professional competencies in student affairs college of education colloquium john l. hoffman, ph.d
TRANSCRIPT
Effective Leadership Decision-Making
in Addressing the Achievement Gap
Professional Competencies in Student Affairs
College of Education ColloquiumJohn L. Hoffman, Ph.D.
• Leaders in addressing access and equity• Emergent scholarship addressing competencies
The Student Affairs Context
Identifying Competencies Evaluating Competencies
• ACPA & NASPA (in press)• ACPA (2008)• Burkard, Cole, Ott & Stoflet (2005)• CAS (2006)• Hickmott & Bresciani (in press)• Lovell & Kosten (2000)
• Cuyjet, Longwell-Grice, & Molina (2009)
• Herdlein III (2004)• Kuk, Cobb, & Forrest (2007)• Waple (2006)
Three Studies
• Survey Design– n = 400; 275 SSAOs and 125 faculty– Rated 51 discrete knowledge, skill, and
dispositional competencies as “desired” for and “currently possessed” by new professionals
• Mixed Methods/Mixed Model Design– Modified grounded theory examination of 100
student affairs job postings–Coding and analysis of 1,768 job postings–One general study, one assessment focused
Survey Results
• Desired Competency: No differences for 49 of 51 discrete competencies
• Currently Possessed Competency: No differences for 42 of 51 competencies
• Most significant gaps:• Fiscal management• Assessment methods• Conflict management
• Collaboration skills• Legal standards• Written communication• Application of theory to
practice
Mixed Model Results - Assessment
• Strong emphasis on leadership, collaboration, and training skills as well as on fundamental research and evaluation skills
• Assessment skills required most often in New Student Programs, Multicultural Services, and Student Activities
• Assessment skills required least often in Residence Life, Health and Wellness, and
Counseling
Mixed Model Design - Competencies
• Advising– High for career services– Low for S.A. admin.
• Assessment – Low for residence life
• Communication– High for career services– Low for student activities
• Diversity– Low for student
activities
• Fund raising– High for multicultural
• Legal issues– High for S.A. admin. and
residence life– Low for career services
• Teaching/Training– High for residence life– Low for S.A. admin.
• Technology– High for career services
Mixed Model Design - Competencies
Jobs Requiring Higher Levels of Education…
…Required More:– Advising Skill– Assessment Skill– Diversity Skill– Knowledge of History
and Philosophy– Interpersonal Skill– Leadership Skill
– Teaching/ Training Skill
Jobs Requiring Greater Levels of Experience…
…Required More:– Assessment Skill– Communication Skill– Diversity Skill– Interpersonal Skill– Leadership Skill
…Required Less:– Advising Skill– Teaching/Training Skill