MEMBERS & LEADERS - History of MCPA

In 1968, members of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) from across the state of Minnesota were asked to vote on the issue of seeking a charter for a state division of ACPA. One hundred and eighty-three members received ballots and the vote passed by a convincing margin. The state leaders, who had spearheaded the drive in Minnesota, carried the request to the ACPA conference in Las Vegas and on March 31, 1969 the charter for the Minnesota College Personnel Association (MCPA) was approved. It was the seventh state charter approved by ACPA.

In its first year in existence, MCPA was able to claim 83 members. Membership dues were $2. Lud Spolyar, University of Minnesota and one of the leaders in seeking the state charter was elected as the first president of MCPA. Many of the other leaders in the effort to get the association chartered went on to become officers in MCPA. Several of them eventually held offices in ACPA and other professional associations and most have continued to be active in MCPA.

Concerns were raised early that the organization be representative of all higher education professionals . There was concern on the part of some that the association would become the domain of the University of Minnesota. The planners and shapers of early policy were committed to not letting that happen. They initiated efforts to ensure that MCPA would be an effective voice for all student affairs professionals in Minnesota. Planning and nominating committees sought to balance election ballots with representatives from the community colleges, the State University System, the private colleges, the University of Minnesota and later the technical colleges. Vibrant leadership was coupled with enthusiasm and solid planning in getting MCPA under way. The executive board was committed to making MCPA a vital cog in the professional development of Minnesota student affairs professionals. Regular board meetings began after the first officers were elected. Graduate students were included in board activities to ensure that they had a voice in the direction of MCPA. It also sent an important message to the membership and the state that MCPA was eager to support the profession and its new professionals through professional preparation programs. MCPA took an early lead establishing the importance of state divisions to ACPA. Minnesota was one of the first states to send the state president and president-elect to participate in ACPA leadership activities at the national conference and mid-year meetings.

The late 1960's and early 1970's signaled an intense time for many student affairs professionals. Colleges and universities were in the throes of turmoil. The war in Southeast Asia brought demonstrations and protests. In a strong voice, students challenged rules and traditions, seeking changes and new freedoms on campus. These situations brought times of challenge as well as intellectual and emotional excitement to Minnesota campuses. Student affairs professionals were both the targets and agents of immense change. The dramatic events on campuses became topics of newsletters, journal articles, retreats, conferences, and personal dialogue. The opportunity to share the excitement and frustration of the times made MCPA an important link for many professionals in student affairs.

Services to members quickly moved to the forefront of MCPA activities and remained there throughout its history. The executive board established a newsletter which contained information about the association as well as news from campuses across the state. A journal called Contact was published on a regular basis until 1980 when it was discontinued. A membership directory was also published which later became a directory of student affairs professionals from campuses across the state. The Directory, which began as an annual project, is now published on a biannual basis.

Conferences and workshops have been an important source of fellowship and professional development for MCPA members. In MCPA's early years, most conference programs were offered through the annual Mid-Winter Conference of the Minnesota Professional Guidance Association, later named the Minnesota Association of Counseling and Development, MACD. MCPA also developed an early link with the University of Minnesota's Student Personnel Institute. The Institute, an annual fall program, brought professionals from around the state and nation to University campus to discuss topics and share concerns of mutual interest. The connection with the Student Personnel Institute lasted for several years, but it was eventually replaced by the annual conference.

By 1975, the executive board of MCPA was convinced the association had sufficient membership interest and a strong enough organization to offer its own conference. The first annual Spring conference was held with Dr. Don Creamer, then ACPA President, as the keynote speaker. The conference was held in conjunction with the community colleges system's annual in-service development program for counselors. This link was to become an important and lasting alliance for MCPA. The relationship has strengthened MCPA and the annual conference immeasurably. Conference planners have been able to anticipate a critical mass for attendance that has allowed for nationally-known speakers such as Lee Knefelkamp, James Banning, Marvalene Hughes, Susan Komives, and John Gardner. In return the community colleges have gained the benefit of cost effective in-service training.

From 1975 to 1982, the annual conference was held in the spring. Spring schedules however, were routinely crowded. MCPA was continually competing with ACPA and other associations for time and participation. In the Fall of 1982 MCPA co-hosted a conference with the Minnesota Vocational Guidance Association. The number of participants was encouraging and the reactions to the Fall schedule were very positive. The executive board decided to move the annual conference to the Fall. MCPA has continued to offer drive-in workshops in the spring and participated in the annual MACD Mid-Winter Conference in February.

Recognition of special accomplishments and initiatives has been an important element for MCPA. Several awards have been developed and presented by the association. One of the first awards, given for the first time in 1979, is the Distinguished Service Award. The Award is given to those professionals whose service to MCPA and the student affairs profession in Minnesota and beyond has been exemplary. The Award, which is given when merited, has recognized the Association's strongest leaders. Several other awards are also considered on an annual basis. The Innovative Program Award is given to individuals or programs who have developed unique and effective programs for students on Minnesota campuses. The Lee Knefelkamp Research Award is given to encourage and support research in student development.

By its 5th anniversary, MCPA's membership had reached nearly 250 people. In 1976, there was another growth spurt and membership approached nearly 350. However, there were lean times ahead. By the late 1970's membership had dropped significantly and the leaders of the board were struggling to keep membership and finances in order. Many campuses across the state could no longer support the levels of participation they had in the past and there were cuts in staff and professional support budgets. New efforts were made by MCPA to revitalize important services and regain lost members.

Slowly but surely the momentum of the early years was rekindled and MCPA was moving boldly ahead. The revitalization was fully realized in 1983-84 when MCPA received the Outstanding State Division Award from ACPA. By its 20th anniversary in 1988-89 membership was about 325. The decade of the 80's had brought stability with steady growth. In 1991, MCPA grew to nearly 400 members. The 1990's was a time of change, merger, disaffiliation and continued growth for MCPA. In 1992-93 our parent organization, ACPA, disaffiliated from AACD (American Association of Counseling & Development) resulting in a state disaffiliation of MCPA from MACD. This change caused MCPA to assume all responsibility for membership records and dues. The end result was for MCPA to be more independent and to focus more closely on the needs and issues of its membership.

During the early 1990's the association reaffirmed its commitment to diversity. The association recruited professionals of color for membership, created a commission for professionals of color, developed the Statement of Inclusiveness, emphasized conference programs on diversity issues, and created a yearly affirmative action plan. Another major issue for Minnesota professionals and institutions of higher education was the merger of the state universities, community colleges, and technical colleges into the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system. MCPA served as a facilitator for discussions by professionals from the newly merged systems. The association hosted information sessions and dedicated state conference sessions and pre-conference sessions to this topic. The merger and resulting efforts by MCPA led to increased membership in the early 1990's, particularly with technical colleges. In 1994 MCPA was awarded ACPA's Membership Recruitment and Retention Award. 1994 was also the year MCPA honored its past leadership and contributions to the profession by celebrating its 25th anniversary. In 1997, the Minnesota Contribution Award was renamed to honor Linda Schremp Alberg. In 1998 the Distinguished Service award was renamed to honor our first president, Lud Spoylar. In 1999 we joined with the ACPA to promote the dual membership options available to support both the State and National Organizations

Throughout its history, leaders and members have all added their ideas and energy. Each new leader has taken the best of the past and added their own touches to a mature, but vibrant organization. Historical documents and material are on file at the Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul.