In the category of human relations, multicultural sensitivity, teamwork, and active listening are deemed important.
Slide # 6. The Issues We Face (Common Issues in Multicultural Affairs)
Professionals within multicultural affairs are faced with various issues that fall categorically in the areas of racial identity, and ethnicity, LGBT, religion, and student disability ("Bias incidents," n.d., para. 1; Flowers, L, 2003, Contents, Section 2). Issues that permeate all categories include, harassment, bias incidents and hate crimes.
1. Racial Identity and Ethnicity -- culture clashes, racial tension, bias incidents
2. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Issues- homophobia, bias incidents, harassment,
3. Religion- preferential treatment/discrimination, religious discourses
4. Student Disability-harassment, learning obstacles (e.g. communication, in the science laboratory)
Slide # 7.Professional organizations that support Multicultural Affairs
Professional organizations that support Multicultural Affairs can be varied and focus on one of the following areas/issues ("Multicultural Professional," n.d., para. 1):
1. Racial, ethnic or international -- e.g. cultural minority associations/councils; ethnic professionals associations/societies
2. Women- e.g. women professionals associations, sororities
3. Disability- e.g. professionals with disabilities associations, disability foundations
4. Sexual Orientation -- e.g. gay and lesbian professionals associations/organizations
Slide # 8. How Technology Helps (Technology Utilization in Multicultural Affairs)
Media and computers growingly mediate interpersonal interactions in student affairs. Barret (2003) discusses the many ways that technology can be infused in student affairs practices. In general, it, when used appropriately can benefit student affairs in three ways: (1) to improve efficiency of current practices; (2) to redesign and improve effectiveness of practices; and (3) to facilitate student development and learning in new ways (Barrett, 2003, pp. 393-394).
Computers/Digital Media can be used (Barrett, 2003, pp. 380-390; Burkard et al., 2005, p. 301):
1. For storing and retrieving information
2. To improve efficiency (especially of redundant activities such as data entry, correspondence, communication,...
To enhance partnerships with other campus offices
4. To create web sites
5. To run instructional software (for leadership classes, training programs, etc.)
6. For distance education services
7. For student recruitment, career planning, and placement
PDA and handhelds (Barrett, 2003, p. 392):
Because of the connectivity of these gadgets, they can be used:
1. To synchronize activities and appointments
2. upload files
3. update information (e.g. student addresses and other contact information)
Slides # 9 & 10. References
1. A complex mission (n.d.). In Mission of the Office for Multicultural Affairs. Retrieved Sept. 17, 2009, from http://www.calvin.edu/admin/provost/multicultural/mission.htm
2. Barrett, W. (2003). Information technology in student affairs. In S.R. Komives, & D.B. Woodard, Jr. (Eds.), Student services: A handbook for the profession (4th ed., pp. 379 -- 396). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Retrieved Sept. 17, 2009, from http://www.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=l9eUK5qBWlgC&oi=fnd&pg=PR15&dq=Information+Technology+in+student+services&ots=XLg6zWzMn7&sig=PDlwDD-i_VQAKMGa_9e1wzh1lUU#v=onepage&q=Information%20Technology%20in%20student%20services&f=false
3. Basic Job Qualifications (n.d.). Retrieved Sept. 17, 2009, from http://maf.dept.uncg.edu/docs/OMAassistant.pdf
4. Bias Incident/Hate Crime. Retrieved Sept. 19, 2009, from http://www.rwu.edu/about/administration/publicsafety/biashatecrime/
5. Burkard, a., Cole, D., Ott, M., and Stoflet, T (2005). Entry-Level Competencies of New Student Affairs Professionals: A Delphi Study. NASPA Journal, 42, 283-309. Retrieved Sept. 17,2009 from http://publications.naspa.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1509&context=naspajournal
6. Flowers, L. (2003). Case Studies. In Diversity Issues n American Colleges and Universities, xix-xxx. (e-book version). Retrieved Sept. 19, 2009, from http://www.ccthomas.com/ebooks/9780398074500.pdf
7. Goals (n.d.). Retrieved Sept. 17, 2009, from http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/multicultural/aboutus/index.php
8. Multicultural Professional Scientific Organizations (n.d.). Retrieved Sept. 18, 2009, from http://www.esf.edu/students/multicultural/prorganizations.htm
