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Professional Development Plan

Higher education and student affairs is ever-evolving. As such, it is essential that student affairs professionals continue to obtain knowledge related to a variety of topics. To ensure I am able to do so as a new professional, I have crafted a three-year professional knowledge development plan outlined below.

Grant Writing

Funding in higher education coming less from federal and state dollars, so it is imperative to learn new ways to obtain funding. As such, developing this area will help me to obtain funding to continue supporting the work that I will do with the students I advise, supervise, and educate.

Year 1

  • Review http://grantspace.org/ and sign-up for regular updates on grant opportunities in education

  • Meet with at least two individuals at my new institution who have successfully submitted grant proposals and discuss their process

Year 2

Year 3

  • Read “Grant Writing in Higher Education: A Step-by-Step Guide” by Kenneth T. Henson

  • Identify an area for which a grant should be written and craft my first proposal. Have the proposal peer-reviewed and submit it

Career Advising

There continues to be emphasis placed on job attainment after graduation, so learning to support students in this way is important. If I am able to learn more about this area, I can begin guiding students in their career exploration while also advising them in other contexts.

Year 1

  • Subscribe to the Career Convergence Web Magazine and read one article per month

  • Attend ACPA 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts and go to at least three sessions related to career development or career advising

Year 2

  • Explore https://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sp/home_page and attend at least two webinars provided by the organization

  • Collaborate with a career advisor on a program for my students, discussing best practices for advising students in their career pursuits

Year 3

  • Read “Career Advising: An Academic Advisor’s Guide” by Virginia N. Gordon

  • Complete the National Career Development Association’s Facilitating Career Development Training

Mental Health

Students will continue to enter college with a variety of identities. One of these for students is likely to be one related to a mental health concern. In order to be prepared and aware of such issues, I will need to learn more about the various types of mental health concerns and resources and supports to help students manage those.

Year 1

  • Review the Jed Foundation website and review the “Campus Mental Health Action Planning” document

  • Join NASPA’s Mental Health focus area and review resources posted. Select two specific resources to read

Year 2

  • Meet with a member of the counseling staff at my institution to talk about mental health trends and to identify ways I can increase my knowledge to better serve and support students at that institution

  • Review the American College Health Association webpage (http://www.acha.org/ACHA/Resources/Topics/MentalHealth.aspx) and identify three resources to read, watch, or review

Year 3

  • Review the Educational Advisory Board Mental Health and Counseling website. Identify one article or forum to read per month

  • Collaborate with accessibility services, counselors, and related offices to develop a training for my department regarding supporting students with various mental health concerns

Enrollment Management

Enrollment is ever-changing and different student populations continue to enter college. Enrollment management practices generally and in my specific institution will be important to learn as I consider how and why students are or are not receiving access. Additionally, if I decide to pursue a career in admissions or enrollment management, this knowledge will be essential for success.

Year 1

  • Join the Educational Advisory Board and explore forums related to enrollment management. Identify and read one article a month

  • Meet with one admission counselor and one enrollment management officer to talk about trends in enrollment management and current institutional strategies

Year 2

Year 3

Assessment, Evaluation, & Research

Institutional leaders are continuing to be asked about the proof for the outcomes of the work their divisions are doing. As such, it is important that I continue to grow in this area to better design assessment processes and learn to craft my own research to discover effective (and ineffective) practices and supports for differing student populations. 

Year 1

  • Attend ACPA 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts and go to at least three sessions related to research and assessment

  • Review all notes and assignments from EDFI 6020: Research in Education to refresh my memory of various research processes

Year 2

  • Purchase and read “Negotiating the Complexities of Qualitative Research in Higher Education: Fundamental Elements and Issues” by Jan Arminio, Susan R. Jones, and Vasti Torres

  • Join the assessment and evaluation committee at the departmental, divisional, or institutional level and read about institutional practices of assessment, evaluation, and research

Year 3

  • Attend the Assessment Institute 2020 hosted at IUPUI on October 25-27, 2020 (Information available here: http://assessmentinstitute.iupui.edu/overview/future.html)

  • Identify a specific topic that I want to research and develop a research plan and identify a potential partner or two for the research

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