The Reflection Series A Guide to Professional Development By Michael Geroux & John M. Martinez
Goals of our Pre-Conference Session The “ Hows ” and “Whys” of the Reflection Series The series as a Mini-Workshop Self – Reflection Being Myself Growing Up What we learned Why it is important You can do this too!
Introductions Michael Geroux John Martinez Academic Advisor / Peer Advisor Academic Advisor / PhD Student Manager 5 ½ years in higher education 12 ½ years in higher education 2 ½ years in academic advising 10 ½ years in academic advising Graduate student for 5 ½ years NACADA Member Since March 2011 NACADA Member Since March 2017 Graduate Networking Event Co – Chair UAlbany Community for Academic Advising Co - Chair NYS Liaison: March 2018 – March 2020 UAlbany Community for Academic Advising Co – Chair
Icebreaker Sharing activity Name School Years in advising / higher education Why did you choose this pre-conference session?
UAlbany – A Snapshot SUNY (State University of New York) One of the ‘four centers’ 7% Over 13,000 undergraduate students 4% Over 150 undergraduate programs 7% Caucasian African American 52% 12% Hispanic Asian International 57% Other Male Female 13% 48%
Academic Support Center Full-time Academic Advisors: 17 Advisor Caseloads Range from 280 – 350 students Total full-time staff: 23 Specialized Support Pre-Med Pre-Law Advising Plus Part-time Peer Advisors: 24 Upperclassman assisting with registration process
Academic Support Center Centralize Advisement Center that services UAlbany students Intended majors are advised in ASC Declared majors are able to see the Advisor-On-Duty for general questions We alternate this responsibility Mandatory advisement for all four years Students cannot register for classes without speaking to an advisor Whether in our office or in the other departments
Path to Professional Development Undefined Academic Advising-Non Traditional Job How do we advance professionally? Meetings Bred Questions Found ourselves running in circles Change was needed to facilitate transitions Professional Development Committee Was Created Used to better understand the advancement process Elephant In The Room was a way to work through difficult advising issues.
Elephant In The Room Series Working lunch series Designed for Open and Safe Dialogue Step One: “Spiders” These are things we as advisors have trouble dealing with Step Two: Turn “spiders” into facilitated lunch discussions It was assumed that we would only have a few “spiders” The reality…well…
“Spiders…” The list was very long…
Elephant In The Room Series Scheduled a few lunch discussions…however there were: No clear outcomes We would talk about what bothered us, but it would be left unresolved More of a venting session We were getting stuck with comparisons amongst each other Too much time was spent focused on what others were doing rather than our own development
Creating the Reflection Series Started as a question: So many spiders So many conversations Not enough movement Problem – still no clear professional development path Advisors were struggling with… Appropriate time for advancement? Is it okay to remain at current level? How do we figure this out?
Creating the Reflection Series Series stemmed from our (Mike & John) ongoing conversations Guidance & encouragement from fellow advisor – Rachel Moody Generated several ideas based on reflection and development Here is what it originally looked like…
Topics We wanted to take a step back Before dealing with “spiders” we needed to understand our motives What bogs us down Work through who we are professionally (and personally) “What do we really want from our profession?” We developed a series meant to get at the deeper issues Can’t help others if we cannot help ourselves Then this happened…
Reflection Journals! Designed specifically for the Reflection Series Used to organize and catalogue our thoughts Connect our ideas from workshop to workshop
Structure We planned a three-part series Each part was a two-hour session Started with an introduction of the current discussion point Followed by group discussion Ended with a takeaway for the session We sent reflection topics in between each reflection session See handouts
The Reflection Series: A Guide to Professional Development Let’s Dive Right In!
Self – Reflection “How did I get here?” To progress, one must remember how far one has come… We begin by looking at our path to this point Speaks to who we have been Can point to what still needs to be done This is how we begin reflecting on what we want
Self – Reflection “How did I get here?” Reflection #1: How did you get to where you are now? How did you land in your career? What was your journey? Take a few minutes to reflect and write in your journals…then we will all share.
Take a Break!
Being Myself “Growing Out” We termed this stage: “Growing Out” The process by which we spend time developing ourselves Initiatives Training Work Ethic “What are you spending your time doing ?” “Who are you spending your time being?”
Being Myself “Growing Out” Authenticity takes Authenticity is about realness and being… Honest about ones goals and abilities Open to new ideas and criticism Courage Steps you take in being authentic are unique to you…there is no road map! To be vulnerable…
Authenticity Iceberg Authenticity What we show the world is clearly visible This makes us vulnerable What we keep to ourselves is not This makes us feel safe What we show to The waterline represents the point at which others… what we show matches who we really are The challenge is knowing where to draw the waterline Authenticity is the relationship between what we show and who we are inside… Who we really are…
Authenticity Mike Robbins TED Talk “The Power of Authenticity” (16:15 – 19:44) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4iFAAUscVA
Sharing a Meaningful Story Reflection #2: What is a meaningful story from your time in advising? Take a few minutes to reflect and write in your journals…then we will all share
Sharing a Meaningful Story Reflection #2: What is a meaningful story from your time in advising? Take a few minutes to reflect and write in your journals…then we will all share "You don't set out to build a wall. You don't say 'I'm going to build the biggest, baddest, greatest wall that's ever been built.' You don't start there. You say, 'I'm going to lay this brick as perfectly as a brick can be laid. You do that every single day. And soon you have a wall." -- Will Smith on Charlie Rose
For Your Own Reflection Reflection #3: In thinking about your own department/office… “If you really knew me, you would know this about me…” Take a few minutes to reflect and write in your journals
Take a Break!
Growing Up This is our way of gearing up for what comes next Different for everyone…not one path is necessarily the same Authenticity is at the core of how we grow Examples of options in the Academic Support Center Peer Advisor Manager (currently one) Pre-Law Advisors (currently three) Pre-Health Advisors (currently three) Professional Development Committee Project My Story UAlbany Community for Academic Advising (UCAA) Reflection Series***
Growing Up Reflection #4: While reflecting on advising… What is something you do well? What is something you are looking to improve? Take a few minutes to reflect and write in your journals…then we will all share
Growing Up Advisor Classifications & Internal Identities (Freitag, 2011) Advisors have the freedom to choose to be at one of four levels Blending of Self-Reflection, Being Myself, and Growing Up together Four Levels Academic Advising Practitioner Academic Advising Emerging Professional Academic Advising Professional Academic Advising Scholar
Growing Up NACADA Opportunities – Some Ideas Volunteering Committee Work Presenting Emerging Leaders Program Conference Attendance Reflection #5: To think & write about this week… Reflect upon why you are attending the Regional Conference How are you being authentic while at the conference What new opportunities will you pursue for your own professional growth
What We Learned & Why It Is Important…
What We Learned… To reflect is to be uncomfortable Not everyone reflects often on their journey Not everyone reflects openly To enact change requires motivation Not everyone sees their job as a career Not everyone wants to advance in the same way Not everyone believes they have something to offer Not everyone believes they can make a difference
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