Workplace
Success Stories - Best Practices 2002
Recognition
Strategies for a Diverse Workforce
|
Practice
Name: Student Group Advising Core Competencies |
Workplace
Issues Addressed: |
Description
of the practice
The Student Group Advising Core allows staff to come together
to discuss the field of student group advising and student affairs.
Team activities include an attention to prevention, relationship-building,
recognizing new opportunities, planning, and recreation. The core
competencies provide a road map for on-going development and connection
to the work they do. Employees appreciate the opportunities for advisors
from other departments to come and share their perspectives and approaches.
Benefits
of adopting the practice
An
employee writes: "Understanding the 'core' competencies of
student group advising has encouraged a greater appreciation of
the specific areas in which our advisors serve..The core competencies
have also given us a framework for developing individual develop
plans (IDP) for our advisors.the self-assessment given on the
core competencies has not only provided areas for growth to individuals,
it has also given guidance for staff development at both the component
and SGA Team level." This practice meets the needs of a diverse
workforce in the following ways: There is employee input in the
process. It is inclusive.
How
this practice works
Should
have department values and office goals of promoting staff development.
Put together a committee to identify the competencies for effective
student group advising. Activities should include attention to
prevention, relationship-building, recognizing new opportunities,
planning, and recreation. Regularly convene staff members who
have "student group advising" on their job cards. Meetings
need a guiding principle or framework. Each meeting needs a specific
agenda that at times can be broadened beyond the SGA Team, yet
focuses on the core competencies and the specific policies and
procedures relevant to student group advising.
What
you need in place to replicate this practice
Management
support and a commitment to promoting staff development.
Tangible
improvements to the department as a result of adopting this practice
There
is broader perspective, a commitment to balance, and deliberate
and intentional decision-making. One employee writes: "Core
competencies have really given much more meaning to our SGA Team
meetings. It has given us a road map for on-going development
and connection to work we do beyond our office. I especially value
the advisors coming in from other departments to share their perspectives
and approaches."
Why
this practice was so successful and is worth replicating
An
employee writes: "Our staff enjoy coming together to discuss
like issues. Office staff-wide meetings can be toogeneral and
component meetings can be too narrow. The SGA Team brings together
'like' SAOs to explore the field of student group advising and
student affairs. This has allowed for a focused meeting specific
to policies, procedures, and development that embody the responsibilities
of 12-15 staff members. One of the main reasons that the development
of core competencies and the implementation plan is working is
that it specifically reflects the office's goal of promoting staff
development. The SGA Team meetings and outcomes provide ample
resources for advisors to do their jobs better and supervisors
to support their staff comprehensively."