The theme Professionalism with Purpose - Advancing Inclusion and Expertise challenges us to use ACPA Atlanta 2008 to intentionally develop professional knowledge, skills, and character. The convention theme communicates that professionalism is a conscious choice and that inclusion and expertise are both essential to our work.

In 2005, ACPA chartered a Task Force on Certification to study the very question of how we, as a profession, can guide our continual learning and development. The theme for ACPA Atlanta 2008 is built upon the work of this Task Force and its identification of 10 professional competencies, which we are calling Professional Outcomes.

ACPA 2008 Atlanta will encourage each attendee to:

• Create an intentional, purposeful professional development plan that targets particular knowledge, skill, and values;
• Participate in convention offerings that address the knowledge, skills, and values they have identified in their professional development plan - all linked to the Professional Outcomes;
• Contemplate new ways in which our campuses and profession can foster meaningful inclusion across the wide array of diversities in ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ability, income, educational background;
• Build professional expertise that is based on the best research in our profession;
• Reflect on and commit to the fundamental purposes of our work as a collective and as individual members with distinct campus conditions.
  
  
  

ACPA Atlanta 2008
Professionalism with Purpose - Advancing Inclusion and Expertise