Graduate Student Affairs: Fostering Student learning

1. Graduate Student Affairs: Fostering Student learning Mayra E. Santiago Vargas, MS. GCG, LPC Assistant Dean for Student Affairs University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health ASPH Workshop for Student Services, 2007

2. Objectives: • Linking theory to the practice of student affairs at the graduate level. • Share with participants the idea of a student affairs division that contributes to student learning at the graduate level.

3. Introduction • Most of the available research on graduate education highlights the departmental role in supporting the academic experience • The research on doctoral students point to: • A need for support beyond the academic experience • A role for student affairs professionals in the development of the whole graduate student.

4. Interaction between academic and student affairs in some institutions Gap

5. Collaborative interaction Area of collaboration

6. Strategic areas where departments and student affairs can have an effect • Orientations • Advising and registration • Financial aid and financial planning • Community building • Social interaction and activities • Counseling • Professional development and career planning

7. Models that guide student affairs practice • Service model: • The primary purpose of student services is to support the academic mission by providing adjunctive services • Student development model: • College student affairs professionals focus on developmental phases or tasks that students experience as they pursue a college education.

8. Models that guide the student affairs practice, cont. • Student learning model: • Places its emphasis on shared efforts with other educators, faculty, and administrators to achieve a more integrated or seamless learning experience.

9. Student learning model • Teaching or instruction is a method and not an end of education (Barr & Tagg 1995). • Emphasis is placed on the outcomes of learning. • Research and data collection to identify student needs and measure the impact of interventions

10. Student learning model • Linked academic and student affairs divisions place student learning at the center of their joint enterprise and create institutional coherence about student success. • If one assumes that the purpose of an educational institution is to provide learning, then everyone who works with students is engaged in achieving this purpose.

11. Principles of good practice for student affairs They are as follows: • Engages student in active learning. • Helps students develop coherent values and ethical standards. • Sets and communicates high expectations for student learning. • Uses systematic inquiry to improve student and institutional performance.

12. Principles of good practice for student affairs, cont. • Uses resources effectively to achieve institutional missions and goals. • Forges educational partnerships that advance student learning. • Builds supportive and inclusive communities

13. Strategies to implement the principles of good practice • Employ ongoing assessment of student outcomes • Communicate institutional values and expectations through policies, decisions, processes, and interactions. • Link the classroom with out-of-classroom activities

14. Strategies to implement the principles of good practice • Provide high-quality services and programs that support student learning. • Establish coherent purposes and learning outcomes appropriate to the backgrounds and aspirations of students and consistent with the institution’s mission. • Encourage student involvement.

15. Strategies to implement the principles of good practice • Value diversity, accept differences among students, and work to overcome prejudice on campus. • Involve students in institutional governance, policies, and decisions. • Develop a student-centered focus.

16. Strategies to implement the principles of good practice • Increase the intellectual content of students affairs activities. • Create flexible networks of resources. • Use a systemic approach. • Create the ethic of caring.

17. Thanks for your time