Theme

2023-2024 Student Affairs Professional Development: Advising and Supporting

Background and Learning Outcomes

Student Affairs professionals look to our NASPA/ACPA Professional Competencies as a tool to develop and assess knowledge, skills, and dispositions important in our work towards student learning, development, and ultimate success. Professional staff and Graduate assistants throughout all functional areas focus on professional competencies identified by the institution and the division. Leadership plays an important role in setting the conditions in which competency development can take place at the individual, program, and functional level.

At the division level, a Professional Development Team made up of professional staff across the division come together to plan and develop programming to supplement these efforts. This year’s professional development focus will be on the NASPA/ACPA Professional Competency entitled Advising & Supporting. Through a series of rich and meaningful programming events, participants will strive to reach a foundational level of understanding in the selected competency.

Meeting the requirments for the programs include attendance and effective learning through an end of program questionnaire. This will result in the participants receiving a certificate of completion and an MSU Student Affairs bronze colored competency pin as they will have achieved a foundational level of knowledge and skills. 

So, what should I expect for this year’s programming?

We hope to gain knowledge and skills related to the Advising & Supporting Competency. Every month, we will plan a program trageting the learning outcomes. A facilitated discussion by our own Professional Development Team members will reinforce the ideas and concepts brought up during the programs.

Tell me more about the Advising and Supporting Competency

This competency area Addresses the knowledge, skills, and dispositions related to providing advising and support to individuals and groups through direction, feedback, critique, referral, and guidance. Through developing advising and supporting strategies that take into account self-knowledge and the needs of others, we play critical roles in advancing the holistic wellness of ourselves, our students, and our colleagues(ACPA & NASPA, 2015).


Professional Development Team

JuLeigh Baker

Health Promotion and Wellness

Ogorchukwu Johnson

Planning and Assessment

Stephen Williams

Student Leadership & Community Engagement

Andrew Rendon

Planning and Assessment

Jason Townsend

University Recreation

Amber Brown

Housing and Residence Life

Jamie Methvin

Fraternity & Sorority Life

Chantel Solis-McCoy

University Police

Kristen Mahan

Disability Resource Center

Kelsi Jamison

Disability Resource Center