Episode #29: Professional Prep for Higher Education Practitioners

BreakDrink Podcast

Professional Prep for Higher Education Practitioners

In this @BreakDrink episode Laura is joined by guest co-host Paul Eaton (@profpeaton) to talk about higher education and students affairs profession, specifically the preparation into entering the field of work. This conversation was initiated based on a chat we had on professional prep, in terms of certifications, masters degree programs, continued learning programs, apprenticeship models, or on-the-job experience, as you seek out an administrative or professional career working at a college or university (in a non-faculty role). We shared a bit about our career pathways into student affairs and academic advising in Canada and the United States, and then dig into the value and purpose of continued education credentials and more about the value of gaining competency through hands-on, work experience in the field.

If you are considering a career in student affairs, academic advising, or another professional student support or student development role, here are some resources we shared during this podcast:

-Considering a career in student affairs: http://www.myacpa.org/considering-career-student-affairs by @pglove33

-ACPA/NASPA Professional Competency Areas for Student Affairs Educators https://www.naspa.org/images/uploads/main/ACPA_NASPA_Professional_Competencies_FINAL.pdf

-MBA degree https://www.mbaprograms.org/mbaadmission

-School Counseling (K-12)

ACPA/NASPA Professional Competencies Rubrics https://www.naspa.org/images/uploads/main/ACPA_NASPA_Professional_Competency_Rubrics_Full.pdf

-Clinical LPC: Who are licenced professional counselors? https://www.counseling.org/publicpolicy/whoarelpcs.pdf

-Paraprofessionals exist in K-12 https://www.thejobnetwork.com/how-to-become-a-paraprofessional/ Why don’t we have more of these in higher education?

-Maybe we need a “GAP year” https://www.gapyear.com/ post-undergrad degrees to get experience

-Tuition costs of colleges & universities in the US (NCES) https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=76

-Canadian tuition fees by university https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/160907/dq160907a-eng.htm

-Healthcare (US): Getting covered if you’re under 30 https://www.healthcare.gov/young-adults/coverage/

-Cost of living calculator https://www.nerdwallet.com/cost-of-living-calculator

-Salary, Benefit, Paycheck, and Cost of Living Calculators https://www.thebalancecareers.com/salary-calculators-and-cost-of-living-calculators-2063445

-Higher Education in the Postdegree Era https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2018/06/04/how-higher-ed-has-change-remain-relevant-future-opinion

-The Changing Face of Today’s Student [in US Higher Ed] http://acrobatiq.com/the-changing-face-of-todays-student-more-diverse-older-and-requiring-more-personalized-learning/

-Trust and Organizational Culture in Higher Education https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4020-6604-7_3

It turns out -- we have no answers. We just have more questions. What questions do you have about professional preparation for higher education educators, professionals, and practitioners? Do we need certifications, masters degrees, experiential learning or a combination of these? How did you prepare for the job you currently have at your college or university? And to discuss later, do you really need a terminal degree for some of these administrative positions in higher education? Or would you like to discuss a related issue in higher ed? Let us know!

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