Values, Philosophy, & History
Involves knowledge, skills, and dispositions that connect the history, philosophy, and values of the student affairs profession to one’s current professional practice. This competency area embodies the foundations of the profession from which current and future research, scholarship, and practice will change and grow. The commitment to demonstrating this competency area ensures that our present and future practices are informed by an understanding of the profession’s history, philosophy, and values.
Grounded in the values of Prestige, Integrity, Commitment to Education, Relationships, and Growth, my approach to the student affairs profession is one of active stewardship and ethical leadership. My professional philosophy was solidified during the 2022 LeaderShape Institute and has since been recognized through honors such as IU Undergraduate Student of the Year and my selection to the Homecoming Court, which celebrate my commitment to academic merit and community impact. According to ACPA & NASPA (2015), the Values, Philosophy, and History (VPH) competency involves "the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that connect the history, philosophy, and values of the student affairs profession to one’s current professional practice." I embody this by bridging high-stakes residential management at a private research university with large-scale programming at a public land-grant institution, tailoring my developmental support to the unique historical contexts of each functional area.
Foundational Outcome | Experience |
|---|---|
Describe the foundational philosophies,
disciplines, and values of the profession. | During my undergraduate experience, I particpated in the 2022 Leadershape Institute which helped me formulate my values of: Prestige, Integrity, Committment to Education, Relationships, and Growth. |
Articulate one’s personal code of ethics for student affairs practice, informed by the ethical statements of professional student affairs associations and their foundational ethical principles. | My personal code of ethics is rooted in the "excellence in innovation, leadership, and fostering diversity" recognized by my Undergraduate Student of the Year award. |
Articulate the historical contexts of institutional
types and functional areas within higher
education and student affairs. | I have worked across diverse institutional functional areas, from high-stakes residential management at a private research university to large-scale programming and student life at a public land-grant institution. |
Describe the various research, philosophies,
and scholars that defined the profession. | I utilize different developmental models to identify where certain students are at in their educational journey and tailor my communication to best suit their needs. |
Demonstrate responsible campus citizenship
and participation in the campus community . | My senior year I was selected for the IU Homecoming Court, one of only 12 students, based on my leadership, academic merit, and community impact. |
Describe the roles of faculty, academic affairs,
and student affairs educators in the institution. | I consistently communicate with my students to ensure they know the roles and capacity of different student affairs professionals to best meet their needs. |
Explain the importance of service to the
institution and to student affairs professional
associations. | I maintain active engagement with ACUI, NACA, and NODA. These associations prioritize student development and stewardship, principles I apply daily when managing staff and large-scale programming. I also make sure that my students see me engage in professional opportunities and continuously select and nominate them to participate when it applies. |
Learn and articulate the principles of
professional practice. | |
Articulate the history of the inclusion and
exclusion of people with a variety of identities
in higher education. | |
Explain the purpose and use of publications
that incorporate the philosophy and values of
the profession. | I have had conversations with my students about why I almost daily check publications like the Chronicle of Higher ed and other event planning resources to stay up to date on the politics surrounding the industry. |
Explain the public role and societal benefits
of students affairs in particular and of higher
education in general. | I encourage my students to be civically charged and to engage with as many educational opportunities as possible continually expressing the impact that the institution has on them and the world. |
Articulate an understanding of the ongoing
nature of the history of higher education and
one’s role in shaping it. | |
Be able to model the principles of the
profession and expect the same from
colleagues and supervisees. | I define leadership through the mentorship of my employees. I foster a high-engagement environment and conduct regular meetings to advise on professional development and departmental changes. |
Explain how the values of the profession
contribute to sustainable practices. | I utilize the values of the profession to develop onboarding and training videos in hope of ensuring long-term team competence and efficiency. |
Articulate the changing nature of the
global student affairs profession and
communicate the need to provide a contextual
understanding of higher education. | I communicate the "why" to my team whenever there are departmental changes in response to the political landscape. |