Graduate Student Affairs: Fostering Student learning

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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

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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.

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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.

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Interaction between academic and student affairs
in some institutions
Gap
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Collaborative interaction
Area of collaboration
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• 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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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Principles of good practice for student affairs,
cont.

1. Uses resources effectively to achieve
   institutional missions and goals.
2. Forges educational partnerships that advance
   student learning.
3. Builds supportive and inclusive communities

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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

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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 institutions
  mission.
• Encourage student involvement.

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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.

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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.

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Thanks for your time