CSSA Blog @ Oregon State University

My apologies if you’ve stumbled across the CSSA blog in recent weeks! The second-year cohort is caught up in thesis and portfolio work, as well as the ever-so-entertaining job search. Spring term also sees the arrival of another wave of conference season, with classmates attending NACADA, NASPA, and various other conferences all across the country.

On my end of things, I’m happy to report that after over twenty applications to schools up and down the West Coast, I was hired on as an academic advisor at Clark College, a two-year institution in Vancouver, WA. I will be finishing up my courses as a part-time commuter student while starting my position several days after I defend my capstone portfolio. Things are cuh-razy ’round here, and that’s leaving out the fact that it snowed all day yesterday in Corvallis.

The program also just notified candidates for the CSSA Cohort 2012 of their admission. So far, I’ve been pretty pleased to hear who’s going to be a part of the first-year cohort in the fall. I have several friends who have already been doing outstanding work in the field, and I am looking forward to their growth in student affairs.

Now, since I have a portfolio to tend to, I must be going. However, if you are a prospective CSSA candidate, feel free to hop on over to ardithlaverne.com to check out how my portfolio is progressing. (Or I suppose if you’re a current student and thinking about the blog format for your portfolio, you can check it out, too!)

Remember, if you have any questions, send ‘em our way!

As the year came to an end and I found myself no longer a “first year,” I struggled with understanding what that really means. I spoke to a few of my fellow cohort members to get a sense of what they thought. It seemed that no one really knew. It should mean I am wiser and more prepared for student affairs, but in fact, I think that there is now more that I want to learn and experience before going into the profession. This realization motivates me to take on more challenges next year so that I come away from the program a truly competent professional.

I reflected on what drew me to this program. What I love is how much flexibility and freedom we have in creating our program plan. For my internships and projects, I have tried to take on roles that are completely different from anything I have experienced before so that I can expand my horizon and knowledge of the field.

This summer I am interning at Linfield College in McMinnville. I love it! I am in Resident Life working on learning outcomes and assessment for their Resident Assistant Orientation. Housing is not one of my interest areas, but it’s an area that I wanted to dip my foot into at least once during CSSA. I am finding that there are some similarities between housing and student events and activities, the area of what my assistantship. This experience has connected me with other young professionals, who are just as passionate and in the same position of learning. One housing staff member is completing a similar student affairs program through a Florida University. Going over our views of students, the new generation, and the nature of the student affairs professional, I realized that there are many more similarities in the issues of a small private college and a large public institution that I had originally thought. My view of student affairs broadened considerably.

As the second year of CSSA starts, some of what I plan on being involved with include: the CAPS Advisory Board, U-Engage, interning at LBCC, presenting and working on the Diversity Summit, and of course, continue to dedicate my efforts to Student Leadership & Involvement. This will give me the variety I want, while also allowing me to do some of the same work from the first year.

Most of all, I look forward to reconnecting with my cohort (I miss you all!) and starting this second year. I hope it is even better than the first!

-Yuliya Dennis

I promised myself I wouldn’t let the CSSA blog lapse. However, there was this little thing called “I got sick for about two months and then all of a sudden it was the end of spring term and oh my God I’m leaving the country two days after that term ends.”

Let’s recap what happened in March-June really quickly.

• NASPA Conference in Philadelphia, PA! I was conveniently sick the entire time, but I still managed to have fun, network, and learn a lot more about the field I’m going into. I helped out with the International Education Knowledge Community’s International Symposium, as well, so I got to interact with professionals working in countries like Qatar, Germany, Spain, Lithuania, and beyond. Met a lot of really great #sagrads and had a hilariously awesome moment with Dean Mamta Accapadi at a Tweet-up. For the record, I do not believe that Dunkin Donuts is better than Starbucks.
• Spring Break! I was supposed to join the Community Service Center and fellow cohortmate, Courtney, on the Alternative Spring Break trip to Yakima, WA. However, I was so sick by that point that the most I could do was drive to Wenatchee, WA and lie on my mother’s couch for days. I’m still not sure how I made that drive because not only was it 7 hours, it was dark and dumping rain the entire time. Not my most brilliant moment in time.
• Spring Term. Theory II, Multicultural Issues, Organizational Architecture, and… Balletsport. I topped off the class list with two internships, one with IDEA working on curriculum integration documents and development, and another with the College of Business to develop a users’ guide for LinkedIn and also to evaluate Chatter.com for usability.
• Lots of events! University Honors College held its annual Mom’s Weekend Brunch & Talent Show, as well as several closing events to honor (no pun intended) the graduating seniors. Other things that happened? Well, Nick and I piloted the first Real Talk session, which is like a fireside chat. We advertised it as a “Come and ask us anything” event, and for competing with sunshine and the spring fashion show, I was happy with the turn-out. I also attended MUPC’s Battle of the Bands (briefly), and I was very impressed with the stage set-up. Anyone ever been to Warped? It was like that–two stages side-by-side, so one band can perform and the next can soundcheck during the other band’s set. It’s great for timing and seamlessness. Well done, MUPC.

Now, I’m working on a short-term internship with a friend and fellow student affairs grad from Colorado State University. She’s in the SAHE program there, and it’s cool to collaborate with someone from another student affairs Master’s program. Oh, and we’re doing our internship at the University of the West Indies at St. Augustine. It’s been interesting learning more about the university, the different services offered, and the culture of Trinidad and Tobago. At the end of this week, we will be attending the CTLPA conference which is like the annual ACPA or NASPA conferences, just for the Caribbean.

Hope this finds you well and that summer is being kind!

Hello, hello.

It has been a doozy of a term for me. Without getting into the particulars, let’s just say I had a major life event that essentially took me out of Corvallis for a few weeks. I’ve spent the last few weeks of the term trying to regain my footing, but I’m happy to say that I’ve made it through with the awesome support of staff and my friends here in Corvallis.

Getting my bearings back includes taking a lot of time to do my own thing. I’ve been in Fort Collins, CO as well as Los Angeles, CA, seeing friends and making new friends–and even doing a little bit of student affairs networking. I’m leaving for the national NASPA conference this Friday, and I hope to connect with some of the faces I saw out at CSU while we’re all in Philadelphia.

While I was out of town, I was able to Skype into one of my classes and listen in to lecture. I was pretty stoked about the chance to do this, as CSSA’s flexibility in accommodating life’s hiccups was one of its big draws for me, back when I was interviewing. It was nice to see my classmates’ faces again, even though it was through a tiny computer screen.

Speaking of technology, however, there is something new and exciting that’s come up in my student affairs-related life. Higher Ed Live has just launched a brand new show–a webcast, to be exact–hosted by CSSA alum, Eric Stoller. I’m acting as a production assistant now, which essentially means I Tweet like CRAZY while the show airs. You can follow the action on most Wednesdays, 1PM PST / 4PM EST, on Higher Ed Live’s website and through the Twitter page. It’s kind of neat, and it’s a cool example of how social media can be utilized by those of us in student affairs. We just had our first broadcast today.

That’s about it for today. With winter term wrapping up, there’s a lot of work to be done!

I’m a bit late to the “Congratuations, first-years! We survived the first term!” party boat, but the sentiment remains the same. As it is, we’re almost halfway through the second term here, which is an accomplishment of which to be proud.

What’s my journey been like so far? Bumpy, at worst. However, at best, it’s one of those “Oh my goodness, I was meant to be here for a reason” type journeys.

I’m in the midst of what is called a “quarter-life crisis.” I’m in my mid-twenties, trying to reorient myself on a new path in life, all the while dealing with the pressures of every day life. It’s a real challenge, not a buzzword made up by some lazy Generation Y folks to explain why they were living in their parents’ basements. Have a look for yourself; the New York Times published an article called What is it About 20-Somethings? and quite a few parts of it ring true. (If you’re wanting to read more about this QLC of mine, though, I recommend you pop on over to Trains & Sunsets. That’s my person blog/diary/portfolio-in-the-making.)

Anyway, what I was saying is that joining CSSA was a step in the right direction for me. I finally have found a field I’m passionate about. One of my biggest pushes towards personal balance is making sure what I do as a job fits with me as a person, and I have a feeling that student affairs may fulfill that.

It’s not to say that pursuing a Master’s is easy, though. There are the odd assistantship hours, the evening classes, the I’m-hungry-but-I-forgot-to-go-grocery-shopping days, and the challenge of finding time to hit the gym and have a social life. However, in a way, what I do is teaching college students how to find their paths in life and their own personal balance– what kind of teacher would I be if I didn’t lead by example, in this case?

Overall, there is quite a bit I’ve learned in only one term and a half; I’m still looking forward to what the next year and a half or so will bring. In the meantime, stay tuned…

I have been enjoying my summer in Corvallis and working for New Student Programs & Family Outreach in orientation. The time has been flying by and I thought since this second year will probably be done before I know it, I should share my reflections about my first year in the CSSA program.

My first term at OSU was a bit rough. I had just returned from serving in the Peace Corps in Bolivia that summer and the pace of life there is…well, a lot slower. It was quite an adjustment to go from no deadlines and the “always tomorrow” mentality, to having papers due, going to class (and having to arrive on time), multi-tasking, learning all the new multi-media outlets (I thought Twitter was something birds do), using a planner, answering emails, etc. I knew  grad school was going to be challenging the first term not only because I had lived in a third world country for two years before, but I also hadn’t been in school for a few years, so reading textbooks and writing papers were a thing of the past. I was a bit anxious the first few weeks and definitely overwhelmed…but in the end, I passed all of my classes, made some friends, got comfortable in my assistantship, and found out that Twitter is a social networking site. What I learned my first term is that I don’t have as much time as I thought I would…the ceramics class I had signed up for through the Craft Center was a good idea at first, but by week five I was lucky if I made it to class. I also was a conversant partner through the English Language Institute which was fun, but hard to find the time to meet with my partner. I also barely exercised which definitely increased my stress level.

Winter term I decided to put myself first. I took a 1-credit yoga PAC class (physical activity class) and LOVED IT! It really helped me put at least two hours a week of focus on myself and by the end of class I felt so much healthier and calm. I also started saying no. There are so many ways to get involved in student affairs at OSU and although this is fabulous, if you go to everything it is exhausting. So, I decided to prioritize what I went to and didn’t feel guilty any more if I couldn’t make it to something. I attribute my yoga class and extra effort in putting myself first as the reasons why I loved winter term. I also started getting up and going to bed at the same time each day and usually got at least 7 hours of sleep…sleep is essential to productivity!

Spring term was busy because I had an internship, theory class, my assistantship picked up in order to prepare for summer orientation, and I had to travel a few times for conferences and a family engagement. I took yoga this term as well and started using Dixon rec consistently which definitely helped me manage what life threw my way! Another task that takes place spring term is the Mid Program Review which I didn’t really know too much about until a month or so before. It isn’t really stressful, but you should definitely think about it early spring (if not sooner). Ask second years about it if you have questions.

So, what I learned from my first year is that some things are out of my control and that is okay. It is good to be flexible and make time for yourself. Take a PAC class (it doesn’t have to be yoga) and don’t over extend yourself. Be sure to manage your time, I think that is the key ingredient to being successful in this program. Also, ask questions and hopefully us second years will have the answers!!!

Last year, as I wrote a few items for the CSSA blog, I expected to start the program with the 2008 cohort, but I didn’t. I ended up having to defer school for medical reasons and now I am back to start CSSA in the 2009 cohort, better than new!

Over the last two weekends I participated in an excellent professional development opportunity: Team Liberation facilitator training. When I applied for the training I knew I would learn about group facilitation, learn some new stuff about myself and meet some great people–I just didn’t realize how much I would learn! In four days we covered communication styles, the power of language and hospitality, how to affect optimum cross cultural communication, and more.  I got to practice group facilitating and participate in several more group exercises to learn how to achieve desired outcomes from specific activities. It was fun and I’ve come away with new insight and more confidence about where I’m going. 

I can’t describe Team Liberation better than the Team Liberation Web site. It’s an excellent student-run resource on the OSU campus and everyone should know about it.  Please take a minute to learn about it by clicking here.

Enjoy~
Mary

Well, may the recent inactivity of the CSSA Blog demonstrate the sheer business of the Winter Term, for both the first year, second year, and part-time cohorts!  On my part, I blame my absence on the perfect storm: portfolio, legal issues, conferences, and the job search.

I would like to share with all of you my experiences attending the Association for Student Judicial Affairs annual conference in February. I received the ASJA Bracewell Conference Internship, which meant not only did I get to attend the conference in Florida for free, but I got to work alongside important leaders in my functional area in organizing and facilitating a 600-person conference. I assisted with registration, the conference evaluations assessments, volunteer training, and, of course, “other duties as assigned.” I am very grateful to the ASJA association for providing funding and opportunities for graduate students to attend conferences, which is not usually part of my GTA budget. I left the conference not only with an increased awareness of emerging trends in student conduct and best practices in responding to campus concerns, but established contacts with professionals and colleagues in my field. After attending the conference, I would recommend graduate students join professional associations – both the large and broad like NASPA and the narrower functional area-specific associations like ASJA or NODA – sooner than later.

It was apparent to me, however, that professional associations are not immune from the current state of our economy. Attending a conference can be very expensive – the airfare, hotel, per diem, and registration fees… it adds up. Most professionals at the conference reported next year their office will be unable to contribute any funds towards professional development, which is unfortunate given the need for us all to stay current on campus climate issues and students. I think professional associations, both the broad and specific, are challenged now to create more cost-effective and accessible professional development opportunities that do not require airfare. I predict we will see see an increase in regional conferences, webinars, online courses, and publications for download on professional development websites as fewer institutions are able to provide professional development funds.

While hopefully the education component of a professional association can continue despite economic hardships, I feel what will be missed most are those opportunities to connect and share with colleagues across the nation. For me, I loved being around people who got what I do. Student conduct can be a lonely, misunderstood job sometimes; let’s face it, the students do not always want to hug you after meeting with you and some colleagues find the work to be rather unappealing (which is why people like me exist who love it). It was really unique to be with people who could relate to the experience of enforcing campus policies, laugh with you about the funny incidents that occasionally happen on campus, and be part of important conversations about the transforming changes coming to our functional area. I think there is absolute merit in establishing yourself within an association and maintaining those relationships. Some professional I met had been to every ASJA conference since it started 21 years ago!

For those of you attending NASPA in Seattle (how lucky are we that it is so close this year?), my word of advice is to attend the social functions, participate in the concurrent session discussions and case studies (not because you want to “win” but to learn), take interest in other people and their institutions, and aim to build connections beyond just to find a job (though it cannot hurt). Seek out authentic relationships with your colleagues. If you are going with friends or peers, try to reach out to graduate students and new professionals who came alone from their institutions. I think taking active measures to make connections will improve your conference attendance experience.

A big congratulations is in order for the CSSA 2008 Cohort for making it through their first term of CSSA!  You all should be proud of what you accomplished and curious and excited for what you will undoubtedly accomplish next.

If I could give you one piece of advice it would be to not squander this winter break!  Catch up with friends, read the fourth-grade-reading-level books that have been collecting dust on your shelf, sleep, enjoy a few moments of non-responsibility, and store some energy for next term.  I know many of you feel like you have to make big decisions rightthissecond about your area of specialization/minor or whether to do a thesis or portfolio, but take time to connect back with yourself before you try to make any choices. I believe if you do, your decisions will better reflect who you are and what you really want to do with your time here.

I spent my last winter break trying to get ahead in the reading for my winter classes (who was I kidding?) and pouring over the OSU course catalog.  If only I knew I would be spending this upcoming break, my second year winter break, toiling away on my portfolio, I would have cut myself some slack last year and said “I’m going to enjoy this while it lasts!”

I wish you all a very relaxing break and I hope it can be spent with loved ones and friends.  Take care of yourself and take care of each other –  BQH

I am nearing finals week in my first term as a CSSAer.  This has been an incredible few months.  I have learned an incredible amount of information not only about student affairs, but about myself.  In addition, this term has thrust me into this deep search to find a purpose within this field.

I’d like to share with everyone, a recent source of inspiration I’ve found while writing my final history paper for Dr. Frost’s History of Higher Education course.  The topic is the History of the Multicultural Competency in our CSSA program. I have spoken to many of those involved with the process I have been impressed by what asking a question can start.  The four students that took the reigns on creating the competency and seeing it through have made a big impact.  Even bigger than they know.  Now, anyone who goes through the program can fully understand how important it is for a student affairs professional, or really just a citizen of the world, to pay attention to all aspects of a student’s identity. It is an incredibly empowering story. I hope that when I am done I can tell others about how this competency was created and they will see the power of courage, passion and hard work.

Soapbox thought of the day:

Our dreams are often stunted by fear of failure, but if you believe in yourself, and the potential for positive change, there is nothing that you can’t do.

To conclude, I’m very pleased with this program and support that I’ve found in the faculty, my cohort and the second years (especially my 2nd year mentor), my GTA supervisor, and many others that I’ve been supported by along the way.  This has been truly amazing, and I can’t wait to begin my next term.