The NEXUS The Official Newsletter of the Massachusetts College Personnel Association
In this Issue Coffee Talk Recap ... Page 5 The Cycles of Academic Support ... Page 8 The Second Year Soar ... Page 10
October 2014
Letter from the President
Jennifer Forry, Newbury College
Dear MCPA Members, Happy Fall! Welcome to the Massachusetts College Personal Association (MCPA). We are sure that you will soon feel the sense of pride we share in belonging to this growing chapter of ACPA College Student Educators International. We hope that you will take advantage of the many benefits that come with your membership. Please bookmark our website www.mymcpa.net where you can find complete information on upcoming events and activities. In addition, please follow us on Twitter @mcpatweets and “Like” us on Facebook. We want you, our members, to stay connected with us. I strongly encourage you to attend one of our many events. We coordinate a variety of professional development and social opportunities throughout the year. We hope to see you at a Coffee Talk, re-connecting with friends at a social or register for our annual Drive In conference…..and that’s not all! Our 40th anniversary celebration will kick off at our Drive In on December 5, 2014 at Fitchburg State University. We hope you will come out and celebrate this momentous occasion with us. The 40th anniversary celebration year will conclude at the 2015 Drive In. Many of our events throughout out the next year will emphasis reflecting on our past while navigating our goals for the future. We want to celebrate YOU! Sincerely, Jennifer Forry MCPA President
MCPA Executive Board President Jennifer Forry Newbury College
Social Media Coordinator Dan Newman Suffolk University
President-Elect John Mayo Newbury College
Website Coordinator Rhian Waterberg Suffolk University
Past President Dawn Eades MCPHS University
Member at Large Ben Lamb Williams College
Secretary Jessi Robinson UMASS Boston
Member at Large Loren Glaser Wentworth Institute of Technology
Treasurer Ryan Greelish Brown University
Member at Large Megan Wyett UMASS Amherst
Membership Coordinator Clara Lau Northeastern University
Member at Large Ryan DePesa Wentworth Institute of Technology
Marketing Coordinator Danielle Remigio Roger Williams University
Graduate Student Liaison Kris Polk Fitchburg State University
Newsletter Editor Kristen Kearney Stonehill College
Graduate Student Liaison Sarah Santiago Roger Williams University
Graduate Student Spotlight Jessie Montville Fitchburg State University What is your position at Fitchburg State University? I am a Graduate Assistant and Resident Director for the Office of Housing and Residential Services at Fitchburg State University. I oversee the Townhouse Apartments, North Street Apartments, and Cedar Street House, which house about 250 upper-class students. What do you love about working at Fitchburg State University? My favorite part about working as a graduate assistant in Housing and Residential Services at Fitchburg State is that I am gaining experience that is realistic of any full-time Resident Director position. I manage my own residential area, supervise my own Resident Assistants, conduct my own judicial hearings- its great! I have also been granted the opportunity to work on some very exciting projects. For instance, my colleague Kris Polk and I devised a Community Development Model over the summer that is currently being utilized by our Resident Assistant staff. It was really gratifying to have a part in something that the department is going to continue to utilize after I have moved on to another position. What do you do to relax outside of the office? When I am feeling introverted, I like to read, bake, watch television, or knit and crochet (I’m a yarn enthusiast). When I feel
like getting out, I like to visit family and friends, hike, visit the beach (regardless of the season), and have recently become interested in camping! I am also slowly learning to play the ukulele and I like to sing. Why did you get involved in student affairs? I did my undergraduate program at Keene State College in Keene, NH and I was a commuter student my first two years there. I began working in the Residential Life and Housing Office as a work study student and when I learned about the RA position I decided to apply. I never thought I would get the position, but I did! I was an RA my junior and senior years and it completely changed my college experience for the better. Who inspired you to pursue this career? Upon graduation from Keene State, I served a year with AmeriCorps at Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner, MA. My supervisor at the time, Shelley Errington-Nicholson, asked me “Have you ever thought about Student Affairs?” and that is when I began looking into graduate programs. I became interested in being an RD but I wasn’t sure that I wanted to pursue a degree in Higher Education. I chose Fitchburg State because I could do my assistantship in Housing and Residential Life but get my degree in Applied Communication, which is what I am doing now. As luck would have it, I love my graduate program as well as being an RD! What is the most valuable lesson you have learned (so far) in your career? I have learned a lot about what it means to be a good supervisor and what it takes to develop a good relationship with your supervisees. Trust isn’t gained overnight and you really have to work at it; but once your supervisees know that you are invested in them and that you care, everything else is almost effortless by comparison.
What advice would you give to undergraduate students looking to pursue a position in Student Affairs?
What advice would you give to graduate students looking for a position in Student Affairs?
I would encourage undergraduates interested in Student Affairs to dabble in as many departments as they can and if they can’t decide on one area right away, try Residence Life! I’m an advocate for “ResLife” because you get to do a little bit of everything.
Funny you ask, because I am a graduate student looking for a position in Student Affairs! My colleagues have recommended giving a lot of thought to what kind of environment I see myself working in so that I know ahead of time what a good fit is for me when I start to search. They have also recommended prepping my resume and cover letter well ahead of time and participating in mock interviews to ready myself for the interview process.
I would also encourage undergraduates to consider whether or not an unconventional schedule is for them. Some people prefer the 9-5 work schedule, which is understandable; but in most Student Affairs departments that is hard to come by. Serious thought needs to be given to whether or not they can balance their personal life with a continually shifting work schedule.
Event Recap: Coffee Talk Loren Glaser & Ryan DePesa
The first MCPA Coffee Talk event of the year was held at Wentworth Institute of Technology on Thursday, October 2nd. The topic of the event was “The Value of Higher Education”. Panelists for the event included, Annamaria Wenner, Dean of Students/Associate Vice-President for Student Affairs, at Wentworth Institute of Technology, Rich DeCapua, Associate Dean of Students at Boston College, Jenn Kosses, Assistant Dean of Students at Wentworth Institute of Technology and Jennifer Porter, Associate Vice President for Student Financial Services at Emmanuel College. The event was moderated by Peter Fowler, Associate Dean of Students at Wentworth Institute of Technology. The discussion was fruitful and attendees were engaged in conversation throughout the event. The dialogue touched upon many points throughout the event, including the dramatic rise in cost of college tuition, up 1,000% since 1978. Panelists also provided their own insight into whether a Master’s degree is the new Bachelor’s degree in 2014. Topics of discussion also included the hard choices colleges need to make in order to broadly affect college affordability as well as how Student Affairs professionals can partner with colleagues in enrollment to assist students in navigating this very complex topic. The event was well attended, we appreciate all the attendees who braved rush-hour traffic in Boston to be there! We hope to see you at the next coffee talk on November 7th at UMASS-Amherst.
#MCPACoffee
Do you have a new building on campus? A cool feature you want to show off? As part of our 40th Anniversary celebration, MCPA is looking for institutions (you host, MCPA will plan!) who want to share their campus with other higher education professionals from around the state. If you are interested in hosting a tour and/or a social event on or near your campus, please contact Noor Ibrahim at nibrahim@endicott.edu.
Member Spotlight Matthew Heiser, Wentworth Institute of Technology What is your position at Wentworth Institute of Technology? I am the Resident Director for the 610 Huntington Avenue residential community at Wentworth. In this role, I coordinate the daily operations of the upperclass community including working with a tremendous student leader staff. I also manage our office’s marketing and social media initiatives. What do you love about working at Wentworth Institute of Technology? I love the feeling of connectedness and care within the Wentworth community. I’m continually inspired by our students. They’re everything from innovative in the classroom and on co-op to caring and involved student leaders. My colleagues are incredible— they’re some of the best people you’ll ever meet.
What do you do to relax outside of the office? I love spending time outdoors and traveling. My partner-Steph, our Boston terrier--Alex, and I enjoy going to the beach, hiking, camping, and finding new adventures.
recognized my passion for working with college students.
What is the most valuable lesson you have learned (so far) in your career? I’d say the value of self-care as a professional – we focus so much energy on supporting our Why did you get involved in students, but we have to student affairs? remember to take care of Through student leadership ourselves and one another. It’s positions in my undergraduate important to recognize that we will experience, I realized that I’m make mistakes and not be perfect; energized by helping others remember to take your job and developing community on seriously, but yourself lightly. campus. I was fortunate to have a Resident Director position What advice would you give to right out of my undergraduate undergraduate students looking experience as a test run – after to pursue a position in Student about 15 minutes in this role, I Affairs? was hooked! Challenge yourself to gain many Who inspired you to pursue this career? My mentors and past supervisors at Gettysburg (my alma mater) inspired me to consider a career – they
perspectives from professionals in the field through conversations, programs, and other experiences. If you’re entering a graduate program, seek opportunities and internships beyond where you already have experience. What advice would you give to graduate students looking for a position in Student Affairs? Focus on building positive, meaningful mentor relationships as opposed to networking just to meet others. Mentors can help provide critical insight, guidance, and constructive feedback that you might not get elsewhere.
The Cycles of Academic Support Dan Newman Over the past year I transitioned from a Residence Life role under the umbrella of Student Affairs to an Academic Support position that falls more under Student Services and subsequently had my work-life circadian rhythm thrown out the window. Many Student Affairs practitioners get hives around the start of the semester and the first few weekends as students test boundaries and intimately learn the conduct system. However, the academic world runs on a different schedule- I adore the first few weeks of solitude when students still think they are brilliant. Around the third week, however, the first grades get returned to students and they see the fruits of their‌lack of labor. This is also the time that institutions often have what is called Early Alert, when instructors and staff flag students for missing class, failing assignments, demonstrating English deficiencies, and having difficulty with course content. October is the heavy time for Academic Support as they try to wrangle students to connect with the many resources a college has to offer. Once the first shock has set in, it is suddenly midterm season and students try to focus on their work and connect
Dan is the Program Coordinator for Online Learning Support at Suffolk University. @Dan_Bubbles
with content specialists, usually tutoring support and study groups. Unfortunately, this time often coincides with course selection period for the next semester and students are faced with a Quadrant 2 versus Quadrant 4 dilemma: Focus on something Urgent and Important or something Not-Urgent and Important. Double the stress, double the fun. As the semester wanes, students tend to draw inwards and focus on their own work. When I worked in Student Affairs, the last few weekends before finals tended to be almost as wild as the start of the semester. Now in Academic Support, the frequency of student appointments decreases steadily until the last week of the semester when students realize how far down the academic rabbit hole they have fallen. For some of them, tough conversations about failure, postponed graduation, or academic dismissal begin. Once finals have begun, staff involved in high-risk courses see a sharp
uptick in usage whereas staff who are not directly involved with high-risk courses see very few students. I find that I have the most number of missed appointments by students who proactively scheduled meetings but did not follow through when finals were hanging over their heads. The peace allows me to focus on semesterend reports, however this is under the cloud of concern that students most atrisk are struggling somewhere. Once the students left for winter/ summer break, I found that in Student
Affairs I had been granted a breath of fresh air (#emptyhalls). Academic Support, though, begins churning as we try to solidify plans and programs for the winter or summer term. The wheel begins to spin very quickly as we nail down staffing, revise programs based on assessment data, prepare for Orientation, and create new promotional materials. It was surprising to find so much work to do in May and June when first transitioning to my role, but now it seems natural, as if the journey is continually moving onward.
The Second Year Soar: A Reflection Danielle Remigio
We hear a lot about the “sophomore slump” referring to our second year students and the challenges they face. No more first year program series, special attention, extra programming or support, etc. This can be especially challenging for our sophomores who may feel like the rug is being pulled out from under them. It is a time for them to find their place, become more independent, and find their way. In that regard I find the second year of one’s professional career is very similar. As someone who just began her second year post graduate
@MISSDANIELLELYN
DANIELLE IS THE COORDINATOR OF RESIDENCE EDUCATION AT ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY
Although there is more autonomy with being a returning employee, there is a growing confidence as well. The transition between my first and second year can be shown with a positive correlation between time spent at the institution and my confidence level. Makes sense, right? As we settle into our respective positions we gain more
school I can say that the desire to be more independent and make a mark has become an
confidence on the acronyms used, buildings to understand on campus, coworkers to develop networks with and many more.
ever growing desire. However, this feeling contrasts with the sophomore slump as well. While the second year of a student’s career
There is less of an overwhelming feeling once the basics of campus dynamics, layout, and structure are behind you.
may be confusing and overwhelming because there are less resources directly focused on
I find that, especially in Residence Life, we are
their age bracket, the second year of a new professional’s career can soar.
expected to become more engrained in the fabric of our institution the longer we stay at it. The students know us better and want to
I am coining the term “Second Year Soar” for two reasons:
be better connected to our familiar faces. Our supervisors trust us to take on extra
1. I work at Roger Williams and our mascot
is the Hawk- very appropriate 2. It has been a time to take on more,
challenge myself more, and step into my comfort zone as a professional at the same institution.
projects, join extra committees and mentor the newly hired professionals/graduate students in our offices. This may not have been the case just a year prior as we are in a transitional period dedicated to learning and absorbing as much information as possible.
In our second years we are sitting atop a
project one too many? When will burnout set
thrown of confidence. We know more, we can do more, we can achieve more. Sounds
in if I take on one more committee even if it’s where my passions lie? These questions will
familiar, right? We may be falling into the same trap that many of our student leaders fall into: over involvement. I myself have
forever be in our minds. In my eyes, I see these questions formulating not when we start a position but when we start to set the
joined the MCPA state board, took on teaching a first year experience course, and
bar higher after jumping over it for the first time. As this year gets going and we head
have helped to expand a workshop series dedicated to prepping students who want to pursue Student Affairs in the future. Did I
into the second half of this semester I want to recognize the positives of this second year soar period and how it can be a testing
take on too much? Or am I acclimated enough to take on the extra work?
time to learn how close to the sun we can fly. Let’s take chances, make mistakes, and
The ever delicate balance of how much we can take on is something that new professionals and seasoned veterans to the field are still learning from. When is the next
learn every day just like our students do. To my fellow new professionals, we can find the balance. We just need to trust ourselves and test ourselves. Let’s soar.
MCPA Awards Help us to honor excellence and success within MCPA! You are invited to nominate a friend, colleague, supervisor, mentor, or fellow MCPA member for an award. Award winners will be announced at the Drive-In Conference and will be featured in the December issue of The Nexus. Nominations are available starting October 17th through November 7 at http://bit.ly/mcpaawards
Do you have thoughts on a hot topic? Have you completed an interesting project in your office? Do you have advice for your colleagues? Have you read a great book recently?
Contribute an article to The Nexus! Submissions can be sent to Newsletter@mymcpa.net
Drive-In Conference Program Deadline Extended! Please consider submitting a proposal to present at the drive-in or encourage colleagues to present! If you are interested in presenting at this conference, please visit the following site to submit your proposal: https://mcpa.wufoo.com/forms/z1f65mw11fwqk4n/
Deadline for submissions has been extended to October 22, 2014.
Registration for the drive-in is now open at: https://mcpa.wufoo.com/forms/z19y5i4x0b8nfrd