The “10 Questions” project developed out of a conversation between several IASAS members who expressed an interest in better understanding how student affairs and services work is done in different countries. The blog function through the IASAS website seemed to be a great way to invite people the world over to share their lived experience doing student affairs and services work.
The questions focus around three general areas: 1) your specific job and area within student affairs and services; 2) the general approach to student affairs and services; and 3) your background and experience in student affairs and services.
The questions focus around three general areas: 1) your specific job and area within student affairs and services; 2) the general approach to student affairs and services; and 3) your background and experience in student affairs and services.
Thank you for your interest in contributing to the “10 Questions” project and sharing your experience of working in the field of student affairs and services in your country. We look forward to learning from you.
Questions:
1. What is your job title and what are the primary responsibilities or core functions of your job?
1. What is your job title and what are the primary responsibilities or core functions of your job?
2. To which area of the university does your office report? What is the title of the person to which your office reports?
3. How would you describe the overall mission or purpose of your office?
4. How would you describe the overall mission or purpose of student affairs and services?
5. What are a few of the major issues or most significant challenges that you face in your job?
6. Do you have any guiding theories, perspectives, or philosophies that you use in your work? If so, what are they and from which discipline(s)?
7. What was your educational background and experience before starting your current position?
8. What professional development activities, outside of formal education, do you participate in to gain knowledge and skills that assist you in your job?
9. What future career paths/professional developmental opportunities do you think could be considered for student affairs and services staff? What future career paths/professional development opportunities might be developed for those who have obtained their PhD?
10. What is it about your work that brings you the greatest satisfaction and sense of accomplishment?
What else would you like to share about your experience working in student affairs and services?
Please feel free to share your professional contact information if you’d like.
What else would you like to share about your experience working in student affairs and services?
Please feel free to share your professional contact information if you’d like.
Your name:
Your email:
Your institution:
1. I work at a midsize university in Ontario, Canada. My main responsibilities are to market, select and prepare students for going on exchange. In my job it is important that we focus on maintaining balance in our exchange agreements but our ultimate responsibility is ensuring students have a safe sojourn abroad.
ReplyDelete2. I report to the Director of International Education, who reports to the Vice-President Students, who reports to the President.
3. "to educate engaged and aware citizens of an increasingly complex world.” In my words we exist to provide international study options for interested students and ensure safe departure, return and reintegration into the institution.
4. The mission of student affairs at my institution is to provide support, services and programs for students to enhance their personal, academic and social development.
5. The major issues in my job are the mismatch between the locations that students are interested in studying abroad, and the partners we have available. A second major issue is course transfer for students who are completing their exchange.
6. My guiding theory arises from the notion of cultural diplomacy. That is that international education is an opportunity for people two come together & learn more about each other & their cultures so they can work together to solve the world’s problems.
7. I have worked in international education for 7 years, have a Master’s degree in Education, an undergraduate degree in Commerce as well as work and study abroad experience.
8. I read many journals relating to international education and participate in several conferences. I read Frontiers journal of study abroad, International Journal of Intercultural Education. I also participate in NASFA, FEA and CBIE conferences annually.
9. Graduate degrees are not typically required for senior leadership, as the positions emphasize practical experience of leading people, managing budgets over theory. With a PhD I could in theory be the director of international education, a faculty member or potentially dean of students. However, with a PhD I would have the most education of anyone in my division who is not a psychologist or medical doctor.
1. Coordinator of the Student Services of a Belgian university college (appr. 9000 students). In charge of a team of 22 colleagues, my job is to manage the Student Services. These contain: counseling, financial support, legal advice, catering, housing, sports, cultural activities, preventive healthcare and mobility.
ReplyDelete2. Our office reports directly to the president of the university college and a seperate board, in charge of the student services. This board contains staffmembers and students.
3. Our mission is double: 1) to eliminate barriers that prevent students to study [financial, psychological, disabilities etc.] 2) to optimize the overall conditions for students (housing, catering, sports etc.)
4. > Q 3
5. How do we manage to reach our targetgroup? Especially those students who are entitled to financial support but fail to complete te right forms. Or students who need couseling but find that the threshold is too high. We have the means to help people but the have to take the first step.
7. I hold a bachelor degree in social work. I dit “fieldwork” for 6 years before I became coordinator. So it is fair to say that in my particular case experience is valued higher than qualifications.
8. On an national level I participate in a platform where all directors/coordinators are represented. There we have regular meetings where we share best practices and do policy preparation. Sometimes I take part in a seminar or a conference.
9. Regardless of academic degrees, I think it's important that staffmembers get the opportunity to get in touch with colleagues of other students affairs en services. Best practices can be very enriching.
10. The feeling that we can make a difference foor lots of students.
Questions:
ReplyDelete1. What is your job title and what are the primary responsibilities or core functions of your job?
Director of Student Services
Responsible for a range of services supporting the student lifecycle, including student recruitment & admissions; student administration; student support services, including employability and careers, English Language teaching.
2. To which area of the university does your office report? What is the title of the person to which your office reports?
Head of professional services. The job title is "Registrar and Secretary"
3. How would you describe the overall mission or purpose of your office?
Our mission statement is "Promoting, Developing, Supporting".
4. How would you describe the overall mission or purpose of student affairs and services?
5. What are a few of the major issues or most significant challenges that you face in your job?
- joining up services (customer-centric).
- management development
- effective use of IT
6. Do you have any guiding theories, perspectives, or philosophies that you use in your work? If so, what are they and from which discipline(s)?
We are accredited by the "Investors in People" standard which is a cross-sector quality benchmark focussing on strategy/planning; business delivery and management and staff development.
7. What was your educational background and experience before starting your current position?
I have a PhD in medieval history.
8. What professional development activities, outside of formal education, do you participate in to gain knowledge and skills that assist you in your job?
I am active in a number of national and international professional networks.
9. What future career paths/professional developmental opportunities do you think could be considered for student affairs and services staff? What future career paths/professional development opportunities might be developed for those who have obtained their PhD?
In the UK a next career step for senior student affairs officers would be a post as head of university administration.
10. What is it about your work that brings you the greatest satisfaction and sense of accomplishment?
Supporting colleagues to develop and supporting students to achieve and succeed.
What else would you like to share about your experience working in student affairs and services?
Please feel free to share your professional contact information if you’d like.
Your name:
Your email:
Your institution:
1. What is your job title and what are the primary responsibilities or core functions of your job?
ReplyDeleteStudent Life Manager responsible for the operation of student services including:
Immigration procedures
Health and Safety
Housing
Student Council Advising
Extracurricular events organization
Hiring
Orientation
2. To which area of the university does your office report? What is the title of the person to which your office reports?
Our office reports to the Director of Admissions in the Admissions Office
3. How would you describe the overall mission or purpose of your office?
Student centered, our mission is to help our international students get adjusted to life in Paris. The SL office plays an important role as we are in constant contact with the students and administrators.
4. How would you describe the overall mission or purpose of student affairs and services?
Student services is without a doubt primordial to the holistic development of students therefore rendering the professionals in the field indispensable to the proper functioning of any university.
5. What are a few of the major issues or most significant challenges that you face in your job?
-Student psychological health and wellness issues.
-Creating and fostering school culture.
-Assuring housing.
6. Do you have any guiding theories, perspectives, or philosophies that you use in your work? If so, what are they and from which discipline(s)?
Yes, that learning is lifelong and it heavily depends on human interaction. Most of this has been influenced by my personal life experience and spiritual beliefs.
7. What was your educational background and experience before starting your current position?
M.A.French, Middlebury College
B.A. Spanish&Linguistics, UCLA
I had first-hand experience in international education as I studied abroad. I then taught for several years before moving to an administrative position within education.
8. What professional development activities, outside of formal education, do you participate in to gain knowledge and skills that assist you in your job?
I will be assisting my first international conference in Dublin in December. If not I find that it is challenging to seek out professional development opportunities especially working in France. I have recently purchased books for Student Affairs Administrators:
-Student Success in College: Creating Conditions that Matter
-Student Development in College: Theory, Research and Practice
9. What future career paths/professional developmental opportunities do you think could be considered for student affairs and services staff? What future career paths/professional development opportunities might be developed for those who have obtained their PhD?
My goal is to obtain a professional PhD in order to develop my expertise in International Education in order to become a Director for Study Abroad, a Dean of Student Affairs or an educational consultant for matters related to student affairs and international education.
10. What is it about your work that brings you the greatest satisfaction and sense of accomplishment?
Working with the students and realizing that you are contributing to their educational success.
What else would you like to share about your experience working in student affairs and services?
It is an amazing profession that will become more and more sought after as the world becomes increasingly international.
Please feel free to share your professional contact information if you’d like.
Your name: Eric Alvarez
Your email:eric.alvarez.perez@gmail.com
Your institution: Paris College of Art