Presentation Transcript

1. Student Affairs Technology In The Year of the Personal Computer Staff Development Retreat May 2008 University of North DakotaCurtis JeffersonValerie JohnsonSarah Owens McApple College
2. Purpose of Retreat Identifying and describing programs or services, within McApple College’s Student Services Division, where technology has changed service delivery. Vice President for Student Affairs Residence Life, Student Activities, Counseling, Student Health, Orientation Services, Disability Services, Career Services, and Judicial Affairs
3. Agenda Technology in Student Recruitment and Retention Improving Safety and Security Through Technology Enhancement Collaboration and Communication Learning through Online Services Assessment and Evaluation
4. Resources: Infinite financial and personnel resources to implement programs, recommendations, etc. Access: All McApple College students have access to a personal computer Use: All McApple College students use their personal computers Consistent Review: Of what comparable and aspirational institutions are doing regarding student affairs Of student affairs literature Assumptions

5. Student Recruitment and Retention

6. Rationalization The efforts of a college to communicate with prospective and admitted students has a direct effect on college selection (Chapman, 1981). Easier access to more information before arriving to campus can aid students in making appropriate decisions regarding college selection, choice of major, and residential situation.
7. Objective: Improve and supplement current recruitment practices by developing and using online technology to provide access to resources and information for prospective and admitted students.
8. Examples of recruitment techniques: Admissions/Recruitment Website Provides 24-hour interactive access to information about the college, admissions processes, programs, and services (Schworm, 2008). Can provide online orientation modules before students arrive to campus, modeled after those being used in many distance education programs (Scagnoli, 2001). Prospective Student Blog An opportunity for prospective and admitted students to engage with the campus by reading pertinent news, commenting on blog posts and engaging in discussions (Roper, 2007). Podcasting Campuses have had success in using Podcasts to provide information to prospective students (Admissions, 2005) and to send greetings and welcomes to admitted students (McCafferty, 2006).
9. Pros Provides 24/7 access to information—something students find important (Moneta, 1997). Opportunity to engage students visually with the campus. Allows for the dissemination of up-to-date information at all times. Cons Needs to be regularly reviewed and updated as information changes (more often than once-a-year paper publications). Students may base attendance decisions solely on website information and skip out on campus visits.

10. Improving Safety and Security Through Technology Enhancement

11. Rationalization Exploring technology programs and services to aid in case of emergencies and to keep our campuses safe is crucial for the well-being of our students.
12. Objective: To enhance the quality of life for individuals in institutions of higher education by providing safe and secure living, working, and educational places
13. Examples of Safety and Security Programs: Online safety training sessions Email/Text Messaging Services Broadcast on Campus TV Network Bug Your Bike Program
14. Sample Communication Tools Text Messaging Email System Broadcast on Campus Television Network http://www.niu.edu (2008, February)
15. Bug Your Bike Program “Bicycle Theft can be a problem for students. Use of the latest technology a Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) to keep track of your bike.” Ohio State Webpage http://studentaffairs.osu.edu/safetyinformation.asp Safety extends beyond times of emergency, it is a priority that should be executed at all levels, at all times.
16. Pros Quick and efficient way to warn students Effective way to network with colleagues about hard conversations May be able to respond to emergencies in a more timely manner Cons Potential risk of technology not working or becoming overloaded Consistent updating of student information Privacy concerns Safety and Security, Cont.

17. Communication and Collaboration

18. Rationalization Our profession benefits from discussion amongst our members of our own department, even more when it is across the institution and further when we are able to talk with others from other places
19. Objective: To design and implement ways to involve the entire division in campus and community concerns specifically through improved communication and working together.
20. A few examples of Communication and Collaboration Programs Shared Student Information Programs Knowledge Communities Virtual Advising
21. Shared Information Programs Programs that allow access to information about students by multiple departments Ex. Judicial Officer by Adirondack Solutions Database for information related to judicial hearings Can be accessed simultaneously by individuals within the same department or other departments (eg. Residence Life & Judicial Affairs) Decreases reliance on paper files to be sent from office to office
22. Knowledge Communities “Provide an opportunity for NASPA members to access information and resources in a specific subject that pertains to the student affairs profession” and “Create and share knowledge through the delivery of educational research, programs, and products, through the use of technology and by way of face to face meetings, workshops and/or conferences” (NASPA, 2006) Evolved from NASPA Information Technology Network Example of Student Leadership Programs Knowledge Community (Dare, 2006)
23. Virtual Advising Ensuring that graduates are prepared to meet the demands of today’s global economy Why it works: saves on travel time and money, provides opportunities for collaboration, improved relationships with remote students, enhanced communication, and sense of belonging. “The communication and interpersonal skills used to build the advisee-advisor relationship when the parties are face-to-face may also be utilized in an electronic environment” (Carter, n.d.). “Technology like Facebook can be a tremendous resource for cash- and time-strapped advisors” (Traxler, 2007).
24. Pros Easy to access information about any student at any time Ease in tracking and filing information on students Allows for advanced research to happen Provides opportunity to learn about new programs quickly Cons Need to take caution in who has access to student information Takes away the personal element of conversation with colleagues Need to consider security measures to protect student information (Petersen & Hodges, 1997) Communication, Cont.

25. Online Services

26. Objective: Provide greater and more efficient access to services for students.
27. Rationalization Students expect efficiency of service delivery and “are twenty-four-hour, seven-days-a-week customers who reject the service disadvantages of traditional nine-to-five business practices” (Moneta, 1997, p. 7). Division and department managers are always expected to try to be more efficient and get more done with less funding (Moneta, 1997).
28. Examples of online services for students: Already Mentioned Recruitment/Orientation Options Technology-driven Communication Methods Residence Life Online Room Selection & Transfer Requests Online Maintenance Work Order Reporting Judicial Affairs Online Educational Modules as Sanctions Ex. judicialeducator.com Counseling Center Online Self-Assessments Mental Health Screenings E-Chug
29. Examples of online services for students, cont.: Student Activities Online Student Organization Directory Website Space for Student Organizations Online Resource Listing for Student Organizations/Leaders/Advisors Student Health Online Personal Health Resources Online Appointment Scheduling Disability Services Online Resources for Students with Disabilities Online ADA Compliance/Access Issue Reporting
30. Examples of online services for students, cont.: Career Services Online Job Listings/Employer Database Online Student Career Profiles/Resume Database Online Job Search Tips & Advice Tips & Software for Preparing Resumes and Cover Letters (Smith, 2005)
31. Pros 24/7 Access Allows students to engage with services & resources in ways they understand Increased student satisfaction (Moneta, 1997) Students get chance to engage with a service/department before going to the office Cons Little to no face-to-face contact Students may rely too much on online content and not consult student affairs staff Students need to be educated on appropriate follow-up to online interactions Online Services, Cont.

32. Assessment and Evaluation

33. Rationalization "Assessment is any effort to gather, analyze, and interpret evidence which describes institutional, divisional, or agency effectiveness" (Upcraft and Schuh, 1996, p. 18).
34. Objective: Continue to improve upon current assessment and evaluation practices in our student affairs division. If a unit does not have an assessment or evaluation plan, work towards developing a plan.
35. Molasso (2005) states: “Providing data-based evidence of behaviors, attitudes, and trends will increasingly become important for student affairs professionals as they improve their programs and services, and fight for limited staff, financial resources, and exposure”. “…using the Web to collect assessment data could be an effective method for student affairs professionals”
36. If your unit needs to create an assessment or evaluation plan please review the resources at: Minnesota State University Mankato Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville Syracuse University Current McApple Assessment Tools Addressing Student Affairs: Cooperative Institutional Research Program Freshman and Senior Follow-up National Survey of Student Engagement Student Satisfaction Inventory College Student Inventory Student Self Assessment Tools Career Counseling Mental Health Assessment (previously mentioned)
37. Assessment and Evaluation, Cont. Pros Ensures: quality, cost effectiveness, planning, show progress, strength/weakness Identifies need for services and programs Cons Time Organization Understanding of statistical output
38. Conclusion Technology has greatly changed how we approach student affairs and it will continue to challenge us. However, it is important that we “match our personal values with socially responsible behavior” (Chickering and Reisser, 1993, p. 237) even when it comes to technology. Additionally, it is important that embrace this challenge and utilize the technology creatively to reach our students.
39. References Admissions podcasts tackle what students really want to know. (2005).  Recruitment & Retention in Higher Education, 19(12), 1-4. Carter, J. (n.d.). Utilizing Technology in Academic Advising. Retrieved February 16, 2008 from the NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources Website: http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Clearinghouse/AdvisingIssues/Technology.htm. Chapman, D. W. (1981). A model of student college choice. Journal of Higher Education, 52(5), 490-505. Chickering, A.W., & Reisser, L. (1993) Education and identity (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Dare, L. (2006). Standing Room Only. Retrieved February 10th, 2008 from the Technology in Student Affairs Summer 2006 edition. McCafferty, P. (2006). Podcasts replace acceptance letters.  Recruitment & Retention in Higher Education, 20(5), 1-4. Molasso, W.R. (2005). Exploring Options to Create Web Surveys for Student Affairs Assessment Plans. Retrieved February 13, 2008 from http://www.studentaffairs.com/ejournal/Fall_2005/StudentAffairsAssessmentPlans.html. Moneta, L. (1997). The integration of technology with the management of student services. New Directions for Student Services, 78, 5-16. North Carolina State University. (n.d.). Division Technology Planning. Retrieved February 13, 2008 from http://www.ncsu.edu/student_affairs/techplan/. Ohio State Webpage Safety Information. Retrieved February 12th, 2008 from http://studentaffairs.osu.edu/safetyinformation.asp. Petersen, R. J. & Hodges, M. W. (1997). Legal, ethical, and policy issues. New Directions for Student Services, 78, 45-58. Roper, E. (2007, April 12). Colonial blogging: Prospective students visit GW-sponsored blogs. [Electronic version] The GW Hatchet. Retrieved February 15, 2008 from http://media.www.gwhatchet.com/media/storage/paper332/news/2007/04/12/News/Colonial.Blogging.Prospective.Students.Visit.GwSponsored.Blogs-2837702-page2.shtml#cp_article_tools. Scagnoli, N. (2001). Student orientations for online programs. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 34(1), 19-27. Schworm, P. (2008, January 7). Colleges turn to web tools in hunt for ‘08 freshmen. The Boston Globe. Retrieved February 14, 2008 from http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/01/07/colleges_turn_to_web_tools_in_hunt_for_08_freshmen/. Smith, B. (2005). Online student support service. Community College Journal, 76(2), 26-29. Traxler, J. (2007, March). An Introduction to Facebook as an Advising Tool. Academic Advising Today, 30 (1), Retrieved March 8, 2007 from http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/AAT/NW30_1.htm#10 Upcraft, M. L., and Schuh, J. H. (1996). Assessment in Student Affairs: A Guide for Practitioners. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
40. Thank You