Student Affairs Competencies

Student affairs is less about being a bottomless well of knowledge, rather it is about having genuine interactions with students who are looking to you to as a role model. If by the end of my practice I can leverage my experiences and understanding to make a positive impact on the world through my relationships with my students, I will consider myself a success.

The experiences that I shared with those students presented me with great satisfaction. This influenced my decision to apply for a graduate degree in school counseling. Although, at this point in time I do not hold any experiences in school counseling I have researched ways to gain that experience. Volunteering at both public schools to shadow licensed school counselors and independent counseling centers will provide me the necessary experiences to gain hands on knowledge for the field. The ability to relate interpersonally to individuals from different cultural backgrounds is extremely important for a counselor. Being knowledgeable of a client’s culture, identity, ethnicity, race and gender play a major part in the counseling process. Possessing cultural competent is key to engaging a diverse clientele. Culture norms and rules change the way an individual interact. I understand the importance of identifying the barriers and bias in interacting with individual from different cultures. Through my previous years of education and current work experiences I obtained valuable interpersonal skills. These skills assist with communicating effectively with a diverse group of individuals. Those skills involved effective listening, problem-solving, decision-making, assertiveness, and verbal and non-verbal communication. In detail, while working as teacher, I was afforded the opportunity of advising interns on making practical

My passion towards working with students every day has led me to the decision of pursuing a doctoral degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education at Miami University. I have chosen this program to prepare myself for a future role as a professor or a senior level college administrator. This program will allow me to become more proficient within the students’ educational experience and therefore better engage students in active learning.

While attending California State University, Long Beach, as an undergraduate in 2011, I mentored students who were members of the program TRIO Student Support Services (SSS). The program SSS provides academic support services for first-generation college students striving to earn a four-year degree. The program fostered my passion for diversity in higher education. As a member of the program, I mentored Hispanic and Black American college students. Secondly, I mentored students who experienced social and academic challenges. The program provided me a unique opportunity to mentor a sexagenarian. For instance, I mentored

This paper is separated into two parts that are connected. The first part will cover my beliefs about higher education focusing on my Student Affairs philosophy while integrating theories and work from current or previous successful Student Affairs professionals. The second part will also discuss my beliefs, foundation of my faith, my strengths, my challenges, my beliefs, my values, and my goals.

After reading Sonja Ardoin’s (2014) “the strategic guide to shaping your student affairs career” book, I read a variety of important content that has allowed me to reflect not only in my fieldwork position, as an Advising Assistant for the Puente Program, but also my current status as a graduate student in the Educational Counseling program.

Student affairs is charged with finding the resources needed to better services, programs, student learning experience, and the teaching of technology to students (Jones, et all, 2011, p.539). In 1890 LeBarron Russell Brigs was appointed dean of men, the first dean appointed. Briggs’s duties as the first dean of men was dealing with student issues. As colleges developed into more than just a place for students to learn the dean of men’s role had changed, the role became focused on helping students to become more rounded in not only education but, help them to become better citizens, and to teach students to have a better social and moral foundation. There are several major roles of student affairs, helping in retention of students, learning

As an emerging student affair professional, it is important for me to invest time into learning about professionals in the field and learning how they navigated being a new professional. I was partnered with Elizabeth Bledsoe, who graduated from the HESA track program in 2013. She is currently the Assistant Director for the Office of Institutional Assessment at Texas A&M, in College Station, Texas. Her office works with all forms of assessment at the university and these main areas are; learning outcome, student support, academics, and curriculum. Elizabeth is specifically in charge of the communication between the different colleges, focused around accreditation and curriculum. Elizabeth said her position is especially important considering Texas A&M is part of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and it is a strict accreditation body.

Congrulations! You have been offered the position of an Assistant Director in student affairs. As the Assistant Director in student affairs, there is still much to be done to help students succeed. Nova Southeastern Univeristy is a pleasant university. They offer several degree programs and a majority of students enjoy the virtual concept Nova Southeastern Univeristy has put in place for students who are not able to attend class in a traditional setting. So, what are student affairs? I believe a student affair is a critical aspect of the higher education experience. The work done by student affairs professionals helps students begin a lifetime journey of growth and self-exploration (NASPA. (n.d.).

It was during the 1920’s where the Student Affairs profession got national coverage. In 1924, the National Association of Appointment Secretaries (NAAS) was founded (Gordon, 2015). It was the Precursor to the ACPA, American College Personnel Association. NAAS renamed National Association of Personnel and Placement Officers NAPPO was founded in 1929. Which led up to the Student Personnel Point of View in 1937. This was a guiding document for Student Affairs Professions. It stated that, “one of the basic purposes of higher education is the preservation, transmission, and enrichment of the important elements of culture the product of scholarship, research, creative imagination, and human experience” (The Student Personnel Point of View, 1937, p. 1). They wrote in this report that the colleges and universities are responsible for those elements to take place as well as other educational purposes that would assist the student in developing to their limits. They were tasked with helping the student realize their potential in making contributions to the betterment of society.

My work in student affairs provides significant opportunity to contemplate, implement and assess initiatives related to student success and retention. My current research is connected to peer education and the 1st year experience and I have active and growing experience in the needs assessment and

In being asked by the VPSA and President to outline a plan to address student concerns in the present, as well as develop a plan going forward and for the future, I have written below a summary of issues presented by students. In addition, I have noted ways to address their immediate concerns, and make a plan going forward as well as addressing the issue of staff involvement in the protest.

U.S. schools and colleges vary from numerous points of view. Some are open, others are independently employed individual; some are huge urban colleges, some are two-yr. group universities, others little rustic grounds. Some offer alumna and expert political stage, others point of convergence basically on undergrad instruction. Each of our more than 3, 000 schools and colleges has its particular and dissimilar mission. This aggregate differing qualities around organizations is one of the extraordinary strength of America's higher instruction framework, and has helped make it the best in the people. Protecting that assorted qualities is key on the off chance that we plan to serve the needs of our just social order.

The Academic Affairs Division comprise of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), Business, Liberal Arts, Social Science, Health Careers, Learning Commons, and the Brunswick University Center. Dr. Janice-Taylor Heard is the Dean of Academic Affairs. I currently report to Dr. Taylor-Heard as the Interim Assistant Dean/Director of the Learning Commons and Academic Support Services. The Academic Affairs objective is to strategize and implement initiatives that geared towards student success, faculty development and adjunct services. Included in its objective is to develop an academic support system for students with tutoring and technology.

Student personnel point of view encompasses the student as a whole. The concept of education is broadened o the student’’s well rounded development- physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually as well as intellectually. (sppv) Student affairs not only emphasize on academic excellence but to shape each individual as a unique human by providing a holistic learning and living environment. Student Affairs professionals play a pivotal role in the development of the students. By applying different theories in student development, they can foster student learning to help them shape their identity. Student affairs staff members must view themselves as educators to refute the belief that learning is held only in the classroom. (contested issue, 29). Learning does not only occur in the classroom but through out of class activities as well. Student affairs staff should talk about student learning and development to enhance the multiplicity of growth areas for students in higher education. These learning and development experiences do not simply happen to students. They happen with their active involvement. There are numerous branches of fields in student affairs that attend to the unique needs of each individual. Residence Director trains Residence assistance to cater to the needs of first year students who are new to the college environment. RA plays a major role of introducing the life of college through building relationships and community to help them develop their sense of