Tag Archive for: instructor-jaimie.hoffman

The disconnect between the divisions of student affairs and academic affairs remains present in our higher education institutions. I had just been told by a colleague that they were approached by a faculty member who expressed frustration at why there are part time faculty and full time student affairs professional while sharing that he feels it should be switched. Saying this to a full time student affairs professional it may be intimidating because after all, this is your livelihood, your passion, and your drive. Just as the article “Campus Chasm” by Gwen Dungy (2011) stated:

…it’s time to stop saying our programs complement the teaching and learning that occurs in the classroom when too many campuses student affairs has no relationship with the faculty and no idea about the student’s experience in the classroom.

We remain in our bubble and remain segregated because it feels familiar and without challenging ourselves to think critically it makes perfect sense to stay there however if we stay we are refusing progress in our field. The university experience is all encompassing but the students are ultimately here for a reason, to get a degree. It is our responsibility to work together and make sure we, as student affairs professionals, learn about academic affairs and embrace the experience student’s are getting inside the classroom. We need to make an effort to sit on committees where faculty members are present, partner with faculty members within our residence halls, share our programmatic efforts with faculty in hopes to connect with one of their passion areas, and so on. We say we are passionate about education, let’s prove it.

References

Dungy, G. (2011). Campus Chasm. Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2011/12/23/essay-lack-understanding-between-academic-and-student-affairs

I have over five years of experience working with an Academic Senate, which has provided me great insight as to what I feel is an effective way to influence policy and practice at an institution.  If I was a recently appointed President at an institution, charged with creating an Academic Senate, I would opt to develop a Functional Senate.  According to Minor (2004), a functional senate “primarily operate[s] to represent and protect the interest of faculty in university decision making…The senate membership is elected and representative, usually acting through a faculty-led executive committee…The senate usually maintain[s] authority in areas that are traditionally the domain of the faculty such as curriculum, promotion, tenure, and academic standards…functional senates are not particularly assertive and usually do not set their own agenda.  Instead, they respond to the initiatives and actions of the administration or issues that arise from the environment” (p. 348-349).  Through my work with the UCLA Academic Senate, I had great exposure to the operations of a functional senate.  This Senate was able to create a true, united, voice of the faculty.  While the Senate was not always a favorite of the administration, I believe that their input was always respected.  I believe the pure operations of a functional senate provides the foundation for success; while other senate models (e.g. Influential Senates, Ceremonial Senates, and Subverted Senates) may only provide either a controversial or symbolic voice that is never actually heard.  With a functional senate, the faculty is given the opportunity to make a true contribution and this contribution is vital to the success of an institution of higher education.

What am I leaving behind, what is my internet footprint?  In an ideal world – if my name were Googled, it would take internet users to my photo, my career, and a list of hobbies.  In reality, when you Google “Alison Potter” a child psychiatrist from Berkeley, CA is the first match.

To me, creating a digital identity is to create a positive reflection of myself for the whole world to see.  A place where I could send people to get some insight to me life.  Something to be proud of, something in which you don’t fear potential employers, friends, co-workers, or mother-in-laws digging up any dirt.

Having to be raised in Mexico under a very conservative family, image was always something we are women had to take care of at all times. It was devastating if people would be negatively gossiping about you or your family in any way; therefore, keeping a good reputation has always been important to me.

Creating a digital identity is simply a way to expose my knowledge to the public. I have always been a true believer that any great opportunity that comes along your way needs to be considered and taking a chance for. When I think about creating an image digitally, I think about opportunities. What would be necessary to include for maybe employers to consider me to be part of their organization?

It also comes hand-in-hand with a huge responsibility, of maintaining an excellent image regardless of the situation or purpose.