Self-Regulating Association Model

By establishing voluntary standards and shared governance structures, nonprofit organizations improve sector credibility and accountability, because collective oversight fosters trust, reduces regulatory burden, and incentivizes member compliance. This strategy involves creating a member-driven association that sets operational, ethical, and quality standards for private educational institutions, offering services like accreditation support, advocacy, and professional development. Unlike top-down regulatory approaches or direct service provision, this model relies on peer accountability and mutual benefit to drive systemic improvement within a specific industry or educational sector.

orgs running it

activities of those orgs

clusters touched

who runs it

organizations running this strategy · 1

#01 ARIZONA PRIVATE SCHOOL ASSOCIATION AZ · 16 activities

what it looks like in practice

activities of orgs running this strategy

A sample of programmatic activities from the orgs above. These are what the strategy looks like on the ground.

Administer scholarship programs ARIZONA PRIVATE SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
direct service
Offers two annual scholarship programs: the APSA AZ High School Scholarship, providing $1,000 (or $500 for shorter programs) in non-cash tuition support to Arizona high school graduates attending member institutions, and the LifeLong Learning Scholarship, a $500 award for enrolled or graduating students. These scholarships are facilitated through member schools.
Advocacy and Representation for Private Postsecondary Schools ARIZONA PRIVATE SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
advocacy
Represents private postsecondary schools in Arizona by engaging with school administrators, vendors, state agencies, the legislature, and regulatory bodies to advocate for their interests and provide regulatory advice.
Advocacy and representation for private postsecondary schools ARIZONA PRIVATE SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
advocacy
Represents Arizona’s private postsecondary institutions by engaging with school administrators, vendors, state agencies, the legislature, and regulatory bodies to advocate for institutional interests and support policy engagement.
Associate Member Benefits ARIZONA PRIVATE SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
direct service
Offers associate members advanced notice, discounts, and priority registration for its Annual Conference.
Distribute member communications and publications ARIZONA PRIVATE SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
direct service
Regularly distributes publications, mailings, and correspondence to members to inform them about legislative actions, industry news, events, and other relevant updates in the private career education sector.
Employment Support Services ARIZONA PRIVATE SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
direct service
Provides a job board for members to advertise job openings and assists members in finding positions for individuals seeking employment.
Facilitate employment and job placement services for members ARIZONA PRIVATE SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
direct service
Operates a job board for member institutions to post job openings and assists members in filling positions by connecting them with individuals seeking employment in the private career education sector.
Guidance on Licensing and Accreditation ARIZONA PRIVATE SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
capacity building
Provides information and assistance to institutions regarding becoming licensed, renewing licenses through the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education, and seeking accreditation.
Host annual conferences and training expos ARIZONA PRIVATE SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
capacity building
Organizes and hosts annual professional development events, including the Best Practices Conference and Training EXPO, featuring educational sessions for staff and faculty at private postsecondary institutions in Arizona. The 58th Annual Best Practices Conference was held in October 2025, and the 19th Annual Training EXPO has been documented as part of ongoing programming.
Member Communication and Information Dissemination ARIZONA PRIVATE SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
capacity building
Distributes publications, mailings, and correspondence to members, and communicates regularly via email, mail, telephone, and one-on-one interactions to provide updates on events, legislative actions, news, and industry issues relevant to the private career education sector.
Member Networking and Resource Facilitation ARIZONA PRIVATE SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
direct service
Maintains online directories of member schools and associate members, provides mailing lists to associate members, and offers member referrals to individuals seeking information about specific schools or service providers.
Professional Development Conferences and Training Events ARIZONA PRIVATE SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
capacity building
Hosts annual events such as the Best Practices Conference and Training EXPO, offering educational sessions and workshops for staff and faculty in the private career education sector.
Provide member support and resource directories ARIZONA PRIVATE SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
direct service
Maintains an online Member Directory for public access and an associate member directory with company descriptions and website links to connect schools with service providers. Also provides member referrals and disseminates up-to-date information through regular communications via email, mail, phone, and one-on-one interactions.
Provide regulatory and operational guidance to member institutions ARIZONA PRIVATE SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
direct service
Offers information and expert assistance on state licensing, renewal through the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education, accreditation processes, compliance with state laws, and advice on program expansion and institutional decision-making.
Scholarship Programs ARIZONA PRIVATE SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
direct service
Administers two annual scholarship programs: the APSA AZ High School Scholarship, offering $1000 tuition scholarships to high school graduates, and the Life Long Learning Scholarship, providing $500 to enrolled or graduating students.
Support associate members with networking and promotional benefits ARIZONA PRIVATE SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
direct service
Provides associate members with a mailing list of member schools upon joining and renewal, along with advanced notice, discounts, and priority registration for the Annual Conference to enhance engagement and business development opportunities.