The professional competencies help student affairs to better understand students and help them with the issues they face today. The competency areas are used to define what exactly “is student affairs work” and layout directions for the future development of student affairs educators both individually and as a profession. Student affairs professionals have a responsibility to create a welcoming environment where students can succeed regardless of gender, race, socioeconomic background, and sexual orientation. “ It is essential that we incorporate multicultural issues and dynamics into all types of teaching and training; otherwise, our educational interventions may be incomplete, inaccurate or irrelevant” (Schuh, Jones & Torres, p. 397, 2016).

Social Justice and Inclusion is important because most college campuses can have a diverse population but that is not all that it takes to make it “inclusive”. Inclusion is full and equal participation of all groups in a society that is mutually shaped to meet their needs. It is important for Student Affairs professionals to meet the needs of all groups. It is important that we are aware of other groups and cultures so that we can connect and build meaningful relationships with all students. This competency is important to help bring the student community together and make it a better and enjoyable place for all. “Student affairs educators may incorporate social justice and inclusion competencies into their practice through seeking to meet the needs of all groups, equitably distributing resources, raising social consciousness, and repairing past and current harms on-campus communities”(ACPA & NASPA).

Why is Social Justice And Inclusion Important?

It is important because it makes underrepresented students feel a greater sense of belonging.  Students who perceive their campus climate as inclusive and nondiscriminatory show a greater willingness to participate. It will build confidence in underrepresented students and they will get the feeling they can achieve greater things as well as their counterparts. Social justice and inclusion can lead to more college satisfaction, students can feel greater comfort and have improved perceptions of the campus atmosphere.

How can we get colleges to increase their  Inclusion efforts?

References

Schuh, J. H., Jones, S. R., & Torres, V. (2016).  Student services: A handbook for the profession.  San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Professional competency areas for student affairs educators. ACPA & NASPA. (2015). Retrieved from https://www.naspa.org/images/uploads/main/ACPA_NASPA_Professional_Competencies_FINAL.pdf

The four areas of professional context for student affairs educators are institutional missions campus culture, campus climate and diversity, ethical principles and standards, and legal foundations. All four areas overlap to create a welcoming and safe campus for all college students.  Each one contributes to what makes a University a place where staff, faculty, and students can feel exceptional, it creates a better environment. The institutional mission sets the tone for the campus culture. The mission statement is the starting point for building campus culture. The school’s mission statement reflects on the existing campus culture and the aspirations of where the school wants to culture to go in the future. Every Campus has its own culture, campus culture is ever changing and is influenced by time and the diverse people on the campus environment (Schuh, Jones, Torres, p.67, 2016). What sets the tone for campus climate and diversity, is when a  college strives to offer students inclusive campus environments, where all feel welcomed and accepted.  Ethical principles and standards “prescribe what is considered good or bad and right or wrong behavior. Ethical principles rely on cultural and societal norms and assumptions that privilege certain perspectives and diminish others.” (Schuh, Jones & Harper, 2016, p. 90).  Legal foundations are laws that relate to higher education, overtime these laws will continuously develop. It is very important that student affairs professionals are knowledgable of these laws and practices to manage risk.  Legal Foundations is important because as society becomes increasingly immersed in legal issues,” student affairs staff members must be equipped to help modify practices that create risk and protect their institutions, the students they serve, and their resources from unintended consequences” (Schuh, Jones, Torres, 2016).

Take a look at this College’s Mission and Vision :

These four contexts help to promote the success of all students, do you think these contexts are beneficial to staff and faculty as well?

Reference

Schuh, J. H., Jones, S. R., & Torres, V. (2016).  Student services: A handbook for the profession. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

The Student Affairs department is partially critical to the success of our students. Student affairs can consist of advising, counseling, management, or any administrative function at a college or university. “Student affair professionals perform a varied mixture of leading, educating, individual and group advising, counseling, supervising, teaching, training, planning, program development, inquiring, managing, financial management, and assessment and evaluation. Emerging functions include resource attraction and grant writing, entrepreneurship, outcomes assessment, political negotiation, and cultural assessment” (Love, P). As you can see the role of student affairs is greatly diverse and includes such vital support for students. Student Affair professional’s goal is to guide and help develop students to their full potential. A strong support system is necessary for students to be successful and student affairs provide that. Students perform better and are more satisfied with institutions that are committed to their success.

To pursue a career in student affairs it is important that our personal values line up with the values of the profession. “Values are the essences of philosophy that guide our actions in important ways”(Long, D. 2012). There are seven values that are essential to this profession, them being :

1. Altruism  (concern for the welfare of others)
2. Equality
3. Aesthetics (provide satisfaction)
4. Freedom
5. Human dignity
6. Justice
7. Truth

“The underlying fundamental mission of student affairs is to serve; the profession exists to ensure that students are safe, cared for, well treated and satisfied with their higher education” (Long, D. 2012).

Many Student Affairs administrators have joined the NASPA organization which is the leading association for the advancement, health, and sustainability of the student affairs profession. Check out the NASPA Community here: https://www.naspa.org/

What inspired you to pursue a career in Student Affairs?

References

Love, P. (n.d.). Considering a Career in Student Affairs. Retrieved from http://www.myacpa.org/considering-career-student-affairs

Long, D. (2012). The foundations of student affairs: A guide to the profession. In L. J. Hinchliffe & M. A. Wong (Eds.), Environments for student growth and development: Librarians and student affairs in collaboration (pp. 1-39). Chicago: Association of College & Research Libraries