2 thoughts on “Reflections”

1. Being a Student Affairs Professional:

   A former thirty-seven year veteran of Student Affairs, my former Dean of Students, gave me some advice after my first full year in the field of student activities; he said “they are not your friends”. After my second year in student activities, he had to remind me once again, “they are not your friends”. It wasn’t until year three that I finally realized what he meant.

   Being a professional in the field of higher education can be difficult in the sense that we spend so much time with our students; be it in class, at events, during conferences, on trips, sometimes from 8 am to 11 pm on any given day. It can be easy to develop close relationships with many. This can also create difficulties.

   For me, being a professional in higher education, is knowing where to establish that line between remaining a “professional” by being a mentor, advisor, sounding board, instructor, shoulder to lean on, person to vent to, etc. and being “friendly” but “not” being a “friend”. It means being honest, open, supportive, listening, offering advice and opinions, being there for our students and colleagues, and knowing when to take a step back.

   It means doing what is in the best interest of our students, supporting their ideas, needs, desires, initiatives, which also at times means saying “no” because of university policies, rules, and guidelines, or just lack of appropriate planning. (Paintball Skydiving, though sounds fun, is not allowed).

   It means supporting fellow co-workers by becoming knowable about why they are doing what they are doing. It means understanding and then supporting the favorable and sometimes unfavorable decisions of co-workers when they need to say no.

   We all want to be “liked” but when being “liked” gets in the way of professionalism, professionalism can be thrown out the window. So again, setting that proverbial line in the sand and making the conscious decision not to cross it. This is professionalism in higher education.

   April 26, 2015 at 6:24 pm

2. My personal definition of the field of Student Affairs is this:

   In Academic Affairs, 1+1 always = 2! Pi is always 3.1415926535

   In Student Affairs, on any given day, 1+1 may = 3, or perhaps 1.5, or even -2! Pi is actual pie: Pumpkin for Native American Heritage Month, Apple for Constitution Day, Sopapilla for Hispanic Heritage Month, etc. and the recipes to go with them.

   The field of Student Affairs needs to be as flexible and diverse as the students whom we serve. Concrete…at times…but it also needs to be expandable like play dough, or silly putty, or slime, stretching our students’ imaginations and helping develop the “whole student”.

   We need to assist in the development of our students’ “soft skills”: the intellectual, multicultural, personal awareness, community, transition, and social abilities. Through workshops, lectures, series, events, and conferences, we do what we can to offer programs that stimulate our students’ interests and support them in becoming our future leaders of tomorrow.

   April 12, 2015 at 7:30 pm