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The purpose of set of Professional Competencies Areas is to "define the broad professional knowledge, skills, and, in some cases, attitudes expected of student affairs professionals regardless of their area of specialization or positional role within the field. All student affairs professionals should be able to demonstrate their ability to meet the basic list of outcomes under each competency area regardless of how they entered the profession" (NASPA/ACPA Joint Publication, 2015). The list of these ten Professional Competencies Areas and the following content below are my self-assessment and strategies to enhance my knowledge and skills for them. I will continue improving myself through professional development.
Competency       Assessment         Evidence
Enhancement
Strategies
Anchor 1

Personal and Ethical Foundations (PEF)

 

This competency emphasizes the awareness and understanding of one's values and beliefs, especially as related to professional codes of ethics and holistic development. This competency is essential for my entire professional studies and work because both personal and ethical foundations need to be developed aligning each other through a process of objective reflection, self-authorship, and environmental modeling.

Intermediate

  • I have reviewed the ACPA and CAS ethical statements and standards.

  • After taking American College Student course, I explored my personal foundations by reviewing what I have learned, which helped me become more aware of my beliefs and ethical codes.

  • To ensure the ethical concerns when begining the research about international student mental health, I submitted the IRB application for review of human participants research and got approved to proceed the research. It is important to be aware of others ethics.

  • I will continue to improve and practice my personal code of ethics and make sure it is consistent with the institutional code and the professional ethical standards as well.

Anchor 2

Values, Philosophy, and History (VPH)

 

This competency ensures one's current and future practices are based on a critical understanding of the history, philosophy, and values. In order to grow my present and future profession firmly, I need to connect with the history, philosophy, and values of the student affairs profession to build up my commitment.

Basic

  • I have assessed and started to develop my personal philosophy on student affairs, and it helped me to build up my later understanding of student affairs profession.

  • I have read the statement "A Perspective on Student Affairs, 1987" for the 50th anniversary commemoration of the 1937 Student Personnel Point of View. It provides me a good understanding of student affairs with connecting the origin of student affairs. 

  • I will continue to improve my understanding of values, philosophy, and history so that I can identify and incorporate emerging values of the profession into my own professional practice. 

Anchor 3

Assessment, Evaluation, and Research (AER)

 

This competency requires one to have the knowledge and skills of assessment, evaluation, and research to take initiative actions and improve the effectiveness of professional work. I have gained lots of benefit and gotten more need in utilizing this competency in my current and future profession. AER are definitely a helpful method to enhance higher education in many aspects.

Intermediate

  • I have taken CSP 6123 Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education course and developed an assessment plan for Global Connect program and a following implementation plan.

  • I have taken CSP 6113 Research Design and Analysis course and been able to interpret, analyze, evaluate research in professional journals.

  • I, as the leader, designed and conducted a research about Mental Health Awareness, need and Use of Counseling Services for International Students at Arkansas Tech University and presented the research at ATU Graduate Student Symposium in March 2016 and Higher Education Diversity Summit in Denver, CO in April 2016. 

  • I will continue to improve my assessment and evaluation skill through improving the effectiveness of programs and functions of the office. 

  • I will continue to improve my research skill by participating in scholar activities, such as professional conferenecs, initiating new programs, and learning updated information within higher education.  

Anchor 4

Law, Policy, and Governance (LPG)

 

This competency requires the knowledge, skills and outlook of legal issues in various aspects within higher education. I need to develop the LPG cometency at different levels, which can be narrow as the office policy or broad as international context and predicted trend. This cometency also helps me to ensure the safety and justice for myself and others as well.

Basic

  • I have taken CSP 6053 Legal Issues for Professionals in College Student Personnel and well understood popular legal topics through weekly discussions.

  • The study group I was with in CSP 6053 course wrote and analyzed a legal case involving with issues of Greek Life, Student Conduct, and Counseling Services.

  • I represented the student body as the Senator of SGA in Student Services Conduct Board during fall 2013 and spring 2014.

  • I will continue to keep myself updated on legal trends and be aware of foreseeable legal issues at work.

  • I will learn and ensure policies developed by the department, instituion,  the state, and the federal level.

Anchor 5
Anchor 6

Organizational and Human Resources (OHR)

 

This competency includes abilities to generate human resources and to supervise and motivate others. It is a very practical and useful competency at professional work to develop strategies for office effectiveness, staff retention, individual and group development, and successful management. As I will be gaining more responsibilites, I need more knowledge and skills of OHR in my career.

Basic

  • I have taken CSP 6143 Administration in College Student Personnel course and been able to understand mission statements, organizational structure, supervisory theories, hiring process, budgeting, and program proposal in higher education. 

  • The study group I was with in CSP 6143 course completed a presentation about staff retention for student affairs personnels.

  • As the initial team member of Global Outreach Ambassador, I was responsible for recruiting, selecting, training, and supervising new ambassadors.

  • As the student worker in International & Multicultural Student Services Office, the VP of Finance of College Student Personnel Association, and the VP of Chi Sigma Alpha, I have managed three budget accounts successfully.

  • I will continue to improve my knowledge and skills of human, financial, and material resources and conflict/crisis managemnt through daily practice at work and professional trainings.

Anchor 7

Leadership (LEAD)

 

This competency requires leadership skills in working and leading others to accomplish tasks in a harmonious environment, that may involve professional relationships with different groups, such as students, colleagues, faculty, community, and external partners. I understand that being an effective leader can help both myself and others to develop better and faster in a professional way. 

Basic

  • I will continue to improve my knowledge and skills for leadership in various aspects of education, training, development, and engagement. 

  • I will continue to explore my leadership at professional work setting and practice my interpersonal relationships in short and long terms.

Anchor 8

Social Justice and Inclusion (SJI)

 

This competency involves the understanding and practices of justice and inclusion of diverse population. I need to have SJI integrated into my daily practice in student affairs to ensure the equal justice of each individual.

Basic

  • I have taken CSP 6043 American College Student course and learned characteristics of different student subcultures. To demonstrate my respect and appreciation of diversity, I wrote a paper on better understanding of Muslim students. 

  • I have also completed the LGBT Safe Zone Ally Training and Tech-Into Social Justice Training held by Diversity and Inclusion department.

  • I will continue to improve my knowledge and skills of social justice and inclusion. Better understanding of characteristics and privilege of different identities can help me take meaningful and ethical practices. 

Anchor 9

Student Learning and Development (SLD)

 

This competency requires knowledge of principles and skills of applying theories to help individual student and student subgroup with constant, positive development through academic learning and extracurricular involvement. I can use SLD competency in many ways to enhance student success.

Intermediate

  • I have taken CSP 6033 Theory and Practice in College Student Personnel course and learned different families of student development theories. I applied these theories through self-reflection to better understand how to practice them.

  • I initiated the First Year Information program in spring 2015 and presented weekly seminars to international students to help them better integrate into the college life with utilizing different student development theories in the program desgining.

  • I have organized serveral cultural education programs with Upward Bound students in Arkansas, TRiO students at ATU,  Verdunville Public School students in Louisiana, and Russeville High School students in Arkansas to enhance their knowledge of different cultures and awareness of global diverse.

  • I will continue to improve my knowledge and skills of student learning and development emerging with programs involving students and promote SLD among other diverse stakeholders.

Anchor 10

Technology (TECH)

 

This competency is the arising trend that emphasizes the use of digital tools. I need to keep myself updated on technology and also take good use of technology in working with different stakeholders.

Intermediate

  • I am familiar with using different digital tools, including common computer softwares, digital communication, social media, e-learning, and basic web designs. 

  • While I was working as the Graduate Assistant of Student Support Services at Arkansas Tech University in fall 2014, I established online help for distance TRiO students and provided tutoring support.

  • While I was organizing the First Year Information program for international students, I created a Facebook page and a website to keep students updated on seminar material and new announcements. 

  • While I was working as the summer intern of Office of International Relations at University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, I adapted two social media platforms, WeChat and QQ, for the purpose of recruiting Chinese students. 

  • I will continue to improve my knowledge and skills of utilizing different technology tools to promote the connection with students and other groups. 

  • I will keep myself updated on the trend of social media and ensure the security of professional content of posted information.

Advising and Supporting (A/S)

 

This competency requires a good combination of many other competencies while providing advising and support to individual student or student groups. I need to be able to identify what challenges and support students need and advance their holistic development.

Intermediate

  • I am currently taking CSP 6073 Counseling with College Students course and will be learning more counseling theories and techniques.

  • I have taken CSP 6153 Advising Student Groups course and completed my advising portfolio for a specific student organization on a college campus.

  • With the First Year Information program, I helped international students with detailed information about class registration, career planning, study tips, scholarship, and other useful topics.

  • While working with prospective international students, I helped with admission process, VISA preparation, and any other problems with good customer services and professional communication skills.

  • I will continue to improve my knowledge and skills of advising and supporting through direct interaction with students.

  • I would like to become a student organization adviser to support my students at different stages of group development.

  • I can start practicing my advising skills by establishing a mentoring relationship with student workers at my future job.

"Sometimes all we need is twenty seconds of insane courage. " --- We Bought a Zoo

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Shoreline, WA 98133

Contact

ldu@shoreline.edu

dxhlinda@gmail.com

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