What Does Twitter Have to Do with Student Affairs and Its Practitioners?
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Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Student Affairs is on Twitter
A microblogging phenomenon known as Twitter has recently rocketed into popular consciousness. In the recent past, Twitter is not exactly the newest social networking site. However, it was in 2009 that Twitter’s mainstream notoriety occurred. Twitter users in Iran produced thousands of microblog posts informing the world of post-election protests. Ashton Kutcher and CNN held a contest to see which of their popular accounts could garner the most followers. Oprah and Ellen began tweeting this year. Even President Obama utilized Twitter as part of a successful election communications strategy. Twitter provides a content platform that can be used for personal tweets, organizing, event updates, networking, content syndication and research.
click HERE to get the topic
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Monday, October 26, 2009
ORGANIZATION & MANAGEMENT
Organizational design and structure of student service must focus on the students. There is no single way to structure student affairs organization. However, there are certain aspect that should be taken into serious consideration. First, The organizational model should be functional in form. Second, they should be in alignment with the organizational mission and type. In addition, given the student affair profession is dynamic, student affairs should adapt accordingly. This involves creating and modifying the strategic plan, focusing on organizational strengths, identifying priorities and resources, and consideration of structural options.
The recruitment and selection of student affair personnel is crucial. It normally determines the success of the department. The focus should be placed on the recruitment and selection of competent professionals. Other issues include supervision of the student affairs staff. In supervision, time management is important. The staff should be rewarded and recognized for a job well done. It motivates them to work better. The student service department should have staff and professional development programs to make the staff effective and efficient.
Middle managers influence the departmental culture. The culture will trigger everything either for the worst or for the best. The managers responsibility is to create a culture which foster productivity in the department and serve students well. How do we achieve this? The manager should apply authority wisely, supervise appropriately, perform an appraisal, and plan wisely. Moreover Staff development is required to meet new demands in the industry. In all this, the manager should be ethical and credible.
The recruitment and selection of student affair personnel is crucial. It normally determines the success of the department. The focus should be placed on the recruitment and selection of competent professionals. Other issues include supervision of the student affairs staff. In supervision, time management is important. The staff should be rewarded and recognized for a job well done. It motivates them to work better. The student service department should have staff and professional development programs to make the staff effective and efficient.
Middle managers influence the departmental culture. The culture will trigger everything either for the worst or for the best. The managers responsibility is to create a culture which foster productivity in the department and serve students well. How do we achieve this? The manager should apply authority wisely, supervise appropriately, perform an appraisal, and plan wisely. Moreover Staff development is required to meet new demands in the industry. In all this, the manager should be ethical and credible.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
Ethics is the art of making wise and responsible decisions. A student service professional should adhere to the professional code of ethics. Sometimes, there is a conflict between the rules, ethical values and the personal conscience. The best approach, student affairs staff are required to consider the organization ethical code of conduct when faced with ethical dilemmas and problems at work. Sometimes it calls to take unpopular stands.
Professional standards are used to measure the quality of work. These standards are applicable in student services too. The most fascinating issue about standards is the issue of continuous improvement. Since the profession is on the move, the staff should be innovative and creative in establishing new standards. This is looking on how to reach students better. Moreover, the bar of standards should be set high and attainable. This will result into effectiveness and efficiency in matters concerning student affairs. In addition, let the students give suggestions for areas that need to be improved. They are ones who receive the services and they might see better. Then the student affairs staff can evaluate and take the best suggestions for implementation. Definitely, This will help in the improvement process.
Professional associations are considered the expert arena. Its the place where student services professionals meet to discuss their work and challenges. As you know a man is no Island. Every professional is interdependent. We learn from each other. Thus, it requires every professional to attend meeting and student service conferences. Workshops and associations are important to sharpen the skills of the workers. It is an opportunity to learn more so as to perform better.
Professional standards are used to measure the quality of work. These standards are applicable in student services too. The most fascinating issue about standards is the issue of continuous improvement. Since the profession is on the move, the staff should be innovative and creative in establishing new standards. This is looking on how to reach students better. Moreover, the bar of standards should be set high and attainable. This will result into effectiveness and efficiency in matters concerning student affairs. In addition, let the students give suggestions for areas that need to be improved. They are ones who receive the services and they might see better. Then the student affairs staff can evaluate and take the best suggestions for implementation. Definitely, This will help in the improvement process.
Professional associations are considered the expert arena. Its the place where student services professionals meet to discuss their work and challenges. As you know a man is no Island. Every professional is interdependent. We learn from each other. Thus, it requires every professional to attend meeting and student service conferences. Workshops and associations are important to sharpen the skills of the workers. It is an opportunity to learn more so as to perform better.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Religio-Spirituality in SA Administrators
Religio-spirituality impacts the ways in which some student affairs staff support and encourage each other in tough times, and religio-spirituality provides a framework for the leadership styles and strategies of some administrators(Moran & Curtis, 2004). This is very obvious among the student service workers. It reflects in the character, behavior and actions. The religio-spiritual atmosphere creates a working culture. It is the reason why a true christian can be identified among other workers. Student service personnel are able to touch other people if they are spiritual. We are able to bear fruits for other workers and students so they might feel the love God.
The reading on student development point out very important lessons for student service practitioners. Spirituality creates purpose,meaning and direction in life. This inturn will be passed to the students who are served. The students will make an introspection to find their purpose, meaning and directions in life. We also need to recognize that religious activity and other spiritually related activities may be manifestations of students’ search for meaning and faith. This can be done by creating mentoring communities and review of current student groups and organizations. We need to bring spirituality into education, not keep it separate and banished to small sectors of campus (the religious studies department, the campus ministry). Constitution advocates that we may not favor one religion over another—not that we must totally erase all notions of spiritual development from publiclife and the academy. We can do away with spirituality if we want our students to be full developed.
According to Allen and Kellom, If there is one good reason to consider the spiritual development of student affairs staff, it is that it helps us survive personally and professionally in the demanding jobs we have. Spirituality proves to be helpful in the profession. The question is how much to do we engage as leaders or student professionals to ensure there is a high level of spirituality? Do we create an organizational climate and culture which foster spirituality?
The reading on student development point out very important lessons for student service practitioners. Spirituality creates purpose,meaning and direction in life. This inturn will be passed to the students who are served. The students will make an introspection to find their purpose, meaning and directions in life. We also need to recognize that religious activity and other spiritually related activities may be manifestations of students’ search for meaning and faith. This can be done by creating mentoring communities and review of current student groups and organizations. We need to bring spirituality into education, not keep it separate and banished to small sectors of campus (the religious studies department, the campus ministry). Constitution advocates that we may not favor one religion over another—not that we must totally erase all notions of spiritual development from publiclife and the academy. We can do away with spirituality if we want our students to be full developed.
According to Allen and Kellom, If there is one good reason to consider the spiritual development of student affairs staff, it is that it helps us survive personally and professionally in the demanding jobs we have. Spirituality proves to be helpful in the profession. The question is how much to do we engage as leaders or student professionals to ensure there is a high level of spirituality? Do we create an organizational climate and culture which foster spirituality?
Monday, October 5, 2009
Reflection on Relationship, Conflict and Campus Crisis
Relationships is everything. As matter of fact, relationship is inevitable. The chapter on relationship pinpoint finding a common ground. Its important to know where to meet students at their point of need. This includes identifying their problems, concerns and challenges. These issues are best done when we see their students point of view by being on the others person side. Then its possible for the students service practitioners to serve students better.
Managing student conflict is another concern. The solution to this is relationship, which might reduce the extent of the conflict. There are different approaches to confict management. these methods can be used interchangebly depending on the situation. Student Services Professional should be sensitive in resolving conflict. Because a small spark can cause a enourmos fire. Thus, its the duty of student service to confront the conflict and not suppress it. This bring an experience in some educational institutions which ignores the problems of the students. Later the problem becomes so big and expensive to solve. Something could have been done at a early stage to future problems.
Student personnel should be ready for crisis. These are unpredictable events which need immediate response. Two things are important in dealing with crisis: Forecasting and Continous Investigation. The students service must be in the position to predict what event might happen. at the sametime, continous investigation should be done. This is help to foresee any unseen events and plan adequately.
Managing student conflict is another concern. The solution to this is relationship, which might reduce the extent of the conflict. There are different approaches to confict management. these methods can be used interchangebly depending on the situation. Student Services Professional should be sensitive in resolving conflict. Because a small spark can cause a enourmos fire. Thus, its the duty of student service to confront the conflict and not suppress it. This bring an experience in some educational institutions which ignores the problems of the students. Later the problem becomes so big and expensive to solve. Something could have been done at a early stage to future problems.
Student personnel should be ready for crisis. These are unpredictable events which need immediate response. Two things are important in dealing with crisis: Forecasting and Continous Investigation. The students service must be in the position to predict what event might happen. at the sametime, continous investigation should be done. This is help to foresee any unseen events and plan adequately.
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