Speaking the Same Language:Cross-Training for Student Success

Suzy Conway, Curry CollegeLisa Hardej, Brandeis University

Lynn Zlotkowski, Mount Ida College

Via flickr © bengalsfan1973

Session Goals

1) To holistically discuss the undergraduate experience from both an academic and interpersonal standpoint

2) To discuss the knowledge base that needs to be understood by each division

3) To present and share strategies on how to integrate the two

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How do we eliminate the silos and build better

bridges between Academic Affairs

and Student Affairs?

Via flickr © IanDMcGregor

“Learning is a complex, holistic, multi-centric activity that occurs

throughout and across the college experience. Student development, and

the adaptation of learning to students’ lives and needs, are fundamental

parts of engaged learning and liberal education. True liberal education

requires the engagement of the whole student – and the deployment of

every resource in higher education” (Learning Reconsidered, p.6).

Via flickr © Drkangeltex

Personal Life

Academic LifeExtracurricular Life

Academic Terminology/Information

Drop/add, withdrawal, pass/fail

Pedagogy

Academic standing

What do faculty do all day??

Academic Integrity

Academic freedom

Early AlertsSyllabus

Student Affairs Terminology/Information

Residence Life

Student Conduct

Dating culture, hookup culture, social media

Sexual Assault

Mental HealthAthletics, Intramurals, Club Sports

Student Engagement

Greek Life

Doesn’t Student Affairs just throw parties and deal with the “warm, fuzzy stuff”?

The Foundation of the Bridge

What do faculty and academic affairs staff need to know about

the out of classroom issues faced by students?

© www.myplanetexperience.com

IllnessFinancial stressRelationship issuesMental health – anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, PTSD, OCDLearning differencesPhysical disabilitiesTransition issuesIdentity developmentDisconnect between expectations and reality of college life

via flickr © Thomas Grant

What do Student Affairs staff need to understand about students’

academic programs and in-class experiences?

The Foundation of the Bridge

© www.myplanetexperience.com

Attendance requirementsMajor requirements/changesStudent not connecting with facultyTechnology issuesExperiential learningTimes of greatest academic stressAcademic performance and self-esteem

Via flickr © Reilly Butler

The Hybrid

Via flickr © Zane Merva/autoinsane.com

Strategies

Beginning:Cover student development topics in FYS

Workin’ On It:Invite Student Affairs professionals to present in FYS

Well-Integrated:Co-Teach FYS (Mount Ida College will be piloting this model in FA15)

Beginning:Invite faculty to campus programs

Workin’ On It:Ask faculty to host programs

Well-Integrated:Student Org and faculty co-host program (Allegheny College – Alphabet Soup)

Via flickr © Paulo Luft

Strategies

Beginning:Call faculty instead of email

Workin’ On It:Have faculty and staff co-advise organizations

Well-Integrated:Make time to get to know some faculty on a deeper level (hobbies, research, interests)

Workin’ On It:Introduce yourself at a faculty/staff event

Well-Integrated:Work with Provost or Union to provide service credit or course release for advising student organizations

Beginning:Ask faculty to advise student organizations

Strategies

Beginning:Offer student development sessions at faculty development programs

Workin’ On It:Present at academic department meeting about your services

Well-Integrated:Offer joint professional development opportunities on campus

Workin’ On It:Invite Student Affairs professionals to present at faculty development programs

Well-Integrated:Have a faculty/student affairs liaison (Advisory Council/SAT at Curry College)

Beginning:Distribute a brochure or material about your department to academic departments

Via flickr © Big Dave Diode

Beginning Workin’ On It Well-Integrated

Cover student development topics in FYS

Invite Student Affairs professionals to present in FYS

Co-teach FYS

Invite faculty to campus programs

Ask faculty to host programs Have student org. and faculty co-host campus programs

Ask faculty to advise student organizations

Have faculty and Student Affairs professionals co-advise

Work with Provost or Union to provide service credit/course release for advising student orgs

Call instead of email to invite faculty to events

Introduce yourself at a faculty/staff event

Make time to get to know some faculty on a deeper level (hobbies, research, interests)

Distribute a brochure or material about your department to academic departments

Present at an academic department meeting about your services

Have a faculty/Student Affairs liasion

Offer student development sessions at faculty retreat

Invite Student Affairs professionals to present at faculty retreat

Offer joint professional development opportunities on campus

Strategies

Your Ideas:Pair and Share

Via flickr © Fiona Watson

Additional Considerations

Sufficient opportunities do not currently exist for faculty and student affairs staff to work together

Institutional structures often perpetuate the academic and social divide on college campuses

Incentives do not usually exist to encourage faculty involvement

Via flickr © nik kout

Questions

www.slideshare.net/LynnZlotkowski

Via flickr © magda indigo

Resources/Works Cited 

Speaking the Same Language: Cross-Training for Student Success PresentationFYS Conference, February 9, 2015

 Benton, S. & Benton, S. (2006). College Student Mental Health. Washington, DC: National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. Cuseo, J., Thompson, A., Campagna, M., & Fecas, V. (2013). Thriving in College and Beyond. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt. Ebbers, L. &Jackson, J. (1999). Bridging the Academic-Social Divide: Academic and Student Affairs Collaboration. College Student Journal, 33(3), 380-384. Gardner, J. (2013). Seven Principles of Good Practice for Student Success Partnerships. John Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education, 1-2. Keeling, R. (2004). Learning Reconsidered: A Campus-Wide Focus on the Student Experience. Washington, DC: National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, American College Personnel Association.  Kezar, A. (2003). Enhancing Innovative Partnerships: Creating a Change Model for Academic and Student Affairs Collaboration. Innovative Higher Education, 29(2), 137-156. Nelson Laird, T., Chen, D., & Kuh, G. (2008). Classroom Practices at Institutions with Higher-Than-Expected Persistence Rates: What Student Engagement Data Tell Us. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 2008(115), 85-99. Tinto, V. (2012). Completing College: Rethinking Institutional Action. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press. Whitt, E., Nesheim, B. Guentzel, M., Kellogg, A., McDonald, W., & Wells, C. (2008). “Principles of Good Practice” for Academic and Student Affairs Partnership Programs. Journal of College Student Development, 49(3), 235-249.