Competency VI- Visionary Leadership
Artifact One: Aligning the departmental mission, student learning objectives, and organizational structure of the Office of Enrollment and Admissions with the CAS standards
When I first joined University of the West it became clear that I was one of the few academically trained professionals specifically in the student affairs field at that institution. My participation in the retention team was an important contribution for me at UWest. Through my participation in the committee I had the opportunity to introduce the other staff and faculty members, including the Dean of Student Affairs and the Dean of Academic Affairs, to the CAS standards in relation to the development of academic advising programs at higher education institutes. The work that I did in this arena inspired me to also write a proposal for the adoption of these standards in the enrollment office. The below document defines the departmental mission of that office, proposes departmental learning objectives, and outlines new organizational structure designed to eliminate potential functional silos which were evident at UWest, and improve student services.
Dean, L. A. (2009). CAS professional standards for higher education. Washington, DC: the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education.
Manning, K., Kinzie, J., & Schuh, J. (2006). One size does not fit all: Traditional and innovative models of student affairs practice. New York, NY: Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
Dean, L. A. (2009). CAS professional standards for higher education. Washington, DC: the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education.
Manning, K., Kinzie, J., & Schuh, J. (2006). One size does not fit all: Traditional and innovative models of student affairs practice. New York, NY: Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
Artifact Two: One Stop Office Proposal
From my experience with UWest's retention committee it became clear that there were some difficulties implementing the initial program where the faculty chairs served as the academic advisors for the students. As some the research indicated the academic counseling had been delegated to the department chair in addition to their previously existing classroom duties without further financial compensation. A substantial body of literature supports a dual model of academic advising with shared responsibilities between faculty and student affairs staff with each utilizing their trained strengths for the holistic benefit of students. The proposal below is for an academic advisor with a student affairs background whose skills would complement the strengths that faculty brings to the existing but struggling academic advising program at UWest. It is specific in that it is also a proposal that serves as a formal request for me to serve in an expanded position at UWest, is supported by academic research, and has a specific budget which is proposed.
Citations for this research appear within the below proposal for this new, full-time position at University of the West.
Citations for this research appear within the below proposal for this new, full-time position at University of the West.