Collaborative Partnerships Between Academic and Student Affairs

1. Collaborative Partnerships Between Academic and Student Affairs Sylvia Alva Associate Vice President,Undergraduate Programs Kandy Mink Salas Dean of Students California State University, Fullerton

2. Student success is the priority and goal Freshman Programs University Honors Programs New Student Orientation Assistant Deans for Student Affairs

3. Levels of Collaboration Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Joint and special projects Coordination Changing the rules and system Collaboration Exchanging information Communication

4. Cultural Component • Work style: What matters more… the task or the relationship? • Orientation: A tendency to adopt either an individual or group orientation • Areas of expertise: The professional preparation and experience of those involved • Decision-making preferences: A focus on the outcomes or the process

5. Structural Component • Rewards and incentives • Need to clarify roles and responsibilities • Channels of communication • Assumptions and beliefs • Obstacles and barriers • Changing the rules and structures

6. Freshman Programs offers several structured learning communities, each designed to assist freshmen in making a successful transition to college. UNIV 100 is team taught by a faculty member, student affairs professional and peer mentor • Fullerton First Year Program • Compass • Summer Bridge • Fullerton Future Teachers • Live ‘n Learn

7. Freshman Programs • Proposal to establish Freshman Program was designed by a team of faculty, student affairs professionals, and administrators • Established a Freshman Programs Advisory Committee • The faculty Director and Associate Dean of New Student Programs meet regularly to plan and implement the program • The faculty, student affairs professionals, and peer mentors attend workshops and a summer planning retreat • Have established formal and informal channels of communication Channels of communication

8. Challenges, Rewards and Incentives • Likely to be time-consuming, as collaborators must learn about each other’s roles and responsibilities, as well as explain their own. • Need to build in rewards and incentives for collaborative work, such as a) relief from other duties, b) authority to redirect resources, or c) ability to finance and implement the group’s recommendations.

9. New Student Orientations • Require all incoming freshmen (over 3800) to receive academic advising before they can register – labor and time intensive • Advising is now integrated into a full-day new orientation program for freshmen. • Transfer students are encouraged to attend an orientation. • Taking steps to require transfer students to attend a transfer orientation or complete an online overview. • Offer a family program and recently piloted a Spanish-language family orientation program. Rewards and incentives

10. Several departments and areas on campus work closely and collaboratively to plan and deliver a full array of orientation programs, including New Student Programs, Admissions and Records, Academic Advisement Center, academic departments and colleges, Assistant Deans for Student Affairs, and University Outreach.

11. HONORS PROGRAM: STUDENT AFFAIRS ROLES • Serves as one of the Student Affairs representatives on • University Honors Board • Recruitment activities for the program • Coordinates selection process to UHP and selected • prestigious scholarships • Provides academic advisement to honors students • Updates printed publications and promotional materials; website development and maintenance • Program planning/coordination for Honors Convocation, Honors Orientation, Honors Week, and co-curricular activities for honors classes and program • Provides support for honors societies and honors student advisory board Need to clarify roles and responsibilities

12. HONORS PROGRAM: ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AREAS • Provide visionand leadership for the program • Chairs the University Honors Board • Coordinates curriculum development and review • Provides academic advisement to honors students • Recruits and supports the Honors faculty • Develops and oversees program budget • Works with colleges, academic departments and chairs, • and other campus units to implement the program • Consults with campus constituencies and Academic Senate committees on honors courses, policies, and other related implementation issues. Need to clarify roles and responsibilities

13. Assistant Deans for Student Affairs • Each academic college has an Assistant Dean for Student Affairs who serves as an important part of each college’s leadership team • Provide assistance to students, including advising student organizations, policy interpretation, and referrals to counseling and other campus services • Assist in coordinating college events – e.g., new student orientations, commencement, outreach activities

14. Assistant Deans for Student Affairs • Each Assistant Dean is physically located in the college • Report to the College Dean on a day-to-day basis and meet regularly with each other and the Dean of Students • Positions are funded by Division of Student Affairs but performance evaluations require input from the College Dean and Dean of Students Changing the rules and structures

15. Closing Thoughts • Collaboration occurs among people. • Need to examine our assumptions and beliefs • Developing collaborative partnerships is time-consuming and process-intensive. • Collaborators must have or acquire expertise in the process of group goal-setting and decision making. • Cultivate both the formal and informal channels of communication • Collaborative partnerships must be built on common and well-defined goals and objectives.