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What Graduate School Didn't Teach You

What Graduate School Didn't Teach You. For New Staff and Graduate Students NASPA March 9, 2010 Chicago, IL. Presenters. Anne E. Lombard, Ph.D. Assistant to the Vice President for Special Projects, Ohio University, Athens, OH Juliana Mosley, Ph.D.

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What Graduate School Didn't Teach You

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  1. What Graduate School Didn't Teach You For New Staff and Graduate Students NASPA March 9, 2010 Chicago, IL

  2. Presenters • Anne E. Lombard, Ph.D. • Assistant to the Vice President for Special Projects, Ohio University, Athens, OH • Juliana Mosley, Ph.D. • Vice President for Student Affairs, Philander Smith College, Little Rock, AR • Kent J. Smith, Jr., Ph.D. • Vice President for Student Affairs, Ohio University, Athens, OH

  3. Presentation Goals • As a result of attending this presentation, you will: • understand the importance of doing thorough research at every phase of the job search process • develop strategies for finding and serving as a mentor • understand the importance of the first year in a new job and develop strategies to maximize your opportunities • understand the importance of developing a professional network • understand the importance of goal setting as it relates to your personal and professional goals

  4. Presentation Goals, continued • Think critically about student affairs work and where you see yourself in the future • Other goals you have . . . .

  5. Overview of Related Research • Recent graduates from college student personnel programs indicated the two most important competencies in their new positions were underemphasized in graduate school coursework (Mather & Smith, Under review): • Advising and helping • Managing and leading human resources • Recent graduates feel least prepared in the following areas (Cuyjet, Longwell-Grice, & Molina, 2009): • Grant writing • Budgeting • Financial management • Supervising others • Another study indicated new professionals don’t feel well-prepared by their master’s program in several areas (Renn & Jessup-Anger, 2008): • Budgeting • Navigating institutional politics • Advising • Supervising

  6. What Supervisors and SSAOs Think • There is a disconnect between what happens in the classroom and what is needed on the job. • Supervisors of entry-level professionals feel new professionals are least prepared in the following areas (Cuyjet, Longwell-Grice, & Molina, 2009): • Budgeting • Financial management • Grant writing • Writing for publication • Supervisors of entry-level professionals and SSAOs aren’t completely satisfied with preparation of new professionals (Herdlein, 2004) regarding: • Budgeting • Strategic planning • Campus politics • Research and assessment • Legal knowledge

  7. Why is this important? • New professionals (first time, full-time with < 5 years of experience) comprise 15-20% of the student affairs workforce at any one time • High attrition rate from student affairs – 50-60% of new professionals within the first 5 years

  8. Applying for a (new) job: • You cannot do enough research before you apply • University website • Professional contacts • Strategic plans – university and unit • Institutional and unit values and goals • What can you learn about your potential supervisor? His/her supervisor? The president? • What is the campus culture? • Why is this position open? • Know the environment

  9. Interviewing 101 • The phone interview • The campus visit • Follow up

  10. The Importance of the First Year • Know what you’re being asked to do • Seek out your supervisor’s expectations • How will you know when you’ve been successful? • Dress the part • Know your boundaries

  11. Mentors: Everyone needs (at least) one! • People who are mentored are twice as likely to be promoted as those who aren’t (Ellen Fagenson Eland) • Seven steps to finding and keeping a mentor: • Identify a potential mentor • Ask good questions • Don’t expect miracles • Be a good listener • Prove you’re serious • Always be on the lookout • Give back

  12. Goal Setting • “If you are not in control of your focus, thoughts, and time – you are not in control – and most likely someone else is.” • Discussion Questions: • Why is it so important to set goals and objectives? • Who has written personal and professional goals for this year? For the next 5 years? For beyond?

  13. Goal Setting • Steps to setting goals and objectives: • Begin with an intention • Consider three key areas when setting goals • Start with your personal goals first • Consider your professional goals • Consider your financial goals • Goals must be written • Goals must be measurable

  14. Developing a Network • Think beyond just a professional network • Strive to expand your circle of contacts • Always go to the networking reception before a business function • Be sure to make an appearance at professional, university, and community events • Seek out new venues • Be up front • Bring a pen (and your business card)! • Show your appreciation • Keep in touch without being overly aggressive

  15. Campus Politics • Mouth closed . . . eyes and ears open • Learn the culture • The rumor mill • You’re not a student anymore

  16. Communication 101 • Professional writing • Six degrees of separation • Everybody is not your friend • The paper trail

  17. Questions to the Panel • Brief overview of who we are and where we’ve been • No topic is off limits • What do you really want to know?

  18. Resources for New Professionals • Amey, M.J., & Reesor, L.M. (2002). Beginning your journey: A guide for new professionals in student affaris. Washington, DC: National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. • Buzzle.com: Intelligent life on the web. http://www.buzzle.com. • Cooper, D.L., Sanders, S.A., Winston, Jr., R.B., Hirt, J.B., Creamer, D.G., & Janosik, S.M. (2002). Learning through supervised practice in student affairs. New York, NY: Brunner-Routledge. • Hirt, J.B. (2006). Where you work matters: Student affairs administrators at different types of institutions. Lanham, MD. University Press of America. • Hull, A., Hirt, J.B., & Sanders, S. (Eds.) (2009). Becoming socialized in student affairs administration: A guide for new professionals and their supervisors. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing. • Magolda, P.M., & Carnaghi, J.E. (Eds.). (2004). Job one: Experiences of new professionals in student affairs. Lanham, MD: University Press of America. • Manning, K., Kinzie, J., & Schuh, J.H. (Eds.) (2006). One size does not fit all: Traditional and innovative models in student affairs practice. New York, NY: Routledge. • McClellan, G.S., & Stringer, J. (Eds.) (2009). The handbook for student affairs administration (3rd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. • Mind tools: Essential skills for an excellent career. http://mindtools.com • Penelope Trunk’s Brazen Careerist (a social network to help young people manage their careers). http://blog.penelopetrunk.com. • Schuh, J.H. (Ed.) (2008). Assessment methods for student affairs. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. • Work Life Idea: Articles and tips for career and personal development. http://work-life- idea.blogspot.com

  19. Program References • Cuyjet, M.J, Longwell-Grice, R., & Molina, E. (2009). Perceptions of new student affairs professionals and their supervisors regarding the application of competencies learned in preparation programs. Journal of College Student Development, 50(1), 104-119. • Harned, P.J., Murphy, M.C. (1998). Creating a culture of development for the new professional. In W.A. Bryan & R. A. Schwarz (Eds.), Strategies for staff development; Personal and professional education for the 21st century (New Directions for Student Services No. 84, pp. 45-53). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. • Herdlein, R.J. (2004). Survey of chief student affairs officers regarding relevance of graduate preparation of new professionals. NASPA Journal, 42(1), 51-71. • Mather, P.C., & Smith, Jr., K.J. (Under review). A matter of competence: A national study of the preparation of new student affairs professionals. • Putra, L.D. (2008, January 31). How to develop new professional network – reach out! Retrieved from http://work-life-idea.blogspot.com/2008/01/how-to-develop-new-professional- network.html • Renn, K.A., & Jessup-Anger, E.R. (2008). Preparing new professionals: Lessons for graduate preparation programs from the national study of new professionals in student affairs. Journal of College Student Development, 49(4), 319-335. • Trunk, P. (2004, November 9). 7 steps to finding and keeping a mentor [Web blog message]. Retrieved from http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/11/09/7-steps-to-finding- and-keeping-a-mentor/ • Webb, M. (2008, May 10). How to set goals and objectives. Retrieved from http:// www.buzzle.com/articles/how-to-set-goals-and-objectives.html

  20. Thank you for attending!

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