What Is The Strategic Guide To Shaping Your Student Affairs Career

As a student affairs practitioner I believe I am a cornerstone of the higher education experience. I have made it my mission to help students be the best version of themselves for the benefit of not only them, but of society at large. I work to help create not only educated students, but also engaged members of a global society.

My pursuit of becoming a School Counselor led me to apply to the School Counseling Master’s Program at University of Maryland, College Park. I am a former student at University of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. After graduating and teaching for two years in Prince George’s County Public Schools, I discovered my true passion lies not only in the classroom and students’ academics, but playing a pivotal role in the growth of their career, social, and personal development. Although I am no longer teaching full-time at the moment, my interaction with students from diverse backgrounds left an indelible responsibility to continue making a difference in our students. The objectives and mission of the School Counseling Master’s Program at University of Maryland can best help my goal of becoming an effective counselor and leader who is an agent of change to students and service the mental and emotional well-being of the younger generation.

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.

Academic Advisors have been needed for as long as there have been higher education institutions. America established its first collegiate institutions in the eighteenth century. It was during the nineteenth century “Faculty within specialized curricula took charge of guiding students to the classes they needed” (Gillespie, 2003). Today, the field of academic advising encompasses all of those same needs from the nineteenth century and more. The needs of students have changed and expanded drastically from when America 's first colleges were established. It is not uncommon for an advisor to assist the student in not only selecting which classes they should take but also helping them to determine what career they should have. Essentially that advisor is taking on the responsibility of facilitating the planning of a student 's next four years and their next forty years as well.

My commitment to my goal of receiving a Master’s degree in counseling has been demonstrated throughout my studies at Rollins by maintaining a GPA of 4.0, my willingness to support my cohort, and by exhibiting an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Although I had retired on a fixed income from a business career due to a disability, I have confirmed my potential, stamina, and desire to counsel through my volunteer work as a guardian advocate, working with people who suffer from addiction, and by remaining an advocate for the LGBTQ community. I have thrived with my undergraduate internship at the Center for Drug Free Living and with my prepracticum at Centaur.

At my graduate assistantship at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), the graduate students from Monmouth were introduced to a few of the key offices that work with Residential Education and Housing. Through this introduction, I was able to meet Kelly Hennessy, who is the current Associate Dean of Students in the Department of Health and Wellness at The College of New Jersey. As a future Student Affairs professional, one of my end goals would ultimately become a Dean of Students, so it was exciting to interview Hennessy and see how she got to where she is today. Originally when Hennessy first started her college years, she thought that she wanted to be a teacher. After working with the professionals in her Residence Life Office and Leadership Office at the University of Buffalo, where she received both her bachelors and master’s degrees, she realized that her passion was no longer teaching, but rather to become the professionals she was surrounded and inspired by every day. Hennessy has worked in Residence Life for majority of her career up to about two years ago when the Department of Health and Wellness first started on TCNJ’s campus.

I conducted an interview with Ms. Jamila Corria on her duties as an academic achievement program advisor at the University of Maryland. The purpose of this interview was to gain clarity and understanding in what truly goes in to counseling others on making life choices. While also analyzing communication challenges she has faced overall through her current career and techniques to deal with those challenges. While conducting the interview I monitored various different verbal and non-verbal signals throughout the interview. The reason I choose Ms. Jamila is because as a student who is currently pursuing a degree in Sociology it is important to learn about the different career paths that can be chosen with this major. Sociology is a broad subject and can be pursued through many different paths. I have yet to decide on exactly which path to choose so by conducting this interview it allows me to see one option. Counseling is a career I have often thought of pursing but have not quite decided on.

In bringing together our interviews, along with current research on academic advising in post-secondary institutions, we will consider student dynamics, needs, advisement issues, and potential ways to effectively advise high-ability students.

From my experience in overcoming barriers, as a past first-generation college student, appreciative advising is important for my work with students. According to recent literature, appreciative advising means “establishing meaningful rapport between students and advisors, and co-creating paths toward success” (Bloom et al., 2008, p. 18). Advising undergraduate students and graduate students is a two-way learning experience for both the advisor and the student. Hence, I am an expert in improving student persistence, and narrowing the achievement gap for underrepresented students (as specified in Goal 2 of the strategic plan implemented by President Mildred Garcia). As the new Educational Leadership and Ed Doctorate Advisor, I can focus on closing the achievement gap for underrepresented master’s degree students and doctoral students. Respectively, I can use the methods of appreciative advising while working with students in the College of Education (COE). For instance, I will communicate with COE faculty and manage assessments to learn the challenges graduate students

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.

SPPV (1949) focuses on the education of a student being the responsibility of the student but responsibilities of student affairs professionals in coming to the forefront of the education process (Carpenter, 2011). SPPV (1937) focus on the student as a whole person including physical condition, relationships, vocational skills, emotional stability, and moral and religious values (ACE, 1937). However, SPPV (1949) was written shortly after the end of World War II and the authors seemed to focus more on democracy and the change in student population at the university level (ACE, 1949). After World War II many of the returning veterans took advantage of the GI Bill and now student affairs professionals were dealing with a more

As a recent graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Art and Design focusing on art history and education, the position as Education Coordinator and Advisor at Buena Vista University captured my attention as an opportunity to work with students through educational programming. As a recent college student, I provide a valuable perspective on academic advising through my own personal experiences. I have learned many advisors lack in truly connecting and catering to each student’s individual situation and needs. Buena Vista University, a relatively small area college, provides an opportunity to fully connect and provide personal one-on-one experience all students deserve. Subsequently, students gain the absolute most out of their college education. A large part of my career goals entail helping students of all ages engage, thrive and connect in their own individualized way.

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

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

“Through collaboration, ideas can be shared, new and better strategies can be developed, problems can be solved, students’ progresses can be better monitored, and their outcomes are evaluated effectively.”¬ (Lee, 1996).