MY VIEW OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

What is student affairs?  For many of us this word means something differently to all of us.  My perspective of student affairs is a department that is combined of different programs to help students succeed during their college life.  Without this department many students would probably come to college, go to classes, possibly get a degree or drop out.  This department has changed over the years but has maintained their focus on the whole student.  A student affairs professional believes in developing the entire persons mind, body, and intellect.  We want students to enjoy college life during and after graduation.   I believe it is important for us to realize that as CSD professionals we have the impact to change someone’s college experience into a positive one where they are constantly learning in the classroom and outside of the classroom.

We created as a class on our Pinterest board many pins that represented how we felt about the field of student affairs.  Collectively I have seen many pins that represent college life, financial issues, crisis management problems, student dropout rates, psychological and mental issues that many college scholars encounter today, and hundreds of other pins that represent the field of student affairs.  There are quotes on how to stay positive in this field as well as advice on how to be a good mentor to students that we will be working with.  It is amazing to see over 300 pins on our student affairs board alone.  It proves just how passionate many of us feel about this department.  My favorite pin I found throughout this Pinterest board is a quote from Benjamin Franklin.  It states, “Tell me and I forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”   I love this quote because it reminds me of how so many of us learn so differently.  The student’s points of view from 1937 and 1947 incorporate that students need that involvement in college.  Social development is as important as a student intellect, and one should not be more important than the other.  Another one of my favorite pins states that “leadership is not just a position or title, it is action and example.”  I agree as with any profession you should lead by example.  When working with students I feel this is so important because you are a mentor for many of them.  From the student personnel leadership/followership, counseling and advising became an important part of student affairs in the mid nineteen hundreds, without these services many students would not be able to get the help they needed to become successful in their college life.

Today, I believe student affairs have become such a stronger field.  I definitely agree with Kate that social media has strongly impacted this growth.  Many students’ uses all types of social media to let professionals know what is going on from their point of view.  This is so important when creating programs for students.  We need programs that students will appreciate and help them with the issues that they are encountering while they are in college.   It helps us create programs in which they can enjoy and help them become better students.   I found it was amazing that when colleges first emerged it only served white rich males to now serving all races with all social economic backgrounds.  Also, years ago programs weren’t available for students with disabilities or students struggling with mental issues.  I am happy to be part of a field that not only help students with these issues, but is a part of a field that  help students enjoy, learn , and succeed while they are in college.

VAMECA WHEELER-BALLENGER