The Student Affairs Blog

Fraternity/Sorority Recruitment time! So, what's the hooplah about?

Our campus starts fraternity and sorority recruitment next week and I know that many others are also embarking on this unique time of year.  With so much focus on these groups this week, it has turned my thinking to this area and the unique opportunities and challenges that face our students who choose to lead these groups.

Let me put it out there from the start... I am a sorority member myself and am a huge proponent of the benefits of membership.  Membership in that organization definitely made me the leader that I am today and I can attribute a great amount of my personal growht to the opportunities I was given.  Love them or hate them, fraternities and sororities are a part of many of our campuses.

Leadership in these organizations brings about significant and intense experiences for students and I'm thinking recently about what makes them so unique.  These organizations make committments to holistic support of students whether in academic, social, service, leadership or other settings.  I'm thinking that might be the ticket and have something to do with why being a chapter president is such a tough job or why membership decisions are so significant and frought with advising challenges for us.

Membership recruitment (i.e. "formal rush") activities bring a lot of "hooplah" to our campus each year, whether good or bad... there's a lot of hooplah.  There is intensity from current members, prospective new members, administrators, and non-members and everyone has a lot to say.

So, let's hear from the SA blog public.... what do you have to say?

Gone FISHing!

We just completed the first of four half-day mini retreats for our peer leaders. These students will be facilitating our first-year seminar course in the fall and they spend this semester building team relationships and studying student development in preparation for their work. A favorite concept that we utilize is the FISH! Philosophy. We introduce the unit early and refer back to it throughout the year. FISH! includes four simple interconnected practices that are easy to remember and fun for activity transitions.

Be There is being emotionally present for others. It's the idea that respect and engagement improves communication and strengthens relationships. For our peer leaders, this means setting personal issues aside so that they may focus on issues and challenges facing their students whenever needed.

Play emphasizes that being creative and enthusiastic, whatever the job before you, can make work and tasks more enjoyable. Our first-year seminar focuses on college transition and exposure to campus resources. We encourage peer leaders to try new instructional methods and not be afraid to step outside the box or the classroom. Play-doh, crayons, and an occasional set of Guitar Hero all have potential for Play application.

Make Their Day is about finding simple ways to serve those around you in a way that is memorable and has meaning. It's about contributions and service to others, without expectation that it will be returned. Peer Leaders are encouraged to learn student names right away to help ease early transition. Many leaders bring class treats or host surprise field trips to the ice cream shop.

Choose Your Attitude is about taking responsibility for whatever your day or life brings to you. It's about how your demeanor and mood impacts others around you. Does your attitude help people around you? Grumpy moods contribute little to our program goals. We focus on accepting life's obstacles, then getting on with the day. This concept is particularly handy in our 8:00 a.m. class.

We borrow the FISH! video from the campus resource library and purchase supplemental materials when needed. FISH! is a simple, fun method for generating a service philosophy with new student leaders and is great practice for our staff as well.

Bringing It Home

Today is the first day of classes on campus and there is quite the buzz about our student groups who did service trips over our Winter Break.  We had groups in Belize, Honduras and a Habitat for Humanity group that served in the Gulf Coast.  One of my staff members traveled with the Honduras group and had the opportunity of a lifetime to challenge her skills as an advisor and a leader but to also examine the way she views the world and her place within it.

So many distinctive lessons are learned through these great experiences on campuses across the country and it is so gratifying to watch the "higher education machine" begin to realize its opportunity to make a big difference in some of these communities.  While it's tempting to write about the value of service, etc. especially in the context of our new president's strong service message, I want to take this information in a different direction.

I want to know how we can best harness the learning that takes place in these environments to also inspire change on campus.  We spend a great deal of time reflecting on the student growth that happens from this service and the amazing impact we can have on those communities, but I also want to bring all of these students together to share common learning "moments" that might be able to be applied right here at home.  The place I work is a very positive environment, but I know we all share interests in improving our campus climates and, in turn, the ability of every student to succeed.

Here are the types of lessons I'm thinking about...

1 - The kindness of strangers means everything

All of these students talked about how "nice" everyone was in the areas they visited and seem to be very struck by how much they depended on the generosity of local residents.  If we applied this lesson on campus, I think our environment would be much more welcoming, civil and empowering.  If people facing such poverty and difficulty can extend themselves so much to visitors like us, why can't that happen more regularly at home?  I know I'd appreciate a more "civil" campus.

2 - When there is a job to be done, teamwork is essential

There is nothing like building a house to show the value of teamwork.  All of the students with this kind of experience will now understand the importance of seeing each other's strengths and weaknesses and trying to utilize them well for the good of a team.  How can we harness these lessons to develop our teams and organizations?

3 - Great risks can bring great personal growth

At least 80% of those who went on these trips have already told me that they had some fear about stepping out of their comfort zone to participate in this experience.  I feel like this kind of risk taking brought about such significant personal reward to them and wonder if the notion of the risk itself made the experience that much more meaningful.  What can we do to support risk taking on our campuses in our employees and our students?  I worry that those who go out on a limb aren't always caught if they fall...

There is a lot to think as these great experiences are processed, as I know that those who participated will be changed forever. For some reason, this is the first time I'm thinking about what these service experiences can do to transform our campuses.  We now have a cadre of students focused on service... now's the time for us to figure it out.

What other things can we apply here at home? 

 Have a great week...

Historic Inauguration: What Does It Mean To You?

As I scanned the status updates of Facebook friends on Inauguration Day, I noticed a word appearing over and over again: history.

Yes, today was an historic day as our nation's first African American president took office.

But what does it mean to those of us working student affairs?

Truth be told, it probably means something different to each and every one of us, personally. All politics aside, there were probably moments of overwhelm for many of us, just trying to grasp the meaning of this day for our country and our world. For me, there were moments that I got choked up, trying to take it all in.

But the moment that hit me the hardest was watching President Obama's daughters, Malia and Sasha, entering the ceremony. And, quite frankly, it surprised me, at first. Surely there were more important moments of the day, right?

The more I thought about it, though, the more I thought it was appropriate that this moment had the greatest meaning to me, as a student affairs professional. Malia and Sasha are our future college students, and they are growing up in a world that is changing.

They are growing up in a world where having a person of color in the highest office in the land is no longer a distant dream, it is very much a reality. They are growing up in a world where racial barriers certainly still exist, but are being shattered, one by one. They are growing up in a world where they can hold up a digital camera and videotape their father being sworn in as president.

In less than a decade, these will be our college students. But the historic nature of their father's inauguration affects our universities now.

Some are quick to say that Obama's presidency means we're living in a post-racial America, but this seems short-sighted. To me, it signals an era in which it is crucial to celebrate the rich diversity that race and every kind of identity brings to our nation. In turn, this signals an era in which institutions of higher education must pay closer and closer attention to issues of diversity and ensure that they put the resources and people in place to address these issues in positive ways.

And, finally, it signals an era when students of all backgrounds can be inspired to look at their dreams, no matter how lofty, and say to themselves, "Yes, we can."

2009 is our year, student affairs!

Hello SA Blog readers!

I'm so excited to meet you as a "guest blogger" with this group.  I'm new at this blogging thing, but really excited to get involved in this community.  Since I'm new here, I figured i'd start by sharing a link that got people really riled up in my office this past week.  Check out what US News and World Report has to say about a career as "higher education administrator" for 2009!

http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/best-careers/2008/12/11/best-careers-2009-higher-education-administrator.html

Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled that a publication like this would pay attention to our world and do know that job security is better for us than our peers in much of corporate life.  But, the review of our field as "unusually pleasant" really does carry some "tone".  Also, if he thinks that competition for student life/student affairs jobs is "less rigorous" has clearly not done his homework. I know the last time we hired someone for our programming position we reviewed nearly 100 resumes, so I think that's pretty darned "rigorous."

As a now veteran student activities professional, it is getting more and more clear that we have a problem in our field about articulating what we do.  Higher education scholars use this as a call to improve assessment and I completely agree with that as a big need.  However, we have to focus on the "everyday audience" as well.  All someone from "the outside" can sometimes see is a group of excited students dancing in front of the stage at a concert we have sponsored and obviously can never understand all of the surrounding experiences.

I'm making a few New Year's resolutions in the name of our profession and hope you'll have some too:

1. Help more people on campus understand the campus programming board and the students behind it.  More people need to hear their stories and we need to make them more "high profile" even when it's not comfortable for them or us.  After I finish typing, I'm calling our PR office to talk to them about student stories.
2. Be more assertive about the expertise our department holds about students, their experiences, and what makes them tick. People on campus are baffled by this and we are not, so let's share what we know! 
3. Figure out better ways to promote our successes on campus to everyone who will listen.  Our colleagues in Career Services can do it and do it well...why not us?  I know the usual response is that our field is not as tangible in results, but let's figure out a way to change that.

I'm working on my list this week - what other committments should we make to make campus activities less of a mystery? 

Create your Cover Story!

In need of a fun, interactive "getting to know you" icebreaker or class energizer? Barbara Nixon offers this gem for getting to know a new group of students: create a magazine cover! Nixon, an assistant professor at Georgia Southern, utilizes her blog to share assignments in her Public Relations courses. She shares a virtual file cabinet of creative ideas for integrating social media into the classroom which are applicable in a variety of student development arenas.

I am considering using the magazine concept to introduce our peer leaders to new first-year students in the fall, or as a catchy promotional piece for our new scholarship students. I may also use this in our next staff development. 

What's your cover story?

Self-fulfilling prophecy? Excuses for failure

You've heard the joke about the college students who after an evening of partying missed a final exam, claiming a flat tire. The professor told them they could make up the final on the following day.  At the final, the professor placed them in separate rooms, handed each of them a test booklet and told them to begin. The first problem, worth 5 Points, was on the subject matter. The next problem was worth 95 Points. It asked: "Which tire?

A NY Times article highlighting ego protection and lowering of expectations suggests that some students protect their failures and lack of achievement through self-handicapping. Excuses ranging from "I didn't buy the textbook" to "I overslept" are just the tip of the iceberg as students engage in self-defeating behaviors that evade success. If allowed to continue unfettered, self-handicapping behaviors become workplace headaches, characterizing individuals as unreliable very early in their careers.

During the spring semester, I meet with first-year students who were not academically successful during their fall semester. Many of these students were early identified as not performing to potential, and were monitored for intervention opportunities. I wish I had a nickel for how many times I have heard "the professor hates me", "I don't understand the teaching assistant", or "I lost the syllabus". Instead, I develop a schedule of advising appointments with students who frequently rely on excuses versus making a genuine effort at academic achievement. The task becomes helping these students recognize how their actions or inactions define them. Utilizing a discussion on responsibility is a positive beginning to the semester.

What does it mean to be a responsible student?

• If you are responsible, you are reliable. 
• If you commit to enrolling in class, you will complete the required assignments. 
• If you are responsible and you have an assignment, you will do it on time and to the best of your ability. 
• If you are responsible, you will think about the consequences before doing something. You won’t do anything that will jeopardize yourself or your college career.
• If you are responsible, you will be accountable for what you do, and you won’t make excuses or blame others for your mistakes. 

Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.   ~~George Washington Carver

Sixty Ideas in Fifty-Minutes

We actually had no intention of trying to break the record for low-cost program ideas set last year at the APCA National Advisors' Conference.  Fifty minutes later, the delegates in Las Vegas had suggested 106 ideas!

Jill captured these for you, and I wanted to make sure they got posted.  If they don't make sense to you, drop me a line and I'll try to explain. I hope you find some inspiration for low-cost programs on your own campus.

FiftyOne Hundred and Six Ideas in Fifty Minutes

1. Sitcom Night

2. Lunch with Lawmakers

3. Singing Contest-College Idol

4. Biggest Loser/Winner Weight Loss Competition

5. Most Pushups, etc. Beat the Trainer

6. Olympics Sports Competition

7. Open Mic Night

8. Rock Band/Guitar Hero Battle

9. Battle of the Bands

10. International Festivals

11. Ability Day

12. Lip Sync Competition

13. Grains of the World-i.c. Coffee

14. Dances of the World

15. Art Shows

16. Local Battle of the Bands

17. Car Show

18. Stereo Competition

19. Game Night Sporting Event

20. Midnight Madness w/ Intramurals

21. Election Night Party

22. Texas Hold’em

23. Casino Night

24. Holiday Bizarre

25. Gingerbread House Making

26. Karaoke Night

27. Microwave Cooking Contest

28. Iron Chef

29. Home-grown secret postcards

30. Halloween Costume Contest

31. Pumpkin Carving

32. On-Campus Trick-or-treating

33. Staff Trick-or-Treating

34. Trunk-&-Treating

35. Haunted House

36. Ghost Tours

37. Pumpkin Toss/Bowling

38. Turkey Bowling

39. Halloween Dance Party

40. Day of the Dead

41. Christmas Caroling- Nursing home

42. Jail and Bail

43. Kiss a Pig

44. Craft Night

45. Board Game Night

46. Retro Game Night

47. Twister Tournament

48. Dining Etiquette Banquet

49. Fashion Show

50. Murder Mystery Dinner Theater

51. Glow-in-the-dark Easter Egg Hunt

52. Dress for Success

53. Interview Dressing

54. Spaghetti Luau

55. Dancing w/ the Staff

56. Glow-in-the-dark Frisbee Golf

57. Happy Friday Motivation Message

58. First-Class Mondays-Hand out cheesy items

59. Happy Hour Mondays-Mocktails

60. Finals-Snacks

61. Midnight Breakfast

62. Massages

63. Makeup/Spa Day

64. Last Comic Standing

65. Campus-wide Pillow Fight

66. Oreo Stacking

67. Largest Twister Game

68. Bingo

69. Marshmallow Wars

70. Beauty Pageant

71. Drag Show

72. Cow Bingo

73. In the Dark-use flashlight

74. Cup Program-Roofies w/ Sheriff’s Dept.

75. Sidewalk Chalk Contest

76. Window Decorating Contest

77. Lincoln-themed Jeopardy

78. Jeopardy Game

79. Who wants to be a Millionaire?

80. Pop Culture Trivia

81. Take it or Leave it-Deal or no Deal

82. Reality TV Show

83. Amazing Race

84. Dorm Room Makeover

85. Diversity Uno

86. 24 Hour Make a Film

87. Boxes and Walls-Diversity Events

88. Date Auction

89. Shack-a-thon-homeless awareness

90. Oscar Party

91. Cut-a-thon – Locks of Love

92. Dr. Pepper Hour

93. Tasty Cheesecake

94. Best (fill in the blank) Showdown

95. Chicken Wing Competition

96. Chinese New Year

97. Super Bowl Party

98. Ipod Party

99. CD Party-Swap Music

100.Afternoon Tea

101.Sample the Wine

102.World Religion Panel

103.Mad Hatter Tea Party

104.Mad Pottery Tea Party

105.Pack of Clothes from Goodwill and have Fashion Show

106.Pool Tournament

Better Get To Know An SA Professional - Tyler Archer - San Antonio College

Here's our latest installment of our "Better Get To Know AN SA Professional" series with Tyler Archer of San Antonio College. Make sure to watch all the way through for some extra goodies :)

Feel the need to email Tyler with a question? Here it is > tarcher1@mail.accd.edu