Student affairs professionals: roles and responsibilities

SAP

Do you feel that the task is somewhat overwhelming or is it possible for student affairs professionals to take up this mantle of responsibility on a daily basis?

Student affairs professionals do have the capacity to carry out their duties on a daily basis. However, it is imperative that these professionals are organized in their approach and appropriately trained. According to Colby et al. (2003), student affairs professionals must make a concerted effort to assists students from the very first time that they come in contact with the school. Professionals must make students aware of the extracurricular activities available to them and the ways in which they can get involved on campus and in the surrounding community. The type of relationship that student affairs professional have with students begins with campus tours. These tours often leave an important first impression with students.

Beyond this first impression student affairs professionals must also make a concerted effort to reach out to students once they become a part of the university community. Reaching out to students requires several different elements including emails, announcements and other forms of communication. As it pertains to emails students should be sent email correspondence a few days before the event actually occurs. Such correspondence allows them time to adjust their schedules so that they can attend the function. Likewise announcements are also an important form of communication that can greatly assist students in becoming more involved in campus life. Such announcements should be placed on bulletin boards in dorms and other high traffic areas. Although communicating with students in this manner does require a great deal of work, it is not an impossible endeavor.

b. What welcomes undergraduates to this agenda and what, perhaps, hinders their acceptance of this function of American higher education?

Undergraduates are welcomed to the agenda when they are encouraged by student affairs professionals to get involved in campus activities and in community activities. According to Colby et al. (2003), community service projects are of particular importance in most campus organizations. Some students may not be as familiar with the importance of community service and the vital role that volunteers play in the context of the community. Making students aware of this particular agenda is vitally important as it informs the manner in which they react to opportunities associated with community service. To this end professionals must be sure to inform students of the benefits associated with community service and other types of community involvement.