As we move into our thirteenth year as a group, the Commission for Social Justice Educators (CSJE) wants to engage in reflection about who we are as an entity and where we want to go moving forward. A part of this reflection includes our name, mission, and logo.

Since the ACPA Commission for Social Justice Educators (CSJE) was established in 2006, much has changed within the landscape of social justice education within student affairs. From pronoun use becoming more commonplace to student protests and demonstrations becoming more common and garnering more attention, Social Justice Education in Higher Ed is ever changing, as are the responses to it.  Given the evolving nature of this work, CSJE seeks to take this opportunity to revisit our name and mission, in the hopes of re-discovering the purpose of our work within the association.

Proposed Name Revision

We propose that the commission name be changed from Commission for Social Justice Educators to Commission for Social Justice Education.

There are two meaningful reasons that this update would better align the name with the work of the commission. First, the subtle change from “educators” to “education” shifts the emphasis from the individuals involved with this work to the teaching and learning process. We view education as a collective process, and this change would move the focus from “me” to “we.” And second, the labeling of social justice educators can project the image that CSJE is an exclusive club - one limited to those who self-identify as social justice educators. Instead, this name change proclaims that everyone can incorporate social justice education into their work and life regardless of one’s functional area, level of experience, or institutional role. With this name change, we strive to debunk the myth of the elitist social justice educator, and invite individuals from all parts of the student affairs profession to join us in dismantling systems of power, privilege, and oppression within higher education.

Proposed Mission Change

The Commission for Social Justice Education provides a collaborative home for student affairs professionals who are dedicated to social justice education. Our efforts are rooted in anti-oppressive, liberatory, and critical frameworks. CSJE acknowledges the intersectionality and interconnection of personal and professional identities, and provides a space for all in Higher Education to engage with one another in meaningful ways in order to better educate others, and ourselves. We strive to advance social justice in higher education through creating and disseminating resources, developing a supportive network of invested practitioners and scholars, and engaging in advocacy work.

You can find our current mission on the front page of our website: http://www.myacpa.org/commsje

If you have any questions or additional comments about this survey, please contact CSJE Chair Vu Tran at vu.t.tran@gmail.com.