Computer & Internet

Archive for May, 2009

In a new statement on their website,
dated March 21st, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education
(FIRE), again takes The University of Delaware’s Residence Life program
to task for their stated educational priority and co-curricular plans.

The Res Life Priority statement reads:

The author, Adam Kissel, Director of FIRE’s Individual Rights Defense Program, goes on to state “It is evident
that ResLife cannot bear to rid itself of the mission of teaching
students that they need to recognize their responsibilities as ResLife defines them.” Later, he questions the use of a book to promote discussions about sustainability and student awareness of related issues.

Kissel’s
accomplishments, including a Harvard education, followed by a master’s
degree from the University of Chicago’s Committee on Social Thought,
are impressive. He is obviously skilled in rhetoric and social
criticism. But like anyone hoping to win a debate, he juxtaposes
selective information with rhetorical devices to imply an answer, and
throws in a little bit of condescension and bile to send anyone who
might disagree with him running for the exits.

I’m both disturbed and undecided about FIRE. On the one hand, they seem to have people who have worked with the ACLU and other organizations I respect. I even
find myself agreeing with some of their criticisms. But is an
organization that recently lamented that a cyber-bullying law might keep them from doing their job
really the best defender of freedom on American campuses? To me, it’s
an open question, and a fair one, with no clear answer in sight.

But back to the rhetoric.

It’s
not be my place to speak for the University of Delaware, or even for my
own institution (Penn State), but as someone who believes he is working
for the betterment of my university and the profession, and who got
into this field to help students find their way through college and
into the real world, I feel I have a responsibility to engage in the
conversation.

First, bolding the part of the educational priority about sustainability only makes it seem ominous to dumb people. Cut
it out. I mean, really. If students aren’t worried about doing their
required readings in their classes, they aren’t likely to have a cow
about whether their RA, Resident Director, Director of Residence Life
or anyone else tells them they need to read a book and think about
their environmental footprint, how they can save resources, or whether
they ought to recycle. Even the oft-mentioned RA who told freshmen that
they had to attend a “Mandatory” meeting in an announcement to his
floor would probably tell any one of his residents privately that no
one is going to make you read the book, and that “Mandatory” isn’t
really MANDATORY.  Some RAs
will always tell their residents that, no matter what their supervisor
says, because it’s cooler to pass the buck than to come across as gung-ho
about something that “old people” want you to talk about. It’s RA
apologetics in action, the RA-wanting-to-be-a-cool-kid equivalent of
saying “I’m just here for the room, dude. Come to my meeting and don’t
make me look bad.”

Second, Residence Life is in the Business of Education. Just because we provide tangible services (room and board plans, mediations,
room changes, emergency services and crisis response) doesn’t mean we
can’t delve into the theoretical, by encouraging exploration,
activities, and reflection on broader life issues such as making
friends, maintaining relationships, sharing space, and managing
conflict.  After all, when the classroom building closes and the
professors go home, the students spend the rest of their college lives
with us. We see how isolating it is for some students to leave the
comfort of their families and hometowns, and to connect with new
people. We work with the kids who get kicked to the edges of new social
networks in the halls, who feel invisible, who have never interacted
regularly with people who are demographically different from them,
or who have never experienced environments where it is safe to be
themselves. We help settle conflicts between students and take
practical actions like granting room changes, but we are not simply a
loose amalgamation of services, or a shelf with a specific product on
it. Classes prepare you for specific careers, but the rest of college is a
testing ground for life, where every person a student encounters is an
input variable, and every interaction part of a series of ongoing
social experiments. Co-curricular plans and programs should serve as
catalysts for reflection and refinement of values. Professionals may be
teachers, observers, or participants in the process, but learning
happens in the individual. Good curricula should
provoke thought and reflection, rather than prescribe agreed-upon ideology. It is always up to the student to decide what to do with the knowledge they gain.

I
think that most of us in this field understand that, and well, if you
don’t understand it philosophically, understand it practically. You can tell people what to think about, but don’t tell them what to think. It
is enough to know that students have been presented with information,
thought about it, and then made decisions they can live with. When it
comes to this co-curricular stuff, this is where we seem to be
struggling at times.  How specific should your outcomes be, in order to
be measurable? How general should they be, to support a broad array of
discussions, activities and reflections, and to allow for freedom of
speech, freedom of inquiry, and freedom of thought?

Third, what is the value of “faculty oversight,” and who counts when you talk about “faculty?” For example, Kathleen Kerr and Jim Tweedy at UD
both have doctorates, and Kerr teaches classes for master’s and
doctorate programs in Education, while Tweedy oversees the university’s
RA Classes. It’s right on their website, so FIRE should have noticed
when they lifted their pictures to use in a recent FIRE “documentary”
about UD’s
program.  Does that count for anything? It really should, since we are
talking about the practice of education. It seems to me that having a
doctorate in the field, and teaching classes at a university would
qualify someone as a member of the “faculty.” If it doesn’t, does that
mean that a larger body of faculty should oversee every teaching
activity, and parse over everything a professor in the college of
business says or does, for example? Wouldn’t that limit the exploration
of ideas, remove incentives for creative thinking, and effectively
create a cold and hostile environment in the classroom? I think it
would. But then again, I’m only an administrator. What do I know?

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My last post was focused on the great opportunities that come with being a parent in the student affairs world.  Cultural events, long lists of babysitters, and a great environment for kids certainly top the list, but focusing on all this great stuff only shows one side of things for sure.

My latest and greatest struggles with work/family balance in student affairs are recently nagging due to the arrival of some major programs in our office like our Springfest, Commencement and Orientation.  I really think that I have this juggling game mastered… until we are hit with the big stuff.  I sometimes forget if I’m coming or going in between all of the wierd day care arrangements that have to be made.  It always seems like we’re making arrangements for a student to watch the boy “just for an hour” in between meetings or for me to leave work a little early, bring the boy to the campus center and my husband to get him from me in the middle of an event.

Those who are unfamiliar always say “just bring him with you!” Clearly, those with that advice have never tried to run a major event while also trying to make sure the boy is not wreaking havoc on something or someone.  Those with those wise words have never had to dal with a “mommy, I want to go home” erupting just at the time that the most important issue arises that you are precisely there to address. 

So in my personal world I am juggling all of these events, my work as a doctoral student and all the assignments at the end of the semester, and the overall roles of being a mom.  All that aside, I knew it might be time for a vacation day when the recent “baby briefs” incident happened.

I was in our Student Affairs VP’s office for a meeting and was getting ready to leave as the meeting was breaking up.  Everyone was in the main lobby chatting and I started to put my jacket on to leave.  After my jacket was on I reached into my pocket for my keys and continued to chat with my Assistant VP.  Much to my embarrassment, I didn’t pull out my keys but instead pulled out a pair of my son’s Diego underwear that was supposed to be put in his extra clothes box at daycare.  The “baby briefs” flew out of my pocket and onto my VP’s shoes.

Luckily, everyone in the group burst out laughing and I made the mental note to try to replicate that scenario as much as possible whenever the work/family balance comes up.  Sometimes it’s just hard to hold things together but the flying baby briefs just put it all into perspective.

Happy end of the year to everyone… for you parents out there I hope you can keep the baby briefs out of your vice presidential meetings!

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Do you dream to get a college degree? Want to give your career the required boost by acquiring an Under-Graduate or Post-Graduate degree? Are your dreams of becoming a college graduate fading due to the lack of time or money?

Who says that you can only get college education by going to big university or attending regular classes? Distance learning has eliminated this requirement completely. There are many universities out there which provide legitimate college degrees through this process.

With the rising cost of college education, many people are finding it almost impossible to attend regular colleges. Distance learning universities are best for such people. They can save a lot of money on hostel accommodation and many other expenses by studying from their homes.

This type of studying system is also best for people who want to go back to colleges after a gap of few years. After school, many students find themselves torn between the option of investing few more years in studying or doing something else like working or taking care of their family. But distance learning gives them a chance to complete their studies as and when they are ready.

Another great way of distance learning study is that it enables students to pursue their career along with their studies. As most regular colleges require students to attend back-to-back classes, working in that setting is next to impossible for students. But with distance learning universities, students can earn as well as study the subject they want.

As we all know, most colleges have very limited seats and not everyone gets admissions. Distance learning courses are coming up as a great option for students who fail to get admissions in regular colleges. You can choose from various distance learning colleges which offer a large number of courses and degrees.

Congratulations on graduating all you higher education administration/student affairs administration Masters students. If you already secured a job at your dream institution or any job at all, a big kudos to you all. I celebrated my one year anniversary of the first day of the rest of my life (graduating with my MA.Ed) and am about to celebrate my first year as a new professional. Sure there have been lots of changes and challenges, but as I watch the HESA grads from my institution go off and begin life as student affairs professionals, I can’t help but pay forward some words of advice that I have learned in my first year. My advice below is a springboard from the book Basic Black: The Essential Guide for Getting Ahead at Work (and in Life) by Cathie Black, head of Hearst Magazines.

Don’t forget where you came from, but don’t always compare. I believe this is the most important thing to keep in the back of your mind. I’m sure all of you have these wonderful experiences from prior institutions, and you should be proud of what you did and what you learned, but to me, I’m in a new place and I need to learn the how my new institution functions, rather than “well at xyz university… we did _______________”. I think new professionals need to understand why their institution does things the way they do. Look at the history of the department – get to know the people who have been there for more than 10, 20, or even 30 years so you can understand where and how your department has grown to where it is now. It is great to bring a different perspective and offer it in the form of a solution to a problem. When you feel comfortable, suggest something without mentioning that you did it that way at another institution. For example, at my graduate school, we collaborated a lot with campus partners. At my current institution, we need to build on that. Once I was comfortable being in my current position, I suggested we collaborate with campus partners in order to make RA training more engaging and also to avoid reinventing the wheel. Bringing your experiences to the table is a great way to bring in a different perspective, but remember to do it in a way that is constructive.

Be yourself. I once got the compliment from a colleague who interviewed me on my campus interview. He said “you are exactly the way you were on your on campus interview”. I was flattered. I stayed true to myself on all my on campus interviews because, in the end, that’s what you’re going to get. Some of my colleagues also commented that they’ve hired a lot of people who may seem like the best candidate on their interview, but once they take the reins of the position on campus, their personalities change… and sometimes not for the better. So please, be yourself because that is why the department hired you! As Cathie says in her book “Be who you are in whatever you do”.

Eat a slice of humble pie. You may have been the best graduate assistant or professional in your old position and while it is ok to have confidence, please don’t let it spill over into cocky territory. Your experiences and your professional reputation are definitely known to your colleagues, so be humble and take the criticism. Like I said above, not all departments are created equally at different institutions, so expect the change and learn. I still am not above working in the trenches with my RAs – hauling personal belongings into storage after closing or working desk hours to alleviate the desk workers. If your staff sees you working hard, chances are in the end, they will have much more respect for you.

Be open. We work in a field where we need to be non-judgmental toward our students/residents, but, if you’re like me and are moving to a different region for a job, be open about the changes in culture and environments in your new position. Be open to the opportunities to get involved in the community. Many places have young adult organizations and many have volunteer opportunities. If you’re moving to a place where you don’t know anyone, this is a great way to get out there and meet the people in the town/city where you work. Don’t limit yourself to hanging out with people from your office/department.

Steer clear of the office drama. It’s very easy to get sucked into the gossip and drama going on in your department/silo/residence hall. Keep to yourself and all will be fine. Once you get sucked in, it’s hard to regain/ give trust to anyone in your area and that means you won’t be able to enjoy your job. If you have a problem with someone, live by the 48 hour rule: confront that person within 48 hours and talk about it. Once 48 hours passes, just forget about it because it’s probably not worth your time.

I’m sure people will comment with more advice to all you brand new professionals. Congratulations again and good luck in your new positions.

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We’re excited to facilitate conversations within the Student Affairs blogging community that really matter to community members. We want to know what you care about, what you think about, and what you want to hear about. With that in mind, please take a minute to complete the following poll so that we can craft our writing to fit what’s on your mind.

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Today was a fantastic Mother’s Day and I’m writing following a wonderful day with husband and son that celebrated being a mom.  I’m always thinking about what kinds of benefits my son will see from my working life in the student activities world and what kinds of issues I might be adding to the poor kid’s list for his future therapist.  It might be a little of both, but I wanted to write today about some things I think he’s gaining.

For those readers out there who ponder the question of “can I do this job and have a family?” I offer something positive…

First, I think this guy has been to more cultural performances of music and dance at 4 years old than I attended before I was 18.  I love the fact that I can bring him to events at our campus and see all kinds  of wonderful performances!  I have learned that he loves African drumming events and I think he is our college’s drumming group’s youngest groupie. 

Second, some of his best friends are 20 year olds.  I never thought it would be possible, but I think this little guy was more popular than I was at this year’s Springfest carnival due to his life at our on-campus pre school.  He gets the chance to meet these, as he calls them, “big kids” and have his own little friendships with them that are sometimes completely detached from me.  Knowing that I can bring him into the office and he ends up having legitimate conversations with his core “group of friends” is fantastic.

Speaking of the pre-school on campus, that is one great benefit.  I know not all campuses out there have them, but if I were job hunting I’d certainly put that item on my list to look for.  All the teachers are so current with the latest and greatest and the school gets the benefit of an endless parade of observers and student organizations who want to support the school.  My son has had in-depth speech and language testing, language lessons, has attended dance performances on social issues, and has participated in numerous “math carnivals” sponsored by our education programs all thanks to the various ways the campus connects with the pre-school.

Let’s also not forget that I have a truly all star roster of babysitters!  We are lucky in this profession to get the chance to know some of our institution’s best and brightest college students.  For those who might be wary about blurring the line between work and home, don’t forget that these very same college students are the ones looking for great letters of reference. 

To round out my list for tonight, I’m thrilled that he is learning about what higher education means from a very young age.  His babysitters have been orientation leaders and student government officers and his interest in “doing homework with mommy” when we get home at the end of the day clearly stems from his understanding of what my life as a Ph.D. student is like.  He knows about Commencement, Orientation, and what a professor is.  Here’s hoping he’s also secretly saving up money for this thing called “tuition.”

I know there are a lot of other student affairs parents out there who have some great things to contribute – please share!  Next time, we’ll talk about some of the downers abotu balancing work and family…but let’s focus on the positives today!

Happy Commencement season to all!

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The goal of this site has always been to support the Student Affairs community by connecting you with each other and to content relevant to your real world issues while enjoying a few good laughs along the way.

As we continue to grow, we recognize that many of you have your own Student Affairs blog and we’d like to help promote your work so you can network with more like minded folks.

So today, we’re lauching the first step in a challenge to compile the world’s largest collection of Student Affairs blogs.

Visit the directory and add a site or two, then checkout a site or two.

Here’s to all our continued success!

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Going
into the latter parts April, those of you in the hunt are likely
getting to the point where you may be getting a job offer or two. Or
more. Every move you make at this point is critically important. After
all, there is no such thing as a simple job offer.

Salary and benefits
aren’t the only thing to weigh in making the decision. Work
environment, location, commute, cost of living, co-workers,
opportunities for advancement, and institutional reputations also
factor in. Add on a significant other with goals of his or her own, and
maybe some kids, and you may feel you need another degree just to sort
out the details. Here are some sites that may help you juggle your
offers, and make an appropriate decision in an appropriate way.

Accepting the Job Offer

Juggling Offers

Questions to ask yourself

Before You Accept a Job Offer

Some
candidates find themselves in the enviable position of having two or
more offers. Even more have strong interests in two or more positions,
and timing issues that result in a waiting game or some back-and-forth
communication to discover which door might open and which might be
about to close. There’s nothing more irritating to a hiring manager
than a candidate that can’t manage this process ethically and in a
forthright manner. So my advice is simple: don’t play games. You will
likely lose.

Getting a job is like going stag to a high school dance. You dress
yourself up, put on the best air of confidence you can muster, and then
try to stand out in a crowd of people who have done the same, so
someone will want to dance with you. The hiring manager is like the guy
standing over by the punchbowl, surveying the room, checking his
prospects, and figuring out who he likes and who is “in his league.”
He’s likely discussed it with a group of buddies and weighed his
options. By the time he makes his move, he has likely examined his
prospects and, seeing the dance hall is full enough, has an option 2 or
3 in mind. If you play mind games, he’s just as sure to slow dance with
someone else. If you think you might want to dance with him later, say
so, but point to the other guy who is back at the punchbowl, getting
you a drink.

Of special concern to today’s generation…what’s
the etiquette about sharing your news on Facebook, Twitter, etc.? If
you need a cautionary tale, read about the “Cisco Fatty,” a candidate
who tweeted her unfiltered thoughts on an offer from Cisco, weighing in
on whether a “fatty paycheck” would balance out the fact she wasn’t too
thrilled about the work. A Cisco employee saw her tweet, and offered to
contact the hiring manager to share her concerns. Read more about her
predicament, and the lessons she learned.

I
once had a student come to me with an interesting dilemma. He was
offered three internships for the summer, and accepted two of them. In
different places. He came to me, wracked with concern, and asked what
to do. I told him to never accept more than one full-time job at a time.

And
one last thought…if you do accept an offer, don’t rescind it for
arbitrary reasons. Sometimes, life circumstances may keep you from
following through. If you get hit by a bus, and are laid up in the
hospital, people will understand why your plans have changed. But once
you formally accept a position, it is bad etiquette, and arguably bad
ethics, to not follow through.

If you bail after accepting an offer,
the door will likely be closed for good with that potential employer.
Sadly, I have seen this happen in our department, with former RAs who
were offered Coordinator positions. In my time, none have ever been
invited back for another opportunity. This has not been true for
candidates who turned us down or opted out of processes before an offer
was made. Sometimes, the best way to keep a door open for later is to
close it yourself, politely, with a cheery “goodbye and thank you” on the way out.

If
you are one of the lucky ones out there weighing your options, good
luck! I hope you will make the decision that is best for you, and
hopefully some of the links mentioned earlier will be helpful.

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