Competency 1 – Knowledge of Higher Education and Student Affairs
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1) Knowledge of Higher Education and Student Affairs
Graduates should be able to demonstrate their understanding of the role of student affairs in higher education by being able to articulate current and past issues shaping the field and the implications these issues have on students’ lives. In meeting this competency, students should demonstrate their knowledge of…
Reflections: The historical and philosophical underpinnings of student affairs.My previous employer was the University of Illinois at Chicago Wellness Center. During my tenure at UIC I was exposed to NASPA, ACPA, and ASJA. Prior to working at UIC, the only professional association that I knew about was PRSA (a national public relations association). I started to read NASPA emails and ACPA journals and realized that the practical work that I was engaged in was supported by student development theories and years of history.The first term in CSSA was the most difficult for me in terms of re-adjustment. It had been 4 years since I had been a student. Fortunately, the first term is filled to the brim with courses which are designed to strengthen the atrophied student muscles of first year students. It was in our History of American Higher Education course where I was introduced to the history of the profession (and of my undergraduate institution). I had attended a brief history presentation of the field while I was at UIC, but it did not provide me with the depth and breadth of the CSSA History class. Once again, I delved into college student health as a key area of my professional development. The health of students has been a primary concern since the inception of the field.
In our Programs & Functions class I was able to research the history of my favorite student affairs functional area: the Dean of Students. I wrote a paper on how the role had been split across gender lines and of how the field almost disappeared due to its general nature.
A fascinating historical context of which I have been learning about in my CSSA Enrollment Management course is how the field of enrollment management emerged. I had no idea how the baby boomer generation had influenced university admissions practices. The history of enrollment management has provided me with a necessary framework for what I would posit is the gateway for most schools: admissions.
The primary challenges and opportunities being presented to student affairs professionals. I rely on several organizations, associations, conferences, colleagues, web sites, and periodicals to maintain my awareness of the challenges and opportunities that occur on a daily basis in student affairs. My primary sources of information are: Educause, NASPA, ACPA, Diverse (Black Issues in Higher Education), The Chronicle of Higher Education, UB Daily from University Business, and Academic Impressions: Daily News, in addition to student affairs colleagues with whom I frequently network.
Educause, the UB Daily, and Academic Impressions provide a daily e-newsletter that covers topics including: financial aid, legislative news, campus technology, multicultural readings, and innovative practices.
Standards of good practice in student affairs and ethical responsibilities of the student affairs professional. I learned a great deal about student affairs standards of good practice while I was at UIC. However, I was not exposed to the CAS Standards. The CAS Standards provided me with a foundational basis for the work that I do as well as a guide for foundational areas in which I might not have experience or practitioner knowledge.
During my OSU Student Conduct practicum, I was exposed to a working environment that dealt with standards of good practice and ethical responsibilities in meaningful ways.
Goals, trends, and key issues related to the future of the student affairs profession. The future of the student affairs profession is something that is very important to me. I recently attended the NASPA National Conference as well as the NASPA Multicultural Institute. These conferences provided me with information that I would not normally have had access to. Professional development is a necessity for student affairs practitioners. My first NASPA presentation was at a regional conference in Milwaukee in 2003. I look forward to attending developmental activities throughout my career.
Hi Eric,
Turns out commenting directly on your blog will be a big help to me! I’m in Washington celebrating the birth of my new grandchild and taking care of the other kids. This event has interfered with my ability to get feedback to you in a timely manner! So I’m relying on the blog on a very slow dial up connection here in Longview WA. In between interruptions, I’ll read away and give you my thoughts.
RE: Competency #1 I’m pleased to see you talking about the growth you’ve expereinced in the CSSA program. Two questions occur to me: 1) In the section on challenges and opportunities you give a good overview of organizaions, conferences etc. I’d also like ot hear you speak about what specific challenges and opportunities for student affairs you see at this point in your learning? and 2)When you say that professional development is a necessity for student affairs professionals, would you be more specific. Almost any field benefits from such opportunities. Why is it particularly true for SA?
Moira Dempsey
20 Apr 06 at 10:54 am
@ Moira
Thanks for commenting on #1.
1) Challenges and opportunities for student affairs:
Budget constraints – The ability to work with less money while providing quality services is extremely difficult. I think student affairs practitioners will have to be creative in their collaborations.
Technology - Student affairs as a profession has barely scratched the surface of how technology can be used to provide additional services for students as well as how technology affects students. I think we will see a lot of emphasis placed on providing web services that our accessible for all students. I see a tremendous need for a technology competency within the field. External vendors can swoop in and sell a flashy product that may or may not be congruent with the universities mission and values.
Professional development in Student Affairs:
I think that professional development is important for student affairs practitioners because we are part of a complex system. The students that we serve require us to be extremely competent in our positions. In order to be competent generalist, I have to be able to attend conferences and network with peers because I need external knowledge which can compliment my own practical experiences.
Eric Dwight
21 Apr 06 at 10:27 am
Thanks, Moira for getting this started. I have two additional questions:
1. Now that we know why professional development is important, what does good professional development for the SA professional look like? And how is this realized given the budget contraints challenge that you note above?
2. Now that your’re familiar with CAS and professional organizations in the field, what do you believe are the standards of good practice and ethical responsibilities of SA professionals?
Jessica
23 Apr 06 at 10:50 am
@ Jessica
1) I think that professional development for the SA professional does not have to be too expensive. We exist in environment of higher learning. I’ve been able to find professional development opportunities at both UIC and OSU which have increased my multicultural competency, expertise with student information systems, and student health knowledge. As a graduate student, I have had to find ways to finance my own professional development. I have been able to use funding streams from numerous sources to provide monies for conference registrations, air fare, and per diem.
I think that technology knowledge/skills and multicultural competency are two areas of professional development that SA professionals should work on. For further thinking on technology, please visit A recent technology post. I delve into multicultural competency in competency #9.
2) I find a lot of value in the ACPA Statement of Ethical Principles and Standards. The preamble includes the following description of the SA professional. Student Affairs professionals are “dedicated to enhancing the worth, dignity, potential, and uniqueness of each individual within post-secondary educational institutions and, thus, to the service of society.” I have often been asked why I am in Student Affairs. I always say that I am in this field because I enjoy working with students. Framed in ethics and standards of practice, it is very fulfilling to work in a field that is dedicated to service.
Eric Dwight
25 Apr 06 at 8:40 pm