About

NODA, officially known as the Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education, is an international professional organization dedicated to advancing student success across post-secondary institutions. Established to support educators and administrators, NODA creates a comprehensive community of practice that defines, develops, and enhances the fields of student orientation, institutional transition, and academic retention.

NODA Bylaws
Policy Manual
Operating Procedures
Social Media Policy
Volunteer Guide

History and Scope

Founded in 1976 as the National Orientation Directors Association, the organization officially changed its name in 2013 to better capture its expanding mission beyond initial campus orientation to encompass full-lifecycle student transition and retention strategy. The association serves a global membership that includes university administrators, orientation directors, higher education faculty, graduate researchers, and undergraduate student leaders across diverse institutional settings.

Core Mission, Practices, and Values

NODA provides professional development, peer networking, core competency training, and academic research distribution for student affairs professionals. The organization prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion by maintaining a global platform that welcomes varying institutional perspectives and avoids regional bias. Through its ethical standards, professional conferences, scholarly publications, and collaborative networks like NODA Connect, the organization equips higher education professionals to build impactful, sustainable programs that foster long-term student success and degree completion.

NODA Statements & Commitments

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NODA Statements & Commitments

Statement on Global Membership

The commitment to the successful orientation, transition, and retention of students in higher education transcends national, cultural, and organizational borders and boundaries. NODA members represent various institution types, sizes, cultures, languages, and geographic locations. We ask our membership to commit to learning and collaborative environments free of assumptive nation-specific jargonand points-of-view. NODA commits to the leveraging of a global perspective to better support our members and build a stronger orientation, transition, and retention profession.

Statement on Sustainability

We, NODA, affirm our commitment to protect and enhance the environment and our surrounding communities through learning, service, education and administrative operations. We seek to collaborate with and assist our members concerning the creation of more sustainable orientation, retention and transition programs internationally. NODA will be a community that acts with a conscious mind towards social, economic, and environmental awareness and positive, intentional action whenever possible.

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Statements on Ethical Standards

The actions of professionals and paraprofessionals in the field of orientation, transition, and retention have significant impact upon both the retention and potential success of the students whom they serve. This statement of professional ethics is intended to assist the membership of NODA in assuring that they conduct themselves in a manner which will best support positive educational outcomes for students. In addition to this statement, professionals in the field of Orientation, Transition, and Retention may wish to review the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Statement of Ethical Principles and Standards.

Read the Full Statement