Values, Philosophy and History (VPH)

Below I have outlined my work toward achieving advanced proficiency in this area. To read more about this competency and my current proficiency level, you can read the narrative in this page.

Competency Overview

The goal of this competency is to guide practice that is rooted in an understanding of the “history, philosophy, and values of the student affairs profession” (ACPA & NASPA, 2015, p. 18). This competency is vital to the profession because it acknowledges the rich and well-intentioned past of the professionals at the emergence of the field while recognizing the need for changes in philosophies of the field as we progress and learn how to better address the needs of students. It challenges those in student affairs and higher education administration to reflect on the history of the profession to encourage informed and inclusive practice today and in the future.

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The foundational outcomes focus on a general understanding of philosophical foundations of student affairs. The intermediate level outcomes describe a professional that actively seeks opportunities to advance knowledge in this area by “exploring new philosophical contexts,” “engag[ing] in service to the profession,” and “teach[ing] the principles of the student affairs profession to staff” (ACPA & NASPA, 2015, p. 19). The advanced outcomes of this competency involve leading the profession in ways that “critically examin[e] history for contemporary meaning” (ACPA & NASPA, 2015, p. 19). It should be noted that all of these outcomes integrate a commitment to diversity through analyzing the “history of inclusion and exclusion of people with a variety of identities in higher education,” “incorporating the equity, diversity, and inclusion of varying identities and global perspectives” in student affairs staff members, and by “expanding personal and professional opportunities for civic and global engagement” (ACPA & NASPA, 2015, p. 18-19).

My Competency Level & Applied Knowledge

I consider myself to be in the intermediate level of this competency. In my first semester in the HESAA program, I learned about and explored the history of higher education and student affairs through the “American Higher Education” (HEA 616) course focused on the historical roots of higher education, and “Student Affairs Administration,” (HEA 618) which honed in on the beginnings of the student affairs profession and how it is relevant today. American Higher Education challenged me to understand the real and detrimental effects of slavery and exploitation of both Black and Indigenous communities in America that excluded them from higher education (ACPA & NASPA, 2015). This course increased my awareness of how these inequities are still in play today and instilled in myself a flame of advocacy that I will use to support the students I work with, especially those from minoritized populations. HEA 618 showed me the history of the Student Personnel Point of View, and how it can be expanded to meet the needs of a diverse student population.

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In the Undergraduate Admissions Office at Buffalo State College, I saw the need to promote access to higher education by educating students about their options for financial and academic assistance in the form of Educational Opportunity programs (EOP), Honors Programs, Transfer Promise programs, financial aid, and available scholarships. In presentations like the Virtual Information Sessions and the Current Student Panels that I ran, I ensured students know how to explore their options for assistance so they are able to not only attend college but to seek out supports that will help them succeed.

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Advancement in VPH

To reach the advanced outcome of the VPH competency, I hope to "contribute to the research, scholarship, and expansion of knowledge" by pursuing a PhD that expands the literature on how the intersection of identities students hold impacts their student experience (ACPA & NASPA, 2015, p. 19). I will also work to engage with a culturally diverse population of students to better understand their perspectives, their lived experiences, and identify their needs so I can best meet them in my daily practice. As always, I actively read books that focus on diverse perspectives to ensure I am listening to an amplifying voices of those with minoritized identities. To view my reading list, you can follow this link: My Reading List

References

American College Personnel Association & National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (2015). Professional Competency Areas for Student Affairs Educators. https://buffalostate.open.suny.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-1819821-dt-content-rid-17029589_1/courses/202030-HEA624-1665/ACPA_NASPA_Professional_Competencies.pdf.