Counseling & Advising (Options Teaching Staff)
As the College Advisor for Options, I was able to counsel and assist the teaching staff (non-traditional students) in continuing their education to meet federal guidelines. Many had reservations in returning to school but we were able to work through them. My strategy when counseling the teachers was to meet them where they were emotionally and psychologically. I listen to them, ask what their goals were and tried to find a class or program that would meet their needs and align with the companies needs. It was very rewarding to see the teacher succeed in their goals and create new goals. Three students in particular were so empowered that after completing their Bachelors with the University of La Verne are now currently pursuing their master’s degree.
As the College Advisor for Options, I was able to counsel and assist the teaching staff (non-traditional students) in continuing their education to meet federal guidelines. Many had reservations in returning to school but we were able to work through them. My strategy when counseling the teachers was to meet them where they were emotionally and psychologically. I listen to them, ask what their goals were and tried to find a class or program that would meet their needs and align with the companies needs. It was very rewarding to see the teacher succeed in their goals and create new goals. Three students in particular were so empowered that after completing their Bachelors with the University of La Verne are now currently pursuing their master’s degree.
Pluralism, Inclusion, and Social Justice(Action Plan)
In CCSD 567: The Role of Diversity in Student Affairs Practice, I chose to become more familiar with Native American Students, a population I did not know much about. Through my action, plan I was able to research and learn more about this population. Pope & Reynolds (1997) mentions a three part multicultural competency model that we utilized as a class to research a different population. The first step was awareness of what I know of the culture, second was knowledge of the culture, and third was developing skills that would assist me in being effective when working with Native American Students. Each of these steps included several activities such as a literature review, viewing a movie, visiting a museum and a reservation, interviewing Native American Professionals and students. These activities helped me to become more aware of the unique needs of Native American Students. The activity I enjoyed the most was visiting the Autry Museum, because they did a beautiful job of displaying and preserving Native American culture and providing visitors with activities such as; Native American Children’s games, storytelling, musical performances as a way to enlighten others to the culture and preserving traditions. I am well on my way on being more aware of the Native American culture, but I know it is “a continuing and unending process that requires learning and relearning (Pedersen, 1988, p 107).
In CCSD 567: The Role of Diversity in Student Affairs Practice, I chose to become more familiar with Native American Students, a population I did not know much about. Through my action, plan I was able to research and learn more about this population. Pope & Reynolds (1997) mentions a three part multicultural competency model that we utilized as a class to research a different population. The first step was awareness of what I know of the culture, second was knowledge of the culture, and third was developing skills that would assist me in being effective when working with Native American Students. Each of these steps included several activities such as a literature review, viewing a movie, visiting a museum and a reservation, interviewing Native American Professionals and students. These activities helped me to become more aware of the unique needs of Native American Students. The activity I enjoyed the most was visiting the Autry Museum, because they did a beautiful job of displaying and preserving Native American culture and providing visitors with activities such as; Native American Children’s games, storytelling, musical performances as a way to enlighten others to the culture and preserving traditions. I am well on my way on being more aware of the Native American culture, but I know it is “a continuing and unending process that requires learning and relearning (Pedersen, 1988, p 107).
Effective Campus and Community Relationship (Options Masters Cohort with Pacific Oaks University)
Having completed their bachelors degree in Child Development, many of the teaching staff and management were looking to further their professional growth and wanted to pursue a masters degree. This led to the collaboration with Pacific Oaks University in forming the Options’ masters cohort pursuing a master’s degree in Human Development with an emphasis in Education Leadership and Social Change. Currently, the cohort is in its second semester, there have been issues with the professors, room accommodations, dissemination of information but all have been addressed. As the liaison, I must walk the fine line between Options and Pacific Oaks in obtaining all the information and services the staff members need. Partnerships in general are challenging, but having someone like me to advocate and find the common ground for both parties heightens the probability of success (Flint & Frey, 2003).
Having completed their bachelors degree in Child Development, many of the teaching staff and management were looking to further their professional growth and wanted to pursue a masters degree. This led to the collaboration with Pacific Oaks University in forming the Options’ masters cohort pursuing a master’s degree in Human Development with an emphasis in Education Leadership and Social Change. Currently, the cohort is in its second semester, there have been issues with the professors, room accommodations, dissemination of information but all have been addressed. As the liaison, I must walk the fine line between Options and Pacific Oaks in obtaining all the information and services the staff members need. Partnerships in general are challenging, but having someone like me to advocate and find the common ground for both parties heightens the probability of success (Flint & Frey, 2003).