I truly like this week’s reading. It is very practical and informational. It is really “from the people up.” The description of student affairs as connecting “people who need with people who care” is very appealing to me. When students enter campuses, they are in great need. At a time when students are searching for their identities and aspirations, student affairs personnel become a caring parent. It is mo surprised that students writing about their deans emphasized “their affection, compassion, and concerns for students.” The purpose for student affairs is to provide tools and avenues to every individual student to succeed. Rhatigan (2009) quoted Blackburn (1969) as follows: “It is my belief that the emphasis would be on the individuality of the student and his present needs and interests. The student should be looked upon as more than a candidate for a degree, he is an individuality that must be developed and must be trained for a life of service.” If only every student personnel could put such a statement into practice, students’ experience on campuses would be life changing or transforming. The call is to every one of us to make a difference in the lives of students. The challenge is for us to “work hard to allow colleagues years from now to glimpse this evidence of goodness.”
In the “importance of the institutional mission”, I paid special attention to the religious affiliated colleges because I am only interested in working for Seventh-day Adventist institutions. As an ordained minister, I see my work as a calling. In describing the reality of religious institutions, the author pointed out that “student affairs administrators at these institutions must be politically savvy to succeed.” With God’s help, I have no doubt that I will succeed in such environment. Both chapters describe the ideal student service professionals. In the future as a university administrator, I will use the knowledge gained to help in hiring and evaluating student affairs professionals, faculty and staff. I also believe that the knowledge gained will also help me even if I do not work closely with students. As a college or university president, I will remind faculty, staff, and administrators that our reason for being is to touch lives of students. I will even use the information learned in my current capacity as a superintendent reminding teachers and principals their true purpose for being part of the school family.
In the “importance of the institutional mission”, I paid special attention to the religious affiliated colleges because I am only interested in working for Seventh-day Adventist institutions. As an ordained minister, I see my work as a calling. In describing the reality of religious institutions, the author pointed out that “student affairs administrators at these institutions must be politically savvy to succeed.” With God’s help, I have no doubt that I will succeed in such environment. Both chapters describe the ideal student service professionals. In the future as a university administrator, I will use the knowledge gained to help in hiring and evaluating student affairs professionals, faculty and staff. I also believe that the knowledge gained will also help me even if I do not work closely with students. As a college or university president, I will remind faculty, staff, and administrators that our reason for being is to touch lives of students. I will even use the information learned in my current capacity as a superintendent reminding teachers and principals their true purpose for being part of the school family.
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