campus priorities
Relevant building codes/regulations including safety, security, and historical preservation protocols
Renovation/construction terminology and structural systems
Changing trends in construction and renovation design to create inclusive environments
Relationship of the physical environment and constructed components to building community, campus climate, and sense of belonging

ABILITY TO:

Plan and manage noncapital renovation projects
Represent diverse population needs in design, construction, and management of facilities
Understand, advocate for, and communicate the Role of the College Union the institutional master plan
Consider institutional standards for sustainability
Read and understand architectural drawings
Create and manage capital projects

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Energy and utilities management and institutional policies related to usage and conservation
Relevant recycling laws/ordinances and related compliance issues
Environmental impact of chemicals, fumes, and trash produced by food service, programs, and custodial or maintenance activities
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards and green design, recycling, and composting programs
Trends in products and processes that promote environmental sustainability and stewardship

ABILITY TO:

Manage utilities within institutional policies and environmental guidelines
Implement and coordinate recycling, composting, and other sustainable efforts based on institutional requirements and best practices
Work with local municipalities or resources outside of campus

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Computerized maintenance management system operation and usage
Institutional practices and guidelines regarding implementation and service for information technology needs
Information technology procurement processes and practices
Smart buildings and the Building Internet of Things (BIoT)
Data security requirements
Networking needs throughout the building
Building Automation Systems (BAS) or Direct Digital Control (DDC) systems

ABILITY TO:

Assess usage of technology throughout a building
Integrate media and technology into event and other spaces
Collaborate on wide-ranging technological needs and upgrades
Manage Building Internet of Things (BIoT) within institutional policies and best practices
Communicate with a wide variety of stakeholders at different knowledge levels

Fiscal Management

The ability to create simple and complex budgets, understand funding sources, create systems for monitoring and evaluating budgets, and understand investment strategies.

Fiscal Management Skills Sets

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Accounting principles, such as debits, credits, assets, liabilities, and fund balances
Campus accounting systems and software
Different budget revenue sources, such as student activity fees, tuition dollars, state funds, auxiliary revenues, and restricted development accounts, and the policies and regulations that govern them
Campus and other relevant financial policies and procedures
Budgeting approaches, such as incremental, program, formula, zero-based, and responsibility-centered
Campus-determined line items that affect budgets, such as salary and benefits, campus overheads, student activity or program fees, and utility charges

ABILITY TO:

Integrate planning, programming, and assessment into a budget
Make mid-year adjustments in budgets as circumstances require and campus policies allow, based on review and assessment
Cooperate with auditors and provide appropriate responses to audit findings
Include others in a participatory budget process
Understand, communicate, and interpret financial reports

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Departmental, division, and institutional strategic plans and how they relate to budget development
Create a repair and replacement schedule for capital budgeting and integrate into the operational budget
Create pro forma cash flows to anticipate operational costs of new facilities
Create a long-term employee plan which may include employee additions or reductions and integrate this into the operational budget
Build partnerships with other departments on campus to increase revenue or reduce costs

ABILITY TO:

Create and support persuasive arguments for new initiatives
Utilize software and systems to track and monitor expenditures and revenue
Understand campus policies and expectations regarding auxiliary support of nonauxiliary campus functions
Communicate reasoning to prioritize needed resources
Formulate and execute capital replacement budgets
Utilize campus financial reporting systems for informed decision making

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Available funding sources and their benefits and challenges
Institutional policies regarding departmental and student organization fundraising
Development and fundraising principles
Grant writing, management, and reporting principles

ABILITY TO:

Serve as a responsible steward of funds raised/donated
Work effectively with campus development officers
Communicate persuasively and ethically with potential donors about identified needs/wishes

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Contract components and various contract types
Institutional policies governing contract authority and management
The benefits and downfalls of self-operation versus outsourcing
Contractual implications with corporations and their social impact

ABILITY TO:

Review and understand contracts within institutional context
Create a request for proposal
Create and negotiate contracts
Manage contracts and personnel as they relate to collective bargaining
Manage institutional vendor contracting and procurement processes
Independently research effectiveness of a proposed vendor

Human Resources

The ability to manage organizational processes, including human resource needs of staff members, in a consistent and equitable manner.

Human Resources Skill Sets

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Organizational culture theories and how their usage affects various identities differently
Group development stages
Change management
Operating within a campus political environment

ABILITY TO:

Intentionally develop and maintain effective organizational culture
Provide intentional opportunities for organizational learning
Lead departmental change while maintaining morale
Communicate effectively with a diverse employee population

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Equal opportunity laws
Ethical practices in human resources
Policies, guidelines, and ethics of hiring and promotion
Institutional and ethical collective bargaining practices and agreements

ABILITY TO:

Develop human resource policies through collaboration with institution’s human resource office
Create and institute fair, inclusive, and nondiscriminatory hiring and promotion practices
Lead an ethical search from beginning to end
Ensure compliance with relevant laws and guidelines
Ensure privacy and confidentiality of communications and records, including security of electronic documents, as protected under the law

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Training theories, techniques, processes, and programs, including online offerings
Talent development and how to maximize human potential

ABILITY TO:

Develop and present staff training materials and workshops that include learning outcomes
Identify and provide access to continuing education and professional development opportunities to promote the continuous improvement of the professional competence and skills of all personnel
Develop and implement on-boarding and off-boarding policies and procedures
Develop inclusive training materials to meet all levels of education and ability within the work environment

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Coaching and mentoring principles and techniques
Institutional recognition and reward programs and procedures
Institutional performance evaluation processes and procedures
Institutional and departmental disciplinary and/or termination policies and procedures
Conflict management techniques
Relevant human resource laws and policies, such as leave, conflict of interest, and reasonable accommodations

ABILITY TO:

Utilize effective communication practices
Develop an environment of respect
Provide timely and effective feedback
Develop and implement recognition and reward programs
Establish and implement equitable accountability systems throughout the organization
Engage in frequent review and update of annual plans to reduce stress levels and negative connotations associated with annual appraisals
Utilize performance appraisals to assist with improved employee performance
Flex supervision styles to meet the needs of staff

Marketing

The ability to identify and connect with different audiences and to develop and use effective promotions, communication, and information in multiple media and formats.

Marketing Skill Sets

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Branding and the concepts associated with creation, application, and protection of institutional/departmental identity
Institutional and departmental mission, goals, and brand promise
Principles of ethical marketing
Strategies to identify desired audiences
Marketing strategies, channels, and techniques
Importance of tone and language
Public relations concepts and best practices
Inclusive marketing and communication standards and practices

ABILITY TO:

Communicate institutional and departmental mission, goals, and brand promise verbally and in writing
Apply institutional and departmental mission and goals to branding and audience identification
Develop a product, program, or service based on demonstrated audience need
Anticipate how a product, program, or service would affect or be interpreted by various campus populations
Apply inclusive excellence strategies in departmental marketing and communication

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Market research techniques, such as focus groups, surveys, attendance, best practices, evaluation, and comparisons
Connections between marketing strategies and assessment/evaluation efforts
Digital and social marketing analytics tools
Customer relationship management principles and systems

ABILITY TO:

Complete a strategic analysis and assessment
Evaluate a product, program, or service based on audience feedback and other relevant metrics
Provide input on appropriate channels for distribution of products, programs, or services
Use student learning outcomes data to support and drive the selection of developmentally appropriate marketing techniques
Measure and understand the impact of different marketing techniques on revenue generation and adjust future strategies accordingly

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Message development
Social media, print media, and digital media and their appropriate uses
Emerging communication technologies

ABILITY TO:

Develop and distribute departmental messages that deliver on brand promise
Determine appropriate use of marketing and communication technology
Leverage marketing channels to achieve strategic goals

Organizational Leadership

The ability to develop and communicate a vision so that others commit and take action to fulfill the mission and goals of the organization.

Organizational Leadership Skill Sets

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Self-assessment and evaluation tools and instruments
Self-reflection methods
Feedback tools and practices

ABILITY TO:

Develop and articulate a personal leadership style
Convey a sense of personal self-confidence
Learn from prior experiences as well as the experiences of others
Utilize self-reflection methods toward personal growth
Solicit feedback and apply results to future work
Develop and apply a personal set of ethics, morals, and values

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Problem-solving methods and techniques
Information-gathering and consultation techniques and processes
Decision-making models and their application

ABILITY TO:

Effectively apply basic problem-solving techniques
Examine problems from multiple perspectives
Use decision-making models
Gather and analyze accurate information to make educated decisions

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Definitions, causes, and consequences of conflict
Conflict resolution techniques, approaches, or models
Emotional intelligence and its applications

ABILITY TO:

Understand causes of conflict and apply theories for addressing those causes
Resolve conflict with effective interpersonal skills and mediate conflict between others
Neutralize automatic/unconscious reactions when engaged in conflict

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Communication styles
Value and benefits of partnerships within and beyond the institutional community

ABILITY TO:

Identify potential partners and projects for collaboration
Develop ethical and effective collaborative relationships
Contribute productively in group settings and work in teams
Develop, communicate, and achieve common goals
Negotiate how resources will be shared

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Group facilitation theories and methods
Theories and techniques related to leadership, mentoring, and mentorship
Group dynamics theories and techniques and their application

ABILITY TO:

Establish trust among team members
Serve as a mentor for students, staff, and colleagues
Recognize and capitalize on teachable moments to inspire learning
Apply leadership theories and techniques
Model desired behaviors and teach through example
Foster equity and inclusion across different social identities

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Motivation and empowerment theories and techniques and their application to individuals and groups

ABILITY TO:

Inspire confidence in others
Develop and maintain a physical and digital environment that encourages appropriate, effective, and innovative work practices
Motivate, encourage, and inspire a team
Empower others with tasks, projects, and participation in the achievement of the organizational vision
Empower underrepresented groups and protect dissenting voices

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Institutional and organizational constituencies and relationships among individuals and groups and the institution’s political climate
Relevant politics/current events and their effect on higher education
Emergent technologies and how they may affect student culture and higher education

ABILITY TO:

Assess an environment’s political climate and adapt behavior as appropriate
Navigate challenging situations and achieve consensus
Recognize locus of control within the organization
Interact with various audiences with respect for the impact of one’s individual social identities

Planning

The ability to identify organizational needs and to initiate strategies aligned with the institutional mission, strategic direction, and values.

Planning Skill Sets

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Institutional mission, vision, and core values
Institutional priorities and the role they play in the development of individual department/division priorities
Current department priorities and their relevance to the organization’s success or lack thereof

ABILITY TO:

Facilitate discussion and review of both institution and department/division priorities
Arrange priorities in order of importance
Appropriately allocate a unit’s resources in support of established priorities

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Basic principles used in goal setting for a unit, department, or division
Institutional goals and objectives
Role of the unit, department, or division within the context of the institution

ABILITY TO:

Organize and/or facilitate a goal-setting workshop or retreat
Delineate goals at the micro and macro levels
Set specific and reasonable goals
Align goal setting with annual performance review processes

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Basic strategic planning approaches and other trends in planning philosophy
Basic principles used in a strategic planning process
Role and importance of a participatory planning process when developing a strategic plan
College union’s fiscal, human, capital, technology, and facility resources

ABILITY TO:

Implement a strategic planning process that connects department priorities and goals to those of the division and institution
Assess current situation using multiple analysis tools
Identify current and upcoming industry trends related to the strategic initiatives
Write a multi-year strategic planning report
Identify targets and key performance indicators to track progress
Re-evaluate and update the strategic plan to better fit the unit’s changing needs

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Basic principles of both change management and transition management
Basic principles of emergency management and continuance of operations planning
Department’s role in institutional emergency management plans
Institutional human resource policies regarding emergency management expectations for staff

ABILITY TO:

Support and guide staff through change and transition processes
Anticipate the unexpected and work within the organization to develop a response plan
Consistently review and train on emergency management plans and procedures with all staff who have a role in these plans

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Scope and management of projects, such as goals, structure, timeline, delegation, monitoring, project completion, and evaluation
Project management systems and certifications

ABILITY TO:

Practice effective personal time management strategies
Demonstrate effective project management strategies
Exercise responsible stewardship of resources toward the successful completion of projects and programs
Manage personnel involved in a project
Utilize project management software

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Succession planning policies, procedures, and protocols

ABILITY TO:

Incorporate principles of succession planning into departmental annual report processes
Develop a strong on-boarding and off-boarding process to collect and distribute knowledge as employee turnover occurs
Build future organization leaders
Work with student organizations, committees, or teams to develop leadership transition plans and knowledge transfer

Social Justice

The ability to successfully seek understanding and respect for persons of all cultural, social, and ability identities; the work to create environments that foster inclusive participation of all groups and unconditional human worth, and to advocate for equity and social justice with and for all identities and communities through education, support, awareness, advocacy, and allocation of resources.

Social Justice Skill Sets

KNOWLEDGE OF:

How one’s own intersecting identities and behaviors shape one’s worldview and lived experience
Major aspects of identity and cultural difference within the campus community and in society
How and why intersecting identities and behaviors manifest in differing situations
Privilege and privileged identities, and the impact of privileged identities on campus and on underrepresented identities and communities
How campus climate and identity impact one another

ABILITY TO:

Seek appropriate resources and partner with experts on campus and in the community to address issues of identity and culture
Identify and take advantage of continuing education opportunities on identity, diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice
Use empathy toward others and seek to understand their social perspectives
Understand personal biases and mitigate their influence on decision making and relationships
Engage in continuous learning as world events and research develop new information in this area

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Various and inclusive communication, leadership, and management styles
Cultural traditions and artifacts present in and important to the campus and local communities
Manifestation of institutional oppression and strategies to create equity
Architectural design and facility management policies and practices that support a diverse, inclusive environment

ABILITY TO:

Provide an inclusive, accessible, and creative environment that acknowledges, fosters, and supports differing cultures and identities
Develop effective partnerships with academic and other campus administrative units to create and maintain collaboration on issues of cultural awareness and intercultural education
Provide opportunities for all students and staff to feel included and represented in the array of physical displays and events offered
Implement programs, services, and facilities, whether offered in person or digitally, that meet the needs of diverse identities and populations
Modify communication style and interaction style to meet the needs of diverse identities and populations
Critically analyze to interpret and apply the local, state, and federal legislation to specific institutional context

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Effective methods for expanding knowledge and skills in equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice
History of underrepresented or marginalized identities in higher education and in society, including both personal and structural aspects of oppression
Best practices in supporting and partnering with individuals and groups from all identities to dismantle systems of oppression, power, and privilege
World events and how they may affect various identity-based communities on campus differently

ABILITY TO:

Partner effectively across campus communities in the development of programs, services, and facilities
Incorporate equity, diversity, and social justice into recruitment, position descriptions, and professional development plans
Evaluate and assess employees, effectively measuring and recognizing active participation and initiative in learning and work related to equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice
Evaluate and assess department resources, effectively measuring and recognizing the allocation of resources to support equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice
Develop, interpret, and implement policies, regulations, guidelines, and practices that emphasize the value of and strengthen the commitment to inclusion, equity, and social justice
Interpret existing laws and advocate for the advancement of laws that emphasize the value of and strengthen the commitment to inclusion, equity, and social justice within and beyond the campus borders
Identify and eradicate policies, practices, and cultures that contribute to personal or structural inequities for differing identities
Initiate opportunities that produce effective and active dialogue on issues involving identities, representation, equity, and social justice

Student Learning

The ability to create educational environments and experiences, grounded in theory and its application to practice, that intentionally provide students with opportunities for development.

Student Learning Skill Sets

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Foundational, psychosocial theories, which provide the basis for student development knowledge
Identity-development theories, which examine the ways in which individuals come to make sense of their social identity characteristics such as race, gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation
Learning theory, which examines the differences between learning and development
Leadership development theories, which look at the types of leadership and leadership styles and how students develop a leadership identity
Environmental impact theories, which examine the impact of the college environment, including physical spaces
The interrelationship of all theories and understanding of their application to students’ holistic development
Historical contexts/limitations of theories

ABILITY TO:

Apply appropriate theories and models, based on specific student characteristics and needs, in communication/advising/supervising situations and program development
Identify resources for continued learning and professional development
Use learning opportunities to amplify individual and collective voices to create equitable spaces

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Department and campus-specific student learning outcomes
Training pedagogy methods and learning styles
Activities and tools related to student advising and group dynamics
How policies and practices can affect students differently

ABILITY TO:

Develop achievable, measurable learning outcomes for all training and educational experiences
Develop training environments and activities that best promote student learning, engagement, and knowledge retention
Develop effective advising relationships with students and staff
Communicate effectively while having developmental conversations with students
Adapt advising techniques and styles to meet the needs of an individual or group based on both learning needs and identity development
Identify developmentally appropriate challenges to enhance student or group learning
Identify and utilize technologies to present training materials in a way that resonates with current student culture
Incorporate developmental outcomes and learning in student supervision and advisement, including student selection, training, job duties, and evaluation
Teach the importance of networking and interpersonal relationship development

Competency Area Threads

Threads are common components of the separate core competencies. These threads emphasize these areas in all roles within the union field. The identified threads are:

Communication
A commitment to effectively exchange information and engage in dialogue using situationally appropriate strategies, conscientious interaction through verbal and nonverbal behaviors, and messaging adapted for diverse audiences. This includes, but is not limited to, skills in negotiation, persuasion, and conflict management; using timely, articulate, and culturally relevant approaches.

Technology
A commitment to understand the overall intent of and choose from appropriate digital tools, equipment, and procedures for service delivery and problem-solving. The application of digital literacy to assess information for validity and usefulness.

Ethics
A commitment to values such as integrity, honesty, virtue, authenticity, courage, and kindness in all endeavors. An ethical leader is consistent and fair in the treatment of all human beings. An ethical person holds themselves and others to a high moral standard of conduct.

Equity
A commitment to access, opportunity, advancement, and justice for all members of our communities, by identifying and addressing exclusionary systems through policies and practices.

Core Competency Rubric

The Core Competency Rubric allow individuals to reflect on their skills and recognize opportunities for growth, listing outcomes for each of the core competencies across four levels.

Download the rubric

Education Plan

The Education Council works to ensure that ACUI’s programs and services are meeting the needs of the profession, which is guided by the Education Plan to set education priorities and related achievement targets.

Download the Education Plan