Student Development Philosophy Stephen Nabors EDU654: Student Development in Higher Education Instructor: Judith Marged March 3, 2015

Introduction Welcome New Team Members!!! In this training session, you will… Learn of some challenges that students may face making the transition to college life; Prepare strategic measures on how to identify and apply identity development theories to student cases; Understand the importance of providing a positive and supportive environment that leads to student success. HAVE FUN!!!

Our Mission The Department of Student Affairs serves students, the College, the University, and our society by contributing to the intellectual and personal development of students. It is the responsibility of the Department of Student Affairs to help students achieve the expectations and rewards that are afforded by the University. The overall objective is to use available resources, support services, academic departments and teacher reports to enhance and strengthen the educational experience for each student in their pursuit of successfully completing their desired degree program.

Achieving Our Mission Department of Student Affairs… Guides students to taking ownership of their education Assists students in defining educational goals and developing a plan to achieve their goals Teaches students to appreciate the value and benefits of their chosen studies Guides students to a sense of personal and social identity Provides accurate and accessible information to help students make informed decisions Communicates the standards of the University and ensures the meeting of those standards

Developing Individual Identity Stick with the mission (Hamrick, Evans, & Schuh 2003). Students are complex (Evans et al. 2010). – Diverse needs. – Do not get stuck. “One-size-fits-all” does not work here. Let the student convey their needs (Evans et al. 2010). – Show concern. – Build trust. Build your theoretical knowledge. – Know your theories and new trends in research. – Quality over quantity is key. Ensure relevance to your plan. Builds confidence in your recommendations.

Foundational Theories (Evans et al. 2010) Psychosocial Cognitive Structural Learning Style Examines the content of development in life stages Examines the intellectual development in the college years Examines how individuals approach learning and process information Applies proposed coping strategies How people think, reason, and make meaning of their experiences The influences on learning styles Multicultural and diversity conscious Examines interactions with peers, parents, and other adults Help students utilize more than their familiar styles of learning Notable theorists are Erik H. Erikson and Author Chickering Notable theorists are Jean Piaget, William Perry, and Lawrence Kohlberg Notable theorist David Kolb

Advisory Principles Align the mission with your planning. Make yourself available. Be a model of consistency. Always listen first. Communicate clearly and effectively. Be informed. Know your information. Develop the whole student. Continue to feed your passion. Never stop learning.

Conclusion As part of our Department of Student Affairs team, you will have the support needed to help you feel confident in the counsel you give to your students. It is important to remember that you are not alone. We provide professional training, seminars, tools, and a vast array of resources to better prepare you for dealing with our diverse population of students and your peers. It is important to remember to treat each student as an individual. Although there may be some similarities, every student is different. Take your time, listen, and get to know them individually. Knowing them first will allow you to make the appropriate applications and provide relevant advice and planning. Welcome to our team and if you are in need of any advice or help, please reach out to me. Stephen Nabors Department of Student Affairs Tisch Hall (734) ext. 2257

References Evans, N. J., Forney, D. S., Guido, F. M., Patton, L. D., & Renn, K. A. (2010). Student development in college: Theory, research, and practice (2nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Hamrick, F.A., Evans, N.J., & Schuh, J.H. (2003). Foundations of Student Affairs Practice: How Philosophy, Theory, and Research Strengthen Educational Outcomes. Jossey-Bass. Retrieved from