- Attend the organizational fair for the Thursday student orientation
- Compile the Center for Student Activities and Fraternity & Sorority Life Calendars into one
- Help relocate Jackie Mullen's, the Director for Student Activities and Fraternity & Sorority Life, and the Music Makers Production's offices
- Participate in a student affairs morning talk with the Center for Student Activities and Fraternity & Sorority Life staff, hosted by Jeremy Baham
- Assist the current Center for Student Activities Graduate Assistant with the planning for the Early Start College program activities
Experience:
My first week working in the Center for Student Activities has been pretty relaxed, despite what the activities I listed above would otherwise indicate. During the first day of practicum, I was given a tour of the Center for Student Activities office and learned how the office space was utilized by the staff and student organizations. For example, I learned there was an area of devoted desks and lockers strictly for student organizations to utilize. Even more so, I learned one of the staff members typically makes coffee for everyone in the office every morning she is there at work. And through my observations, I realized the student organizations utilizing the space in the office had access to some really amazing amenities, which isn't too typical for most student organizations across the nation. Thinking back to that first day, I now realize I got a good glimpse into the organizational culture of the Center for Student Activities just through that brief tour of the office.
Later throughout the week, I also got the opportunity to sit in on one of the student affairs talk hosted by Jeremy Baham, the Associate Dean of Students. In the discussion, the group brought up topics and articles that were currently trending in higher education, such as the University of Missouri proposal to ban hard liquor and limit female guest visitation to fraternity houses. As topics were discussed, Jeremy lead the group in relating the talks back into the world of student affairs and what those ramifications could look like, as well as bringing up additional points to consider in relation to the topic. I found the conversation to be very engaging and insightful, as I was afraid discussions about current news in higher education was something that occurred only in the classroom setting. I have always enjoyed participating in discussing about current trends in higher education, so it was a pleasant surprise to be able to not only sit in on this talk, but also contribute to the conversation.
And lastly, student orientation. I did not know what student orientation looked like at Mississippi State, so when I worked the organizational fair, the whole experience was kind of foreign to me due to the fact that it was located outside in the Junction. I will say that the organizational fair was organized fairly well, in that all the student organizations were grouped by the type of student organization (Ie religious, recreational, service, specialty, fraternity and sorority life, etc.). Even though the organization fair is set as an optional event for students and parents to partake in during orientation, I hope that in the future, the organizational fair becomes a scheduled event all new students attend. There is no better way to connect with a university than through getting involved from the get go and being able to talk with current MSU students, two facets the organizational fair offers students.
Overall, I am grateful for the experience I have received thus far. Now that I am reflecting, I am starting to realize how much knowledge and insight I have been able to amass from the short time I have served in the Center for Student Activities. I hope that as I progress through my practicum, I am able to learn even more about the role the Center for Student Activities plays on campus and how the full-time staff envision the growth of the office.
Reading Application:
After reading chapter 1 from Beginning Your Journey: A Guide for New Professionals in Student Affairs, I am ecstatic to be able to bring the skills and knowledge I have to my practicum. The chapter specifically addresses the topic that emerging student affairs professionals have skills and knowledge they can bring to the table, and instead of just taking a back seat, they need to feel confident enough to share their experiences in the roles they take on (Amey & Reesor, 2009). I am thankful that even though I am completely new to the office, the staff have been open to hearing new ideas and even allowing me to participate in meetings and processes that are typically closed off to outside entities. For example, being able to not only sit in but actually participate and share the knowledge I had about current trends/topics in higher ed during the talk with Jeremy Baham was a moment where I was able to share the knowledge I had.
Theory Application:
Reflecting about my experience thus far, the theory that would most apply to everything I am learning is Chickering's Seven Vectors. Of the seven vectors, the developing competence vector most applies to what I have been able to do because I am not only learning about the office, but I have also been able to slowly start building interpersonal relationships with the staffs and students in the office. These both touch the concept of the developing competence vector because the vector comprises of three competencies: intellectual, interpersonal, and physical (Chikering, 2015).
From here on out, I hope to still develop that vector as I continue my practicum with the Center for Student Activities. Even more so, I hope to develop along the other six vectors.
References:
Chickering, A. (2015). Seven vectors: An overview. Retrieved from https://www.cabrini.edu/communications/ProfDev/cardevChickering.html
Later throughout the week, I also got the opportunity to sit in on one of the student affairs talk hosted by Jeremy Baham, the Associate Dean of Students. In the discussion, the group brought up topics and articles that were currently trending in higher education, such as the University of Missouri proposal to ban hard liquor and limit female guest visitation to fraternity houses. As topics were discussed, Jeremy lead the group in relating the talks back into the world of student affairs and what those ramifications could look like, as well as bringing up additional points to consider in relation to the topic. I found the conversation to be very engaging and insightful, as I was afraid discussions about current news in higher education was something that occurred only in the classroom setting. I have always enjoyed participating in discussing about current trends in higher education, so it was a pleasant surprise to be able to not only sit in on this talk, but also contribute to the conversation.
And lastly, student orientation. I did not know what student orientation looked like at Mississippi State, so when I worked the organizational fair, the whole experience was kind of foreign to me due to the fact that it was located outside in the Junction. I will say that the organizational fair was organized fairly well, in that all the student organizations were grouped by the type of student organization (Ie religious, recreational, service, specialty, fraternity and sorority life, etc.). Even though the organization fair is set as an optional event for students and parents to partake in during orientation, I hope that in the future, the organizational fair becomes a scheduled event all new students attend. There is no better way to connect with a university than through getting involved from the get go and being able to talk with current MSU students, two facets the organizational fair offers students.
Overall, I am grateful for the experience I have received thus far. Now that I am reflecting, I am starting to realize how much knowledge and insight I have been able to amass from the short time I have served in the Center for Student Activities. I hope that as I progress through my practicum, I am able to learn even more about the role the Center for Student Activities plays on campus and how the full-time staff envision the growth of the office.
Reading Application:
After reading chapter 1 from Beginning Your Journey: A Guide for New Professionals in Student Affairs, I am ecstatic to be able to bring the skills and knowledge I have to my practicum. The chapter specifically addresses the topic that emerging student affairs professionals have skills and knowledge they can bring to the table, and instead of just taking a back seat, they need to feel confident enough to share their experiences in the roles they take on (Amey & Reesor, 2009). I am thankful that even though I am completely new to the office, the staff have been open to hearing new ideas and even allowing me to participate in meetings and processes that are typically closed off to outside entities. For example, being able to not only sit in but actually participate and share the knowledge I had about current trends/topics in higher ed during the talk with Jeremy Baham was a moment where I was able to share the knowledge I had.
Theory Application:
Reflecting about my experience thus far, the theory that would most apply to everything I am learning is Chickering's Seven Vectors. Of the seven vectors, the developing competence vector most applies to what I have been able to do because I am not only learning about the office, but I have also been able to slowly start building interpersonal relationships with the staffs and students in the office. These both touch the concept of the developing competence vector because the vector comprises of three competencies: intellectual, interpersonal, and physical (Chikering, 2015).
From here on out, I hope to still develop that vector as I continue my practicum with the Center for Student Activities. Even more so, I hope to develop along the other six vectors.
References:
Amey, M., & Reesor, L. (2009). Chapter 1 Voices of Experience. In Beginning your journey: A guide for new professionals in student affairs. Washington, D.C.: National Association of Student Personnel Administration.
Chickering, A. (2015). Seven vectors: An overview. Retrieved from https://www.cabrini.edu/communications/ProfDev/cardevChickering.html
Is sounds like the the culture in the Student Activities office is completely different other office cultures in student affairs. It seems that center for student activies has a work, play hard mentality. It is no secret that student activities works strange hours and produces interesting activities for the student and community members at Mississippi state university. I am glad you are having the opportunity to interact with this office during your practicum because I believe you will bring this work spirit and pep to Housing and residence life department
ReplyDeleteAnother interasting thing you mentioned it Jerermy Baham's engagement with the student and offices members of student activite. Aside form the fact that Dr. Baham over sees student activities from the Dean of Students Side, why do you believe he facilities discussion with the center for student activites student leaders and not the student leaders in other departments like Housing? Or atleast encourages his collegues to do the same in other departments.
I also found it interesting that you said, Student affairs disscussions seem to rarely leave the classroom. How can we, as new professions, engage and unite our students into engaging in a student affairs dialogue.
oh and this was Taylor ^
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