I hope you all enjoy your Labor Day weekend! I've provided a very brief summary of each chapter and posed two questions below. If you have any questions or need clarification let me know.
In brief, chapter four in the Komives and Woodard text discusses the many dimensions of student diversity. It doesn't mean just race and ethnicity or religion anymore, but extends into categories that may not have even been considered years ago such as sexual identity and generational gaps. With such a broad range of students that we will all work with in our experiences, I think it will prove important that we each do our best to adapt to the ever-changing environment of student affairs.
Komives and Woodard dissect the topic of "understanding tomorrow's students" through five maxims. My first question is this: Which of the five maxims, if any, do you already do well and which do you need to improve upon? And, which do you believe will be most important in your work?
Chapter five assesses the development of the student affairs profession in the United States and the two core concepts behind it: First, "the profession's consistent and persistent emphasis on and commitment to the development of the whole person." And secondly, the profession was "originally founded to support the academic mission of the college..."
Given the varying types of institutions we've learned about in our materials already, and the respective varying missions of each, it is obvious that this could have meant a lot of different things in the early years of the profession.
My second question is this: If you had to write a brief mission statement on behalf of the entire student affairs profession, what would it be and why?
That's it - I'm eager to read some of the responses!
My responses to my own questions (seems odd): 1. Of the maxim listed, my strongest is continuous observation. I love to soak up knowledge and truly listen to the students. I'm not going to be 23 forever and sooner or later, I will start to grow out of touch with the students completely. The more I understand the world of the students I'm working with, the more I feel I'll be able to help. On the other hand, I definitely need to compare notes more often. Now that we're in a cohort together, discussion becomes much more natural, so I'm excited to continue that trend.
2. My mission statement for student affairs would be "First and foremost, to serve the students of the university while developing, educating, preparing, and embracing each student for the unique and meaningful contributions they are capable of making in the world."
So, I’m actually going to piggyback off of your first response Ryan because I feel exactly the same way. I hate to keep referring to my experience with working for TKE, but it seems to be relevant to each response. When I was on the road fresh out of college you feel like you can relate more to the students and what their needs are, but I always looked to the future…could I see myself doing this forever or will I eventually become the “old guy” that doesn’t know how my students feel? I know I couldn’t do that job forever because eventually the travel would become too taxing and the disconnect would be greater, but even though we grow older and they stay the same age as long as we keep up with the trends and continue to educate ourselves and each other we will be able to be more in tuned to the students wants and needs. A lot of the time, all the students are looking for is someone to actually truly listen to them…if we master that, we will do great things!
As for my own mission statement for Student Affairs…I don’t know if I can fully commit to one thing right now but it would start off like this: “To provide an environment for students outside the classroom to develop and learn.” How it finishes…still in the works! :)
I would have to say my strongest maxim is define and define again. Everything evolves pretty quickly these days so it is hard to maintain one concrete set of ideas. Communicating clearly and thoughtfully can make the biggest difference when working with a student, parent or colleague. This makes it vital to change your verbiage from time to time and possibly even person to person depending on who you are talking to. Also remebering that there is always gray area is key to understanding situations and responding sensitively. While working with parents and students to correct an issue I have to be cognitive that it is not neccesarily someone's fault, but possibly other factors involved caused the situation.
My mission statement might also evolve but right now I would say: "to assist students in academic, social and intellectual growth while fostering a holistic collegiate experience"
(For those of you were also confused by the first prompt, see Chapter 3, pages 57-60).
1. I believe that the maxim that will be the important to me is to define and define again. This maxim has a very clear relation to understanding and respecting the diverse backgrounds that students come from. Their experiences and perceptions are rapidly changing and a very diverse. In order to communicate effectively with students, I think that it is important to remember their perspective (like the Freshman list from last week's current event).
I think that the fifth maxim, compare notes and be open to different views, is the maxim that I have have had to use the most thus far. Even from the same institution and campus, there are vast differences between the students of one department and another. By working with two very different populations on the same campus, I think that I am seeing very diverse student expectations and perspectives.
2. The purpose of Student Affairs Professionals is to serve the university through the development of academic, social, multicultural, professional, and other programs designed to provide students of all backgrounds with ample opportunities to engage in activities designed to develop the whole person.
The maxim that I believe I do well at and will use most often is define and define again. It is important to relate to students, but also have a level of professionalism. For example, the book says “students have such wide media awareness and are more sophisticated than past generations,” which means that administrators and faculty members cannot be complacent. Most students going to college want to be there and have the potential to do great things after so it is important for administrators to keep up with the different constraints students may face at the time. I believe that I have the capability to adapt to different students needs and be open to changing my perspectives if they don’t work at all times.
The maxim that I think I need to improve upon is watching the scale. For my undergraduate degree, I have experienced both a small liberal arts college and a big research college. I definitely enjoyed the liberal arts college better and plan to work in a smaller college in the future. However, right now I’m at USF and need to take into account the large amount of students here.
My brief mission statement would have to be something along the lines of Student Affairs staff helping each individual student learn and demonstrate integrity and leadership both in and out of the classroom and also working together to enhance the University’s reputation.
The maxim I need to work on is define and define again. I want to understand the many different perspectives of students and find the best way to communicate with them. Effectively communicating with students is very important, working in financial aid I’ve seen a disconnect between our office and many students at the university.
The maxim I excel at the watch the scale. My past experiences in housing have allowed me to work with different student groups and see what types of students are living on campus. After USF mandated first year students live on campus the dynamic of the residence halls changed.
Trying to write on behalf of the entire profession is quite a daunting task, but from my perspective the mission statement would be “to provide opportunities for students to learn, to lead, and to serve so they can succeed in school and beyond.” We can help students find those opportunities and encourage them to take part. Students can learn through their experiences and develop their whole person.
1. The one maxim I feel I have had the most experience with is define and define again. I have worked with a wide range of students in the past and am becoming more and more familiar with their varying needs. I am excited to have an even more diverse population here at USF to work with so that I may continue to grow and learn from them, just as I hope they will from me.
The maxim that I am struggling with is watch the scale. Like Megan, my undergraduate experience was on a small scale. Here, USF is much different; however, I am working with a small scale of students in the Honors College. I need to make sure that I venture out beyond that to truly understand the scope and inner workings of such a large research university.
2. A brief mission: To gradually expose students to the world that awaits them so that they may begin to explore and learn within a safe, supportive environment in the hopes that at the end of their time here they will be able to become active, successful world citizens who are capable of creating a brighter future.
1. The maxim I feel I have the most experience with is " Compare Notes and Be open to Different Views." The reason being, is being an Management major in my undergrad, all high level classes worked heavily in group work. You never worked on your own it seemed like and going to a large University like USF you rarely had the same people within your groups. I think they best way to work is in groups because you get the options and experience any my different people The maxim I will need to work on is "Define and Define Again." Like Lindsay said I think communication is the key, in any aspect of Student Affairs. This is something you can never be too good at.
2. Like everyone else I found it a little difficult to pinpoint my exact mission statement but I would say: " The enhance the learning and living experience of Students, by brining together academics, social experiences, professionalism and culture."
(Emily, you're a God-send...thanks for that pin-point clarification!) "Compare Notes and Be Open to Different Views" is the most important maxim to me. I believe that it essentially condenses the whole point of the country--and the world for that matter--into a concise well-defined statement. The United States is great, not because everyone agrees and falls into line about every issue, but because it bickers--civily, mind you--and counteracts the negative aspects of the various forms of thought.
At a University intellectual freedom is tantamount to a right. No one should be excluded based upon their thoughts, mental capacities and hindrences--all with due prudence of course. All the different parts of the university consist of a whole, and if this whole discusses and works on issues as a concise unit then success is almost guaranteed. Different perspectives breed different thoughts, and many thoughts bring about continuance.
Statement: "Helping students help themselves to success. Bringing to fruition knowledge, success, and awareness--together we succeed, together we prosper."
Ryan, these are great questions and ones that really made me think.
The maxim that is strong on my end is the "Continually Observe" concept. For me, it's important to see how people act and/or react to situations. It often leads to discovering certain patters of behavior among individuals which, in turn, can help to better serve the student populations on campus. For instance, coming to USF, I started to see how many students came to events for the "physical" incentive (free food, prizes, etc.) rather than long-lasting incentives (connecting with other students, getting involved with an organization, etc.). Those experiences have helped me to determine ways to run events within my office where students come for those lasting incentives rather than the free food, which is secondary. One maxim that needs improvement on my end is "Comparing Notes and Be Open to Different Views". There are times that people, myself included, develop "tunnel vision" to finding solutions to their problems. They never expand beyond other experiences or experiments from other people who have created solutions to similar problems. Within educational research, there is a beneficial aspect to multiple studies of a certain issue, and it's important to learn from those experiences to solve the personal problem one may be experiencing. In the end, it is important to "Look to the Pioneers". Our field is always changing. To have concrete examples of people succeeding in an area shows that with the right tools, everyone can achieve an do great things. There has to be a "first" in anything within society (first black graduate of a university, first hispanic valedictorian of a graduating class). It all depends if people have been called to be trailblazers/pioneers or the ones that keep the trail rolling along.
Student Affairs Mission: The goal of Student Affairs is to effectively help students reach their full potential through intellectual stimulation, civic engagement, accountability of owning their independence and inspiration to succeed. -The four points I wrote in this mission statement are very loaded. Students need to have something to think about. They need those "things that make you go hmmmm" regularly. Also, students have to realize that there is a world outside the university. Getting involved outside the campus parameters will give students an opportunity to experience a better view of society. Throughout college, we are growing to know ourselves as individuals daily. It's important for students to own that aspect of their lives and take charge of themselves. No one else will at this stage. Finally, students need to know that they aren't alone in this journey. There are many individuals before them that have completed the collegiate journey with success, and we need to remind them of those instances as they can inspire.
The maxim that I feel I strongly identify with is "Continually Observe." With my psychology background, I enjoy analyzing and picking a part my surroundings for beneficial reasons. Especially now that I work in an environment that is ever changing.At a very young age, I would take the naturalistic observance aproach to all my new environments, may it be a new class, a family function, etc. I think it is very beneficial to be able to observe and make adjustments (a gift), accurate adjustment. And like Ryan stated in his blog, we wont be young forever so it is important I think to be able to observe and make beneficial adjustments.
My mission statement: To help facilitate and promote academic responsibility, and maturity in the learning environment (or institution) that is enjoyable. The program will strengthen student connections to the University through engagement, involvement, and practical application. This program will be implemented to help develop University of South Florida students academically in hopes to meet University and nationally accepted standards.
The maxim I identify with most is also to "Continually Observe". Like many of my classmates I believe this concept helps to understand the essence of the student and or generation. My transition from a primarily residential campus that houses the majority of upperclassmen has different programming trends than USF would because the majority of students who live on campus are freshman.
Mission: To be intentional in the development of student learning both in the classroom and through practical experiences. The University will advocate values of academic engagement, personal responsibility, inclusion, humanitarianism, and sustainability. Our students will engage in different learning environments to develop understanding and skills that will prepare them to be active citizens in society.
So here goes 2nd attempt...Got to love technology!
The maxim I feel I do well is "Compare Notes and Be Open to Different Views," primarily because in my professional experience this is something I had to do continuously to be successful. It is imperative that as you move up and begin to supervise a team you constantly receive feedback and other ideas to strengthen your processes and plans for the entire team. In the retail world, there was always a store or a district somewhere doing "it" well ("it" was always different depending on the time of year). I would always reach out to these areas and implement these processes into my store and had the opportunity to receive calls asking what our store was doing well when we were on top. It goes both way for comparing notes and sharing... What I probably need to focus on is "Continually Observe" to truly be in touch with the student population. With my GA in Student Involvement we are constantly trying to figure out how to market our events or reach out to a new group of students. Most recently I was just educated on the benefits of FourSqaure over Loopt, neither of which I use (yet anyway). As technology continues to advance, we in the students affairs professional will constantly have to remain in touch with our students to be successful.
As for a mission statement, I'm thinking of something about a focus on academic excellence in a classroom-centered learning environment supplemented by out of the classroom experiences both on and off campus in your community, interactions with both campus and civic leaders, and always casting a shadow of excellence to educate students to make the best decisions based on the information they have.
1. Out of the five maxims I feel Define and Define Again is the one maxim that I already use or try to use to the best of my ability on a daily basis. Dealing with a very diverse group of students on an everyday basis, I have to be open to new perspectives. I can’t just assume everyone is going to do what I expect or want them to do. I have to be aware of my students on an individual basis and know what works for them, and open up to new outlooks. Every culture is different and working in a college setting is rewarding to be exposed to all different values and point of views, and I think that is something to take advantage of and not take for granted.
I think the most important point of view in my work is to Continually Observe. Working in athletics I have to continually observe my surroundings, there are always new athletes, staff, and changes made to the overall department. Athletics always has room for improvement and I think looking at other school’s departments and observing how they run their departments comparable to ours is very important. It can give us ideas, and there is always room for learning and growth in any department.
2. My mission statement for student affairs would be “ To ultimately serve students to the best of my ability to assist in their development and growth as students and individuals, and in doing so guiding them to strive to reach their full potential. “
I agree with what Megan said entirely. The maxim that best defines the work I have done so far is "define and define again". I find myself in a constant struggle to update my knowledge to be successful. This is most strongly seen in my addiction to technology. The maxim I struggle with the most is "Look to the Pioneers." Since I derive so much energy and reward from redefining myself I find it challenging to look to what others have done before. This is something I will continue to work at because many of the professionals in the field have experienced situations that I would like to be a part of one day. It will be important to learn how to make the most from others past lessons. "Continually Observe" will be the maxim that defines my work in the future. Just as Ryan and a number of others said, we will eventually not be the current generation and it will be important to learn what makes the next generation inspired, motivated, and leaders for the global community.
My mission statement reads: "Strive to reach every student at each university to facilitate the growth and understanding of college students as ethical leaders for the global community."
The terms ethical leadership and global citizenship are very important themes in the office that I work in and I find that to be true throughout the profession. It is critical to recognize that we want to empower students among the guidelines that make society flourish and I believe citizenship and ethical leadership are the pathways to that success.
My strongest maxim is “Look to the Pioneer” I find that most of the things I work on have been done before by someone somewhere. Maybe they are at USF, maybe they are not. Maybe they are at the office next to mine, maybe they are at a different university. I’m all about networking with people and asking questions about how they got to where they are. I see what others have accomplished first to see if what I am doing is worth doing.
Define and Define again is something I always need to work on. Communication is one of the greatest skills to have, and I need to improve.
Student Affairs motto. “Building a new generation that will take the next even further.”
Of the five maxims, I believe I “look to the pioneers” well. I have always found it important to look at what is being or has been done in a new field in order to improve upon it. It is a standard that new programs be supported with research. Having had this kind of experience in Student Affairs, I feel comfortable looking at previous work before proceeding with a task. I think I can continually improve on “define and define again.” As I come into contact with more students, I gain more exposure to different backgrounds. Interacting with each student teaches me new ways to approach situations. I think understanding and learning in this maxim will never stop.
To write a brief, overarching mission for student affairs would be very difficult. As the book touched upon, student affairs departments differ across institutions. I believe it is important for student affairs professionals to aid students to reach their full potential, and provide a variety of means to do so. Programs that aid development academically, intellectually, socially and with a global context are pertinent to student success.
1. There are going to be different times when different maxims resonate more with our careers and when we will need to actively focus on certain maxims to better ourselves and our contribution to our institution. Currently, I find a natural desire to continually observe. Being out of school a few years, I've been actively observing everything at USF to see how things might have changed over the few years I've been out of a collegiate setting.
Like Megan and Andrea, the maxim that I'm struggling with is "Watch the Scale". Everything at USF is so large scale and there are such diverse popultions that USF is able to reach because of the pure size of the insitution and the breadth of the student affairs departments that have been created to meet the growing needs. Compared to my undergraduate experience, it is hard to relate to the scale of usf.
2. There are so many statements that could be a student affairs mission statement. Because we have standards to follow like the CAS Professional Standards, a mission statement should be short and speak from a broad point of view. My thoughts are "Fostering an environment of student growth and development so that each student is able to succeed."
I am working on so many areas to improve it is easy to forget where I am doing well. I use continually observe often and well. As each circumstance arises, it is typically to my benefit to see what is being said and done before leaping in to try and address an issue or solve a problem. Each person and situation is unique and needs to be seen as a unique occurrence. I try to read a lot of different material to stay abreast of current events and activities on the campus and with the students. I need to improve on watching the scale. I have not had enough recent experience with college students and campuses to recognize tipping points in given situations, but I am still working on it. Moving forward, it is essential for me to compare notes and be open to different views. In my old offices I kept visible a quote that has reminded me to keep an open mind and pay attention to what other people are saying. “The whole problem with the world is the fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves.” Bertrand Russell
1. "Continually observe" is my strongest maxim. This most likely has to do with the way I am and think. As an undergrad my major was in Mass Communications with a focus on telecommunications. In a nutshell I was a reporter and reported on news. This is what I did and some say I did it rather well. There is always more to a story than meets the eye and you have to look close and carefully to find things that do not appear on the surface. Students are a perfect case of when one has to continually observe. Students can sometimes be confused, not know how to express their emotions, or going through a rough time. It is up to us to assess the situation and professionally help them as much as we can.
The maxim I need to work on more is "look to the Pioneers." I need to make sure to utilize my resources, think outside the box, and ask for help in situations I may not know the answer too.
I believe in my work I will have to utilize all these maxims and not just one. So to pick one overall that is most important just does not seem logical. Instead it is about picking the right one at the right time to use.
2. Student Affairs: Committed to providing the resources and support to help maximize the student experience.
So it was brought to my attention that I inadvertently included the maxims from chapter 3 in my blog question. I apologize for any confusion and hope everyone knows that we had to read chapters four and five.
Reviewing the material, the questions are still relevant and I would maintain that the mission statement can apply to both chapters four and five.
I think “continually observing” is important. Most of the time I see my students in their “official SG capacity” but it’s also interesting to hear about the classes they’re taking, what they see themselves doing after graduation, and what they like to do besides work for SG. I’m learning a lot about USF just by listening to them talk about different classes and events. I’m not much older then most of them, but I’m already noticing that most of the students I work with are MUCH more tech savvy then I am. Maybe USF just places more emphasis on online learning, blackboard, etc, but they seem to know a lot more about computers then I do. I’m learning a lot just by watching them work, make decisions, etc.
If I had to write a mission statement for the whole profession…I think it is simply to help our students make the most of their college experience, academically and in their extracurricular activities, and to help them prepare for life after college. I know, very general!
1. Like most of us, the maxim that I believe I am the best at and use the most is "define and define again." This is especially important in Housing and Residence Life because all students come from so many different backgrounds and it is essential to be able to understand where each student comes from. I also think though, that this is one upon which I can improve. Like Angela, I believe that interactions with each student allow for learning new ways of seeing, approaching and/or handling situations. With this maxim there are always growth opportunities.
2. My very condensed mission statement of student affairs would be "Student affairs is in place to help students succeed by fostering growth and learning and by helping to establish connections."
I appreciate the ambitions of Ryan to encourage us to review the five maxims. I like the concepts of Observe, and Consider the Pioneer. As we all recognize student populations are very unique, and evolving all the time. Two particular groups of students that caught my attention are Military Reserve members and Distance Learners. Additionally, one category of students to be prepared to assist with complex issues are transfer students. Transfer Students are faced with many challenges related to the lack of uniformity between institutions and states.
Chapters 4 & 5 continued to establish the foundation that we will appreciate as we move forward with our efforts to understand the elements of student affairs and higher education. The insight of Lloyd-Jones is a perspective worth review.
A theme that can be identified in much of the reading assignments, is the importance of character. The colonial colleges and colegiate way emphasized the development of character, and this theme has contiued with concepts such as loco parentis.
My mission statement would be "serve the needs of students and colleages by offering to them and expecting from them accountability, dependablity, cooperation and acceptance".
As for the maxim I believe I have a pretty good grasp on that would be Continually Observe. A great example of this came just the weekend. As some of you may know it was Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment this weekend. It was a very long week weekend filled with long hours, tedious tasks, and break downs left and right. I was constantly observing the women on the executive staff of Panhellenic to catch their break downs and their emotional levels before they blew up and became a problem. I was able to pull them aside and allow them to vent and talk through their issues before they held it in so long that it became a substantial problem.
As for the maxim I need to work on developing that would be Define and Define Again. I can become very stuck in my opinions and my views on things. Being able to redefine things is going to be very important in this field and it is something I am working everyday to improve.
I believe my greatest maxim is 2 areas. I think I am someone who continually observes, while comparing notes/being open to different views. As an art major I was always told and trained to observe and study ways and techniques of the past and present, so I can create my own way for my future. As an artist you can go one of two ways, go with what is popular and what will sell, or become more radical and do what you do because you want to create it. I believe I am someone who tries to observe what is going on, what is popular, how others are doing, and what can I do to improve upon these ideas.
With that said, it goes into the next step of my process, which is comparing notes. After I have observed my surroundings and come up with my own ideas based on my environment, I want to discuss it with others. Some people may be able to see where my ideas are flawed, where they are strong and where things can be combined or improved. Learning and discussing with others gives a whole new perspective to an already established idea.
As for my personal philosophy it would go something like..."To subject students to constant opportunities that emphasis academic, personal, social and skill growth. Our mission is to develop the student as a whole unit, a person of character, intelligence, quality and ambition. The department of Student Affairs intends to connect students to their interests that can push them to the next professional and personal level, while providing an experience on campus that is unlike any other. The (insert college or university name) experience will be the environment students make of it, along with the facilitated and guided help of the faculty and staff. Student Affairs is the guided stepping stone to experience and way finding."-something like that, but it is much to early to solidify this concept.
1. Of the five maxims I believe that “continually observe” is the one in which I believe that I already do well. I say this because throughout my life thus far I have realized that I in every situation I have been presented, I always evaluate every aspect presented. Like the maxim personifies, I am one who likes to observe every aspect of a situation so I can better understand what I am facing and how to better approach the situation. I believe this will be the most important in my work because as student affairs professional it will allow me to fully understand the needs and desires of students, thus allowing me to better meet their needs. I feel as though I need to improve upon the maxim of “comparing notes and being open to different views.” I say this because sometimes I have the tendency of getting overly excited about attacking a situation that I forget what my peers and colleagues think. I will need to improve on this because the value of teamwork is important in the profession of Student Affairs.
2. If I had to write a brief mission statement on behalf of the entire student affairs profession, it would state: “To enhance the social relationships among the student population allowing students from all ethnicities and diverse cultural backgrounds the opportunity to express themselves both physically and cognitively, while developing them into the future leaders and contributors to the ever-changing society both locally and internationally.” I say this because like I stated in my personal philosophy paper, this is what I feel student affairs means to me and is my goal as a student affairs professional.
Like Monica and Cory, my strongest maxim is "Continually observe". I love getting to know people; their motivations and passions can really give you a sense of what captures their attention and devotion. I was a psych major in college, and indeed, learning the about the observable behaviors, as well as those underlying emotions, really fascinates me. Everyone has a story, even the "lack of original story" is an influential factor in people's lives. I could probably use some work in the "Watch the scale" maxim, as numbers often creep up on me and I might not realize that a population has changed if it happened gradually. I could preemptively address this by drawing accurate, current numbers and conducting reliable research to track the growth of a particular group, especially in the context of a larger population.
My personal philosophy towards student affairs is that students have both simple and complex concerns to be addressed. Examples of some of the more simple ones include having a place to live, an event to attend Saturday night, or perhaps help choosing a major. Some of the more complex undertakings of student affairs is to ensure the growth and development of the whole person, to instill a sense of civic duty through the service of others, ultimately to better this world. We nurture the students we have into the graduates we wish to release into the world. Our profession, like Professor Conway alluded to in our CSA orientation, is like that of a doctor-- we heal and treat aspects of a student's life, to ensure proper development of the individual.
Like many of you, my strongest maxim is "continually observe" as well. I like to sit back and observe what is happening and to internalize and access a situation, essentially trying to make what I am seeing my own. I find it interesting that so many people feel this is their strongest area and I wonder if that has something to do with the type of people that attracted to the college student affairs profession.
As for my own mission statement or philosophy for the profession, I think it should be something along the lines of: "Creating a learning laboratory in which students can learn and grow in outside the classroom experiences" (obviously it needs a little refining). One of the things a mentor of mind imparted on me that is very important and personal to me is that student affairs is a learning laboratory. Many times, I think we (as student affairs professionals) forget that students are learning and growing within our departments. We expect that they will be perfect and can come down hard when mistakes are made. I try to remember that as a laboratory, this is a place that they might be getting their first "real world" experiences and that it's okay to mess up sometimes. Just like a chemistry lab is to practice practically what you are learning in the chemistry lecture, the environments in which we work is the practice of all the stuff college students should be learning (especially if they plan on entering the workforce). We need to remember that this is the chance to experiment (and we're in a unique position current in our assistantships to get to experiment too).
1) Going back to Justin, I believe that you eventually you do become "that old guy" and do loose touch with students. Mostly because as times change, so does the world we live in and we will not know what is going on in a 20-year-old's head anymore when we are 40, and 50. Also, the higher the position that you obtain in the student affairs profession as you get older the more out of touch with students you become. When you have an entry-level student affairs position, you typically work very closely with students. The higher you climb, the less students you see.
2) I believe it was Ashley who said this in last week's blog but it has been in the back of my mind all week. "Student affairs is not a job, it's a passion!" It is so crazy that we all came here from different experiences, different universities, but we all share one common goal. We all want to enrich the lives of students. Ever since I read this in last week's blog, I could not stop thinking how true it was and that we are all in this field because of something we did or what someone else did in the student affairs field that made us realize the importance of higher education and its presence on a college campus.
Continually observe. Continual observation of both the internal and external aspects of students affairs work, day-to-day aspects of our specific jobs, and the students and others with whom we work enable us to perform the continual assessment that's necessary to ensuring we're staying relevant and meeting the ever-changing needs of the students. As Ryan and a few others spoke about, I think to a certain extent it's inevitable that we'll become the "old lady/old guy." We get older everyday and the students younger. However, the continual observation is what allows us to stay in touch. I'd like to take more time to really come up with a mission statement for the student affairs profession. It's so multifaceted and there are so many aspects of it. I really liked the point Dr. Miller made the first week pointing out the difference between working in student affairs and doing the work of student affairs. These aren't two dichotomous groups, rather a lot of the policies, issues, concerns overlap. Passion is definitely key in doing the work of student affairs as well as a commitment to relevance, being transformative in our approach to teaching and learning. I don't believe we can afford to be static in our beliefs or behaviors as SA professionals.
Like Dr.Conway said yesterday we do lose touch with our students are we move farther and farther up the chain of command. It is weird how that works because you get into this profession you do it because you want to work with students not become an administrator who does the behind the scenes work. As for my mission statement, I think student affairs is where compassion and love for your undergraduate experience is turned into a career to improve the lives of new undergraduates. We would not be where we are without the help of others and coming into this profession is our way to pay it forward and impact as many student lives as we can.
Hey everyone,
ReplyDeleteI hope you all enjoy your Labor Day weekend! I've provided a very brief summary of each chapter and posed two questions below. If you have any questions or need clarification let me know.
In brief, chapter four in the Komives and Woodard text discusses the many dimensions of student diversity. It doesn't mean just race and ethnicity or religion anymore, but extends into categories that may not have even been considered years ago such as sexual identity and generational gaps. With such a broad range of students that we will all work with in our experiences, I think it will prove important that we each do our best to adapt to the ever-changing environment of student affairs.
Komives and Woodard dissect the topic of "understanding tomorrow's students" through five maxims. My first question is this: Which of the five maxims, if any, do you already do well and which do you need to improve upon? And, which do you believe will be most important in your work?
Chapter five assesses the development of the student affairs profession in the United States and the two core concepts behind it: First, "the profession's consistent and persistent emphasis on and commitment to the development of the whole person." And secondly, the profession was "originally founded to support the academic mission of the college..."
Given the varying types of institutions we've learned about in our materials already, and the respective varying missions of each, it is obvious that this could have meant a lot of different things in the early years of the profession.
My second question is this: If you had to write a brief mission statement on behalf of the entire student affairs profession, what would it be and why?
That's it - I'm eager to read some of the responses!
-Ryan
My responses to my own questions (seems odd):
ReplyDelete1. Of the maxim listed, my strongest is continuous observation. I love to soak up knowledge and truly listen to the students. I'm not going to be 23 forever and sooner or later, I will start to grow out of touch with the students completely. The more I understand the world of the students I'm working with, the more I feel I'll be able to help. On the other hand, I definitely need to compare notes more often. Now that we're in a cohort together, discussion becomes much more natural, so I'm excited to continue that trend.
2. My mission statement for student affairs would be "First and foremost, to serve the students of the university while developing, educating, preparing, and embracing each student for the unique and meaningful contributions they are capable of making in the world."
So, I’m actually going to piggyback off of your first response Ryan because I feel exactly the same way. I hate to keep referring to my experience with working for TKE, but it seems to be relevant to each response. When I was on the road fresh out of college you feel like you can relate more to the students and what their needs are, but I always looked to the future…could I see myself doing this forever or will I eventually become the “old guy” that doesn’t know how my students feel? I know I couldn’t do that job forever because eventually the travel would become too taxing and the disconnect would be greater, but even though we grow older and they stay the same age as long as we keep up with the trends and continue to educate ourselves and each other we will be able to be more in tuned to the students wants and needs. A lot of the time, all the students are looking for is someone to actually truly listen to them…if we master that, we will do great things!
ReplyDeleteAs for my own mission statement for Student Affairs…I don’t know if I can fully commit to one thing right now but it would start off like this: “To provide an environment for students outside the classroom to develop and learn.” How it finishes…still in the works! :)
I would have to say my strongest maxim is define and define again. Everything evolves pretty quickly these days so it is hard to maintain one concrete set of ideas. Communicating clearly and thoughtfully can make the biggest difference when working with a student, parent or colleague. This makes it vital to change your verbiage from time to time and possibly even person to person depending on who you are talking to. Also remebering that there is always gray area is key to understanding situations and responding sensitively. While working with parents and students to correct an issue I have to be cognitive that it is not neccesarily someone's fault, but possibly other factors involved caused the situation.
ReplyDeleteMy mission statement might also evolve but right now I would say: "to assist students in academic, social and intellectual growth while fostering a holistic collegiate experience"
right on Aaron!
ReplyDelete(For those of you were also confused by the first prompt, see Chapter 3, pages 57-60).
ReplyDelete1. I believe that the maxim that will be the important to me is to define and define again. This maxim has a very clear relation to understanding and respecting the diverse backgrounds that students come from. Their experiences and perceptions are rapidly changing and a very diverse. In order to communicate effectively with students, I think that it is important to remember their perspective (like the Freshman list from last week's current event).
I think that the fifth maxim, compare notes and be open to different views, is the maxim that I have have had to use the most thus far. Even from the same institution and campus, there are vast differences between the students of one department and another. By working with two very different populations on the same campus, I think that I am seeing very diverse student expectations and perspectives.
2. The purpose of Student Affairs Professionals is to serve the university through the development of academic, social, multicultural, professional, and other programs designed to provide students of all backgrounds with ample opportunities to engage in activities designed to develop the whole person.
The maxim that I believe I do well at and will use most often is define and define again. It is important to relate to students, but also have a level of professionalism. For example, the book says “students have such wide media awareness and are more sophisticated than past generations,” which means that administrators and faculty members cannot be complacent. Most students going to college want to be there and have the potential to do great things after so it is important for administrators to keep up with the different constraints students may face at the time. I believe that I have the capability to adapt to different students needs and be open to changing my perspectives if they don’t work at all times.
ReplyDeleteThe maxim that I think I need to improve upon is watching the scale. For my undergraduate degree, I have experienced both a small liberal arts college and a big research college. I definitely enjoyed the liberal arts college better and plan to work in a smaller college in the future. However, right now I’m at USF and need to take into account the large amount of students here.
My brief mission statement would have to be something along the lines of Student Affairs staff helping each individual student learn and demonstrate integrity and leadership both in and out of the classroom and also working together to enhance the University’s reputation.
Megan
The maxim I need to work on is define and define again. I want to understand the many different perspectives of students and find the best way to communicate with them. Effectively communicating with students is very important, working in financial aid I’ve seen a disconnect between our office and many students at the university.
ReplyDeleteThe maxim I excel at the watch the scale. My past experiences in housing have allowed me to work with different student groups and see what types of students are living on campus. After USF mandated first year students live on campus the dynamic of the residence halls changed.
Trying to write on behalf of the entire profession is quite a daunting task, but from my perspective the mission statement would be “to provide opportunities for students to learn, to lead, and to serve so they can succeed in school and beyond.” We can help students find those opportunities and encourage them to take part. Students can learn through their experiences and develop their whole person.
Great questions, Ryan!
ReplyDelete1. The one maxim I feel I have had the most experience with is define and define again. I have worked with a wide range of students in the past and am becoming more and more familiar with their varying needs. I am excited to have an even more diverse population here at USF to work with so that I may continue to grow and learn from them, just as I hope they will from me.
The maxim that I am struggling with is watch the scale. Like Megan, my undergraduate experience was on a small scale. Here, USF is much different; however, I am working with a small scale of students in the Honors College. I need to make sure that I venture out beyond that to truly understand the scope and inner workings of such a large research university.
2. A brief mission: To gradually expose students to the world that awaits them so that they may begin to explore and learn within a safe, supportive environment in the hopes that at the end of their time here they will be able to become active, successful world citizens who are capable of creating a brighter future.
1. The maxim I feel I have the most experience with is " Compare Notes and Be open to Different Views." The reason being, is being an Management major in my undergrad, all high level classes worked heavily in group work. You never worked on your own it seemed like and going to a large University like USF you rarely had the same people within your groups. I think they best way to work is in groups because you get the options and experience any my different people The maxim I will need to work on is "Define and Define Again." Like Lindsay said I think communication is the key, in any aspect of Student Affairs. This is something you can never be too good at.
ReplyDelete2. Like everyone else I found it a little difficult to pinpoint my exact mission statement but I would say: " The enhance the learning and living experience of Students, by brining together academics, social experiences, professionalism and culture."
(Emily, you're a God-send...thanks for that pin-point clarification!) "Compare Notes and Be Open to Different Views" is the most important maxim to me. I believe that it essentially condenses the whole point of the country--and the world for that matter--into a concise well-defined statement. The United States is great, not because everyone agrees and falls into line about every issue, but because it bickers--civily, mind you--and counteracts the negative aspects of the various forms of thought.
ReplyDeleteAt a University intellectual freedom is tantamount to a right. No one should be excluded based upon their thoughts, mental capacities and hindrences--all with due prudence of course. All the different parts of the university consist of a whole, and if this whole discusses and works on issues as a concise unit then success is almost guaranteed. Different perspectives breed different thoughts, and many thoughts bring about continuance.
Statement: "Helping students help themselves to success. Bringing to fruition knowledge, success, and awareness--together we succeed, together we prosper."
ReplyDeleteRyan, these are great questions and ones that really made me think.
ReplyDeleteThe maxim that is strong on my end is the "Continually Observe" concept. For me, it's important to see how people act and/or react to situations. It often leads to discovering certain patters of behavior among individuals which, in turn, can help to better serve the student populations on campus. For instance, coming to USF, I started to see how many students came to events for the "physical" incentive (free food, prizes, etc.) rather than long-lasting incentives (connecting with other students, getting involved with an organization, etc.). Those experiences have helped me to determine ways to run events within my office where students come for those lasting incentives rather than the free food, which is secondary.
One maxim that needs improvement on my end is "Comparing Notes and Be Open to Different Views". There are times that people, myself included, develop "tunnel vision" to finding solutions to their problems. They never expand beyond other experiences or experiments from other people who have created solutions to similar problems. Within educational research, there is a beneficial aspect to multiple studies of a certain issue, and it's important to learn from those experiences to solve the personal problem one may be experiencing.
In the end, it is important to "Look to the Pioneers". Our field is always changing. To have concrete examples of people succeeding in an area shows that with the right tools, everyone can achieve an do great things. There has to be a "first" in anything within society (first black graduate of a university, first hispanic valedictorian of a graduating class). It all depends if people have been called to be trailblazers/pioneers or the ones that keep the trail rolling along.
Student Affairs Mission:
The goal of Student Affairs is to effectively help students reach their full potential through intellectual stimulation, civic engagement, accountability of owning their independence and inspiration to succeed.
-The four points I wrote in this mission statement are very loaded.
Students need to have something to think about. They need those "things that make you go hmmmm" regularly. Also, students have to realize that there is a world outside the university.
Getting involved outside the campus parameters will give students an opportunity to experience a better view of society.
Throughout college, we are growing to know ourselves as individuals daily. It's important for students to own that aspect of their lives and take charge of themselves. No one else will at this stage.
Finally, students need to know that they aren't alone in this journey. There are many individuals before them that have completed the collegiate journey with success, and we need to remind them of those instances as they can inspire.
The maxim that I feel I strongly identify with is "Continually Observe." With my psychology background, I enjoy analyzing and picking a part my surroundings for beneficial reasons. Especially now that I work in an environment that is ever changing.At a very young age, I would take the naturalistic observance aproach to all my new environments, may it be a new class, a family function, etc. I think it is very beneficial to be able to observe and make adjustments (a gift), accurate adjustment. And like Ryan stated in his blog, we wont be young forever so it is important I think to be able to observe and make beneficial adjustments.
ReplyDeleteMy mission statement:
To help facilitate and promote academic responsibility, and maturity in the learning environment (or institution) that is enjoyable. The program will strengthen student connections to the University through engagement, involvement, and practical application. This program will be implemented to help develop University of South Florida students academically in hopes to meet University and nationally accepted standards.
The maxim I identify with most is also to "Continually Observe". Like many of my classmates I believe this concept helps to understand the essence of the student and or generation. My transition from a primarily residential campus that houses the majority of upperclassmen has different programming trends than USF would because the majority of students who live on campus are freshman.
ReplyDeleteMission: To be intentional in the development of student learning both in the classroom and through practical experiences. The University will advocate values of academic engagement, personal responsibility, inclusion, humanitarianism, and sustainability. Our students will engage in different learning environments to develop understanding and skills that will prepare them to be active citizens in society.
-Monica
So here goes 2nd attempt...Got to love technology!
ReplyDeleteThe maxim I feel I do well is "Compare Notes and Be Open to Different Views," primarily because in my professional experience this is something I had to do continuously to be successful. It is imperative that as you move up and begin to supervise a team you constantly receive feedback and other ideas to strengthen your processes and plans for the entire team. In the retail world, there was always a store or a district somewhere doing "it" well ("it" was always different depending on the time of year). I would always reach out to these areas and implement these processes into my store and had the opportunity to receive calls asking what our store was doing well when we were on top. It goes both way for comparing notes and sharing...
What I probably need to focus on is "Continually Observe" to truly be in touch with the student population. With my GA in Student Involvement we are constantly trying to figure out how to market our events or reach out to a new group of students. Most recently I was just educated on the benefits of FourSqaure over Loopt, neither of which I use (yet anyway). As technology continues to advance, we in the students affairs professional will constantly have to remain in touch with our students to be successful.
As for a mission statement, I'm thinking of something about a focus on academic excellence in a classroom-centered learning environment supplemented by out of the classroom experiences both on and off campus in your community, interactions with both campus and civic leaders, and always casting a shadow of excellence to educate students to make the best decisions based on the information they have.
1. Out of the five maxims I feel Define and Define Again is the one maxim that I already use or try to use to the best of my ability on a daily basis. Dealing with a very diverse group of students on an everyday basis, I have to be open to new perspectives. I can’t just assume everyone is going to do what I expect or want them to do. I have to be aware of my students on an individual basis and know what works for them, and open up to new outlooks. Every culture is different and working in a college setting is rewarding to be exposed to all different values and point of views, and I think that is something to take advantage of and not take for granted.
ReplyDeleteI think the most important point of view in my work is to Continually Observe. Working in athletics I have to continually observe my surroundings, there are always new athletes, staff, and changes made to the overall department. Athletics always has room for improvement and I think looking at other school’s departments and observing how they run their departments comparable to ours is very important. It can give us ideas, and there is always room for learning and growth in any department.
2. My mission statement for student affairs would be “ To ultimately serve students to the best of my ability to assist in their development and growth as students and individuals, and in doing so guiding them to strive to reach their full potential. “
I agree with what Megan said entirely. The maxim that best defines the work I have done so far is "define and define again". I find myself in a constant struggle to update my knowledge to be successful. This is most strongly seen in my addiction to technology.
ReplyDeleteThe maxim I struggle with the most is "Look to the Pioneers." Since I derive so much energy and reward from redefining myself I find it challenging to look to what others have done before. This is something I will continue to work at because many of the professionals in the field have experienced situations that I would like to be a part of one day. It will be important to learn how to make the most from others past lessons.
"Continually Observe" will be the maxim that defines my work in the future. Just as Ryan and a number of others said, we will eventually not be the current generation and it will be important to learn what makes the next generation inspired, motivated, and leaders for the global community.
My mission statement reads: "Strive to reach every student at each university to facilitate the growth and understanding of college students as ethical leaders for the global community."
The terms ethical leadership and global citizenship are very important themes in the office that I work in and I find that to be true throughout the profession. It is critical to recognize that we want to empower students among the guidelines that make society flourish and I believe citizenship and ethical leadership are the pathways to that success.
My strongest maxim is “Look to the Pioneer” I find that most of the things I work on have been done before by someone somewhere. Maybe they are at USF, maybe they are not. Maybe they are at the office next to mine, maybe they are at a different university. I’m all about networking with people and asking questions about how they got to where they are. I see what others have accomplished first to see if what I am doing is worth doing.
ReplyDeleteDefine and Define again is something I always need to work on. Communication is one of the greatest skills to have, and I need to improve.
Student Affairs motto. “Building a new generation that will take the next even further.”
Of the five maxims, I believe I “look to the pioneers” well. I have always found it important to look at what is being or has been done in a new field in order to improve upon it. It is a standard that new programs be supported with research. Having had this kind of experience in Student Affairs, I feel comfortable looking at previous work before proceeding with a task. I think I can continually improve on “define and define again.” As I come into contact with more students, I gain more exposure to different backgrounds. Interacting with each student teaches me new ways to approach situations. I think understanding and learning in this maxim will never stop.
ReplyDeleteTo write a brief, overarching mission for student affairs would be very difficult. As the book touched upon, student affairs departments differ across institutions. I believe it is important for student affairs professionals to aid students to reach their full potential, and provide a variety of means to do so. Programs that aid development academically, intellectually, socially and with a global context are pertinent to student success.
1. There are going to be different times when different maxims resonate more with our careers and when we will need to actively focus on certain maxims to better ourselves and our contribution to our institution. Currently, I find a natural desire to continually observe. Being out of school a few years, I've been actively observing everything at USF to see how things might have changed over the few years I've been out of a collegiate setting.
ReplyDeleteLike Megan and Andrea, the maxim that I'm struggling with is "Watch the Scale". Everything at USF is so large scale and there are such diverse popultions that USF is able to reach because of the pure size of the insitution and the breadth of the student affairs departments that have been created to meet the growing needs. Compared to my undergraduate experience, it is hard to relate to the scale of usf.
2. There are so many statements that could be a student affairs mission statement. Because we have standards to follow like the CAS Professional Standards, a mission statement should be short and speak from a broad point of view. My thoughts are "Fostering an environment of student growth and development so that each student is able to succeed."
I am working on so many areas to improve it is easy to forget where I am doing well. I use continually observe often and well. As each circumstance arises, it is typically to my benefit to see what is being said and done before leaping in to try and address an issue or solve a problem. Each person and situation is unique and needs to be seen as a unique occurrence. I try to read a lot of different material to stay abreast of current events and activities on the campus and with the students. I need to improve on watching the scale. I have not had enough recent experience with college students and campuses to recognize tipping points in given situations, but I am still working on it. Moving forward, it is essential for me to compare notes and be open to different views. In my old offices I kept visible a quote that has reminded me to keep an open mind and pay attention to what other people are saying.
ReplyDelete“The whole problem with the world is the fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves.”
Bertrand Russell
1. "Continually observe" is my strongest maxim. This most likely has to do with the way I am and think. As an undergrad my major was in Mass Communications with a focus on telecommunications. In a nutshell I was a reporter and reported on news. This is what I did and some say I did it rather well. There is always more to a story than meets the eye and you have to look close and carefully to find things that do not appear on the surface. Students are a perfect case of when one has to continually observe. Students can sometimes be confused, not know how to express their emotions, or going through a rough time. It is up to us to assess the situation and professionally help them as much as we can.
ReplyDeleteThe maxim I need to work on more is "look to the Pioneers." I need to make sure to utilize my resources, think outside the box, and ask for help in situations I may not know the answer too.
I believe in my work I will have to utilize all these maxims and not just one. So to pick one overall that is most important just does not seem logical. Instead it is about picking the right one at the right time to use.
2. Student Affairs: Committed to providing the resources and support to help maximize the student experience.
Hello again friends...
ReplyDeleteSo it was brought to my attention that I inadvertently included the maxims from chapter 3 in my blog question. I apologize for any confusion and hope everyone knows that we had to read chapters four and five.
Reviewing the material, the questions are still relevant and I would maintain that the mission statement can apply to both chapters four and five.
See you all tomorrow!
I think “continually observing” is important. Most of the time I see my students in their “official SG capacity” but it’s also interesting to hear about the classes they’re taking, what they see themselves doing after graduation, and what they like to do besides work for SG. I’m learning a lot about USF just by listening to them talk about different classes and events. I’m not much older then most of them, but I’m already noticing that most of the students I work with are MUCH more tech savvy then I am. Maybe USF just places more emphasis on online learning, blackboard, etc, but they seem to know a lot more about computers then I do. I’m learning a lot just by watching them work, make decisions, etc.
ReplyDeleteIf I had to write a mission statement for the whole profession…I think it is simply to help our students make the most of their college experience, academically and in their extracurricular activities, and to help them prepare for life after college. I know, very general!
1. Like most of us, the maxim that I believe I am the best at and use the most is "define and define again." This is especially important in Housing and Residence Life because all students come from so many different backgrounds and it is essential to be able to understand where each student comes from. I also think though, that this is one upon which I can improve. Like Angela, I believe that interactions with each student allow for learning new ways of seeing, approaching and/or handling situations. With this maxim there are always growth opportunities.
ReplyDelete2. My very condensed mission statement of student affairs would be "Student affairs is in place to help students succeed by fostering growth and learning and by helping to establish connections."
I appreciate the ambitions of Ryan to encourage us to review the five maxims. I like the concepts of Observe, and Consider the Pioneer. As we all recognize student populations are very unique, and evolving all the time. Two particular groups of students that caught my attention are Military Reserve members and Distance Learners. Additionally, one category of students to be prepared to assist with complex issues are transfer students. Transfer Students are faced with many challenges related to the lack of uniformity between institutions and states.
ReplyDeleteChapters 4 & 5 continued to establish the foundation that we will appreciate as we move forward with our efforts to understand the elements of student affairs and higher education. The insight of Lloyd-Jones is a perspective worth review.
A theme that can be identified in much of the reading assignments, is the importance of character. The colonial colleges and colegiate way emphasized the development of character, and this theme has contiued with concepts such as loco parentis.
My mission statement would be "serve the needs of students and colleages by offering to them and expecting from them accountability, dependablity, cooperation and acceptance".
Great job with the initial post Ryan.
ReplyDeleteAs for the maxim I believe I have a pretty good grasp on that would be Continually Observe. A great example of this came just the weekend. As some of you may know it was Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment this weekend. It was a very long week weekend filled with long hours, tedious tasks, and break downs left and right. I was constantly observing the women on the executive staff of Panhellenic to catch their break downs and their emotional levels before they blew up and became a problem. I was able to pull them aside and allow them to vent and talk through their issues before they held it in so long that it became a substantial problem.
As for the maxim I need to work on developing that would be Define and Define Again. I can become very stuck in my opinions and my views on things. Being able to redefine things is going to be very important in this field and it is something I am working everyday to improve.
This was a great thinking warmup to the paper!
ReplyDeleteI believe my greatest maxim is 2 areas. I think I am someone who continually observes, while comparing notes/being open to different views. As an art major I was always told and trained to observe and study ways and techniques of the past and present, so I can create my own way for my future. As an artist you can go one of two ways, go with what is popular and what will sell, or become more radical and do what you do because you want to create it. I believe I am someone who tries to observe what is going on, what is popular, how others are doing, and what can I do to improve upon these ideas.
With that said, it goes into the next step of my process, which is comparing notes. After I have observed my surroundings and come up with my own ideas based on my environment, I want to discuss it with others. Some people may be able to see where my ideas are flawed, where they are strong and where things can be combined or improved. Learning and discussing with others gives a whole new perspective to an already established idea.
As for my personal philosophy it would go something like..."To subject students to constant opportunities that emphasis academic, personal, social and skill growth. Our mission is to develop the student as a whole unit, a person of character, intelligence, quality and ambition. The department of Student Affairs intends to connect students to their interests that can push them to the next professional and personal level, while providing an experience on campus that is unlike any other. The (insert college or university name) experience will be the environment students make of it, along with the facilitated and guided help of the faculty and staff. Student Affairs is the guided stepping stone to experience and way finding."-something like that, but it is much to early to solidify this concept.
1. Of the five maxims I believe that “continually observe” is the one in which I believe that I already do well. I say this because throughout my life thus far I have realized that I in every situation I have been presented, I always evaluate every aspect presented. Like the maxim personifies, I am one who likes to observe every aspect of a situation so I can better understand what I am facing and how to better approach the situation. I believe this will be the most important in my work because as student affairs professional it will allow me to fully understand the needs and desires of students, thus allowing me to better meet their needs. I feel as though I need to improve upon the maxim of “comparing notes and being open to different views.” I say this because sometimes I have the tendency of getting overly excited about attacking a situation that I forget what my peers and colleagues think. I will need to improve on this because the value of teamwork is important in the profession of Student Affairs.
ReplyDelete2. If I had to write a brief mission statement on behalf of the entire student affairs profession, it would state: “To enhance the social relationships among the student population allowing students from all ethnicities and diverse cultural backgrounds the opportunity to express themselves both physically and cognitively, while developing them into the future leaders and contributors to the ever-changing society both locally and internationally.” I say this because like I stated in my personal philosophy paper, this is what I feel student affairs means to me and is my goal as a student affairs professional.
-Greg
Like Monica and Cory, my strongest maxim is "Continually observe". I love getting to know people; their motivations and passions can really give you a sense of what captures their attention and devotion. I was a psych major in college, and indeed, learning the about the observable behaviors, as well as those underlying emotions, really fascinates me. Everyone has a story, even the "lack of original story" is an influential factor in people's lives.
ReplyDeleteI could probably use some work in the "Watch the scale" maxim, as numbers often creep up on me and I might not realize that a population has changed if it happened gradually. I could preemptively address this by drawing accurate, current numbers and conducting reliable research to track the growth of a particular group, especially in the context of a larger population.
My personal philosophy towards student affairs is that students have both simple and complex concerns to be addressed. Examples of some of the more simple ones include having a place to live, an event to attend Saturday night, or perhaps help choosing a major. Some of the more complex undertakings of student affairs is to ensure the growth and development of the whole person, to instill a sense of civic duty through the service of others, ultimately to better this world. We nurture the students we have into the graduates we wish to release into the world. Our profession, like Professor Conway alluded to in our CSA orientation, is like that of a doctor-- we heal and treat aspects of a student's life, to ensure proper development of the individual.
Like many of you, my strongest maxim is "continually observe" as well. I like to sit back and observe what is happening and to internalize and access a situation, essentially trying to make what I am seeing my own. I find it interesting that so many people feel this is their strongest area and I wonder if that has something to do with the type of people that attracted to the college student affairs profession.
ReplyDeleteAs for my own mission statement or philosophy for the profession, I think it should be something along the lines of: "Creating a learning laboratory in which students can learn and grow in outside the classroom experiences" (obviously it needs a little refining). One of the things a mentor of mind imparted on me that is very important and personal to me is that student affairs is a learning laboratory. Many times, I think we (as student affairs professionals) forget that students are learning and growing within our departments. We expect that they will be perfect and can come down hard when mistakes are made. I try to remember that as a laboratory, this is a place that they might be getting their first "real world" experiences and that it's okay to mess up sometimes. Just like a chemistry lab is to practice practically what you are learning in the chemistry lecture, the environments in which we work is the practice of all the stuff college students should be learning (especially if they plan on entering the workforce). We need to remember that this is the chance to experiment (and we're in a unique position current in our assistantships to get to experiment too).
1) Going back to Justin, I believe that you eventually you do become "that old guy" and do loose touch with students. Mostly because as times change, so does the world we live in and we will not know what is going on in a 20-year-old's head anymore when we are 40, and 50. Also, the higher the position that you obtain in the student affairs profession as you get older the more out of touch with students you become. When you have an entry-level student affairs position, you typically work very closely with students. The higher you climb, the less students you see.
ReplyDelete2) I believe it was Ashley who said this in last week's blog but it has been in the back of my mind all week. "Student affairs is not a job, it's a passion!" It is so crazy that we all came here from different experiences, different universities, but we all share one common goal. We all want to enrich the lives of students. Ever since I read this in last week's blog, I could not stop thinking how true it was and that we are all in this field because of something we did or what someone else did in the student affairs field that made us realize the importance of higher education and its presence on a college campus.
Continually observe. Continual observation of both the internal and external aspects of students affairs work, day-to-day aspects of our specific jobs, and the students and others with whom we work enable us to perform the continual assessment that's necessary to ensuring we're staying relevant and meeting the ever-changing needs of the students. As Ryan and a few others spoke about, I think to a certain extent it's inevitable that we'll become the "old lady/old guy." We get older everyday and the students younger. However, the continual observation is what allows us to stay in touch.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to take more time to really come up with a mission statement for the student affairs profession. It's so multifaceted and there are so many aspects of it. I really liked the point Dr. Miller made the first week pointing out the difference between working in student affairs and doing the work of student affairs. These aren't two dichotomous groups, rather a lot of the policies, issues, concerns overlap. Passion is definitely key in doing the work of student affairs as well as a commitment to relevance, being transformative in our approach to teaching and learning. I don't believe we can afford to be static in our beliefs or behaviors as SA professionals.
Like Dr.Conway said yesterday we do lose touch with our students are we move farther and farther up the chain of command. It is weird how that works because you get into this profession you do it because you want to work with students not become an administrator who does the behind the scenes work.
ReplyDeleteAs for my mission statement, I think student affairs is where compassion and love for your undergraduate experience is turned into a career to improve the lives of new undergraduates. We would not be where we are without the help of others and coming into this profession is our way to pay it forward and impact as many student lives as we can.