Our Mission

CUPA-HR is higher ed HR. We serve higher education by providing the knowledge, resources, advocacy and connections to achieve organizational and workforce excellence.

Our Members

Our membership is institution-based and includes 92 percent of all U.S. doctoral institutions, 75 percent of all master’s institutions, 60 percent of all bachelor’s institutions, and almost 600 two-year and specialized institutions.

We also serve other organizations that are affiliated with higher education. We provide vital resources to more than 14,000 higher education HR professionals at over 1,800 institutions — every day.

Our Strategic Priorities

1. Be the leading voice regarding higher education workforce issues.
2. Identify emerging trends related to sustainability, engagement and transformation, and address their impact on the higher education workplace.
3. Proactively impact legislative, regulatory and higher education workforce issues.
4. Develop new relationships and strengthen current partnerships with those who influence the higher education workplace.
5. Foster a culture that engages our members in promoting diversity, inclusion and equitable practices to achieve excellence in higher education.
6. Expand the scope of CUPA-HR international efforts by developing new relationships with higher education human resource professionals and groups outside the United States.

Our Work

We accomplish our mission by providing opportunities for professional growth, collaboration and outreach that are in line with our strategic priorities.

Focusing on Emerging Trends and Issues:

• Emerging Issues Committee focused on exploring new sustainable models for the higher education workplace;
• Knowledge Center news feeds and compliance updates;
• Ad hoc task forces, such as the Economic Issues Task Force, assembled to gather intelligence and provide resources on a timely issue.

Offering Resources for Learning and Professional Development:

• Learning and Professional Development Committee focused on developing essential programming for conferences, workshops and webinars;
• An expansive online Knowledge Center featuring HR practices from institutions across the country, core HR learning opportunities and HR regulatory resources;
• Leadership development in the form of the annual Association Leadership Program, resources for association leaders and support from the national office and board;
• Publications including periodicals, books and video.

Making Connections Within the Higher Ed HR Community:

• Communications, Outreach and Advocacy Committee actively seeking ways to foster engagement;
• Face-to-face and online opportunities for exchange of ideas;
• Opportunities to connect with other higher ed professionals;
• Opportunities to develop collaborative working relationships.

Conducting Higher Ed HR Research:

• The acknowledged authority on higher ed salary data;
• DataOnDemand survey tools to meet your just-in-time needs;
• Benefits research focused on higher ed;
• HR and workforce metrics to help manage the higher ed workplace.

Providing Public Policy News and Advocacy:

• Legislative Issues Committee charged with identifying key public policy and advocacy issues;
• Timely legislative and regulatory updates;
• Representation in our nation’s capitol.

Supporting Community Service and Outreach as Integral to Engagement:

• Annual award to recognize an institution demonstrating outstanding community service and outreach;
• Community service projects at CUPA-HR annual conferences;
• Giving back to the Knoxville community, where CUPA-HR is headquartered.

Interested in learning more about our approach? Take a moment to read the Core Values of the association and our Code of Ethics.