If you’ve looked at my Twitter account in the past over the summer, you know a few things about me. Mostly you know I watched Gilmore Girls 18 years late, but you might also have picked up that I lived on a raised patch of land lovingly referred to as a mountain which was thirty minutes from the closest Wal-Mart.
Where was I? This summer, I was the Graduate Intern for Residential Life at the University of the South, which you may know as Sewanee. Why? Because this place is different from UA in almost every measurable way. Sewanee is a small, private, fully residential, liberal arts college owned by the Episcopal Church. It sits on 13,000 acres owned by the university, a parcel of land guarded by angels and referred to as “the Domain.’ At capacity, the Residential Life office has 7 full-time employees, around 50 student staff members, and 1600 residents. This experience has been a challenging one, but I am grateful for the lessons I have learned. First and foremost, I had a good summer. If I can do that living alone in a residence hall in a small town at a job that I still haven’t quite figured out, then I can do that anywhere. I’ve read (and purchased) so many good books. I’ve run almost a hundred miles. I’ve visited several dear friends. I’ve fallen down. I’ve cried (a lot). I’ve gotten back up. Rinse and repeat. Second, my gut told me in 2012 that I belong at a big school. My gut was right. Sewanee stood out to me among peer institutions because of the role it played in my college search process. It was the dream school of a friend of mine who thought I was making a grave mistake joining the Tide. With AJ McCarron poised to bring home his third national championship, I just didn’t see the draw, but this summer, I wanted to figure it out. After two months, I see why some students fall in love with this place. While it will always hold a special place in my heart, I can’t wait to get back to my big-school comfort zone. Third, be still and listen. Listen to your body, your brain, your soul. Sometimes, this means literally getting up after you fall down, but seeking help instead of pushing through the pain. Sometimes, this means going to a church service because it is part of the culture of a place and finding comfort and restoration in the incense and stained glass. Sometimes, this means going to watch the sunset on the edge of the mountain and pushing yourself to engage with the people around you so that you can discover you’re sitting next to a former UA Journalism professor who knows one of your college roommates. This summer has been about so much more than my job. I will leave Sewanee with a much clearer picture of who I am, in addition to what I want to do and how I want to do it. I don’t know where I will be in a year, but as I mull over the possibilities of my future I can’t help but leave you with the words of Sewanee alumnus William Alexander Percy about his alma mater: "It’s a long way away, even from Chattanooga, in the middle of woods, on top of a bastion of mountains crenellated with blue coves. It is so beautiful that people who have once been there always, one way or another, come back. For such as can detect apple green in an evening sky, it is Arcadia—not the one that never used to be, but the one that many people always live in; only this one can be shared." - Cokie Thompson
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In my first internship, ever, I have been trying my best to go with the flow and understand the ways that others operate. This has been a challenge. I have been frustrated. Very frustrated.
Because of my past experience and my current assistantship at UA, I decided to go with a smaller school and eventually chose the University of South Carolina Upstate. Just to give a brief background of the school, it was established in the 1960s to primarily serve the growing need for nurses in the area and eventually developed into an institution with many more programs and opportunities. The student population sits at approximately 6,000 which is one of the main reasons I wanted to work at this institution over the summer - it would give me a diverse experience different than the colossal student body at UA and a tighter niche Residence Life Department to get to know. The campus is very different from anything I have ever seen. The buildings are spread out to a degree with sprawling wilderness and trails laid out to break up the roads which provides a very scenic feel. I have become very used to the way I did things at Alabama and how there always seemed to be a person solely responsible for a single process or perhaps a few, but at Upstate, the individuals in the housing department wear more hats than your could buy at the Lids store in a mall. I would say, this summer has really challenged me because it is the first time I have truly been on my own without friends or family close and although I have had opportunities to see them briefly, it has been very eye opening as to what it is like to be on my own. I share this because, after I graduate, my goal is to move to a school on the west coast where I don’t have virtually any relatives or friends close by. For me, this internship has been like a test run for what my future could potentially be like. There have been times when it’s been difficult, but I think it’s all been worth it. My biggest advice for the incoming students: I know you have some time, but when you choose your internship, utilize the experience in some way to test out your future. Whether you’re trying to find out which institution type fits you best or which side of the country you want to live on, use the experience for more than just housing or orientation knowledge. Find some way to let it affect YOU. I am happy to be back at UA - it has been good to come back to a familiar routine, familiar faces, and a familiar campus. But having to stretch my muscles and learn new ways to communicate and work at a different campus has definitely given me a new perspective and appreciation for my role at UA and for the students that I try to help on a daily basis. Roll Tide, Y’all - Jordan Dedrick Your 2018-2019 Executive Board celebrating #HESALove at the End of the Year Banquet on April 30, 2018. Summer to me has been many things: trips and discovery; a place where my birth month resides and a time to play tennis all day long; a time to sleep for weeks on end and a time to stay up all night building memories with my closest friends. However, this summer is different. I am in a new place, away from my home and all my friends and family. I do not have all those familiar people to build memories and experiences with. Nevertheless, this summer is full of new possibilities in terms of memories and experiences. I am in a major city in a different state with tons of things to do. I am working at an institution that is different, on every level, than any other institution that I have worked in or been a part of. I am working in the Housing & Residential Life Office, which is a department I have never been a part of in any institution. I am excited about all the new experiences that I have gained this summer and all the ones that are still waiting for me to approach as the summer ends. During this time, it is tough being without the people that make home, well, “home.” It can be easy to feel alone during this time period, but Cokie and Jordan have brought home to my internship placement through our interactions this summer. Our talks though GroupMe and our video chats remind me of home. As Jordan stated in her blog, I feel as if those two are another family that I have. I feel like we are always looking out for each other and are there for each other when any of us needs it. I am hoping that when all the new students in the Higher Education Administration program arrive, you feel like you are a part of the HESA family. We are excited for you all coming to the University of Alabama and have many events and opportunities planned for the upcoming year. I cannot wait to meet all of you when you arrive at the good ole’ U of A! Roll Tide! - Amos Davidson, Jr. Your 2018-2019 Executive Board celebrating #HESALove at the End of the Year Banquet on April 30, 2018. #KrazyforKuh #Challenge&Support #IEOAstin My experiences with summer has always been interesting. It has been the time to take as long as possible to spend with family because, during the rest of the year, there is always something going on that requires immediate attention.
My family has always been extremely important to me because they are fiercely loyal, intelligent, ambitious, and undeniable strange. But now, as I have decided to move hundreds of miles away from home, I have had the incredible opportunity to create a new family. I believe that last summer was the most interesting for me because it was the first time I was moving away from my family in New York and embarking on a new adventure in Alabama. It was a place I had only visited once before and did not know anyone close by. In such a small cohort, there was a chance that myself, Cokie, and Amos would not have liked each other. However, we have become great friends this past year as the Higher Ed. group has become another family for me. Alabama has become a home away from home - very cliché, I know. This year, we sincerely hope that all the new students in the M.A., M.E.d., and P.h.D, programs will join our HESA family because we are using this time over the summer to plan out some really great events throughout the year, both social and for professional development, and to foster a sense of community for all of the students joining the University of Alabama’s Higher Ed. program in the fall. What should you plan for? Stories, fun, activities, learning, community, development, and so much more! I can’t wait to meet you all in the fall, but until then, Roll Tide! - Jordan Dedrick Your 2018-2019 Executive Board celebrating #HESALove at the End of the Year Banquet on April 30, 2018. I love summer. It is a season of sunshine and possibilities. It is when you have enough daylight to finish reading that book or watch the sunset with your people after a good meal. It is when you meet up with your camp friends. It is when so many graduates take the steps that walking across the stage led them to. It is also a season of second chances. It’s when you reckon with those goals you didn’t meet in the past academic year (or even since January). It’s when students rise strong when a class knocked them down and try again. It’s when you heal with saltwater and Summer Snow. In education, it’s also a time for dreaming your biggest dreams for next year. College campuses slow down, or at least shift gears. We catch our breath. We reflect on assets and challenges. We adjust. Come August, the perfect year is so close you can almost taste it. And y’all, do I have big dreams for HESA next year. I hope I’m writing to you in June about how we exceeded every goal, landed every dream job, made a difference for every student. And maybe I will. No matter what, it’s going to be an incredible year for us. You’ll hear from the rest of the executive board in the coming weeks. Amos and Jordan are rock stars who are changing the world by being themselves in every way. It is an honor to learn and grow alongside them. July on the blog will be about our internships. I’ll save all my good stories until then, but I will leave you with this clue: “Ecce quam bonum et quam iucundum habitare fratres in unum.” Roll Tide, y’all! -Cokie Thompson We can't wait to meet newly accepted students attending Campus Visit Days on March 24 - 26, 2018! This is the weekend where accepted students are invited to campus to learn more about the program, HESA, and interview for graduate assistantships. Below are some nuggets of knowledge from our current master’s students on prepping for your visit. Their Twitter accounts are linked if you want to check them out or reach out with more questions!
@SarahKBonds: Alabama weather is unpredictable. Better to overpack than underpack. For interviews: you have a lot of Graduate Assistants (GA’s) at your disposal the weekend before. Ask questions and get to know the position you’re after. Also, take time for yourself if you need it! Don’t let your flame burn out! @hunterstewart94: Consult that campus map! Get a feel for the places we’ll be going to and familiarize yourself with easy routes to get there, it just makes you feel more prepared. @CokieFaith: Know what you’re wanting out of the visit and tailor your questions to that. I already knew plenty about the school/program/town, so I was mostly trying to get a feel for the people and if I could see myself being friends with them. I imagine that’s where a lot of people are at by now, but don’t be afraid to ask questions about the curriculum or what current students do and don’t feel prepared for. @codyachter12: Cliche but take a step out of your comfort zone and trust yourself. We construct knowledge together so your view is important. @cwest482: Some people have already mentioned asking questions, but I really want to encourage you to ASK QUESTIONS. To faculty, to students, to alumni, to anyone you meet this weekend. Faculty can tell you about courses and their expectations. Students can tell you about our classroom experiences, assistantship experiences, internship experiences, and externship experiences. Alumni can tell you how this program prepared them for their next steps. It’s easier said than done, but don’t be afraid to ask questions. We hope this information is helpful! Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions about CVD. See you this weekend! On January 22, HESA hosted a Job Search Panel for second-year masters student as they begin to update resumes, submit job applications, and prepare for interviews. The panel consisted of four higher education professionals from The University of Alabama who shared their experiences and advice for the job search. Thank you to Leanne Mallory, Assistant Director for First Year Experience and Retention Initiatives; Darien Abadie, Events Coordinator for the Ferguson Student Center; Ashley Cofield, Coordinator for Student Involvement; and Jared Pacileo, Assistant Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life. The panelist gave our students a lot of great advice and we have summarized the highlights below.
In the beginning stages of the search, it is important to consider how you want to narrow down your search (location, functional area, etc.). If you look at every open job posting, the process will be overwhelming, however, narrowing your search too much will make it difficult to find available positions. To find open positions you can create ‘Job Agents’ on HigherEdJobs.com, review the TPE site (even if you aren’t going to TPE), join the Student Affairs Professionals Facebook page, and look at professional organizations job boards. When thinking about places to apply, and later when you get an offer, Leanne gave a great piece of advice. She said you need two out of three things to be happy: money, people, or location. If you don’t like at least two out of those three things, you will not like that job and you won’t stay for very long. So you hit submit, and after what felt like weeks of waiting, you have an offer to interview (yes!). Think of this phone interview like a first date: you got there but now you need to bring out the personality to show them who you are. Prepare a variety of STAR method answers (situation, task, action, result) so that you can best demonstrate your mastery of skills and variety of experiences. Throughout the job search, panelists also suggested to continue to refresh and sharpen interview skills. Visit the Career Center, ask colleagues and supervisors for their advice, or do a mock interview to practice answering questions. When it comes to accepting an offer, it is important to know your deal breakers and consider more than just the position, but whether you will be happy with the region/city, the people, work environment, pay, and any additional benefits. Our panelists emphasized that this is more than just finding a job; it is also a time to find yourself, figuring out what you want and understanding your worth. When you receive an offer, it is important to thank the employer and ask for a few days to consider the offer. Ultimately, when making a decision you have to trust your gut. A final piece of advice from Jared was to try not to take things personally. If you don’t get another interview or an offer, then you weren’t supposed to have that job. Confidence is key to being successful in the process to find the right position for you. Believing that everything happens for a reason will also be important in being resilient through the job search process. Lots of important Higher Education Administration info coming your way!
On November 14, 2017, the UA Higher Education Administration (HEA) program held its annual Fall Open House for prospective students to learn more about both HEA master’s and doctoral degrees. The evening began with an introduction and overview of HEA by Dr. Philo Hutcheson in a typical College of Education classroom, and included current students and faculty. Dr. Hutcheson shared details about the on-campus M.A., online M.A., Ed.D., Executive Ed.D., and Ph.D degree programs. After Dr. Hutcheson’s introduction, prospective MA and EdD/PhD students separated into two groups to learn more about the varying degree programs, curriculum, faculty expectations, funding opportunities, and the application process. Here are some of our most Frequently Asked Questions: Q. What opportunities are there for funding to pursue a HEA graduate degree? A. The Division of Student Life and UA’s various academic colleges offer a variety of Graduate Assistantships with tuition assistance, stipend, and other benefits. Past GAs have served in Housing and Residential Communities, First Year Experience & Retention Initiatives, the College of Communication & Information Sciences, and the Graduate School. Doctoral students seeking Research Assistant (RA) positions have worked with faculty within the program/department. You can also find other funding sources through the UA Graduate School. Q. What courses does a HEA student take? A. All programs of study are available on the HEA program website at the degree pages linked above. HEA courses are designed to develop scholars and scholar-practitioners who have the tools to act as agents of change in creating a more just society. Q. What are requirements to be considered for admission? A. All of the requirements are listed on the HEA website. If you have any questions about the admissions requirements and process for an HEA degree, please contact Dr. Arleene Breaux for the Executive Ed.D. program, Dr. Cindy Ann Kilgo for the on-campus MA program, and Dr. Karri Holley for all other HEA degree programs. At the conclusion of Open House, prospective students had the opportunity to attend the first 30 minutes of Dr. Krystal Williams’ AHE: 500 Perspectives on Higher Education class to get an idea for what a typical HEA course looks like. This course is the “introductory” course for first-year MA students. Important HEA Degree Program Application Deadlines
As always, feel free to click through the HEA website for additional info. Many would argue that a major part of working in higher education and student affairs is giving back - preparing the next generation of talented young professionals to enter the field. Sponsored by both ACPA and NASPA, October is known as Careers in Student Affairs Month (CSAM), a whole 31 days of celebration and recognition of the tireless work higher education professionals put into our campuses. This year, we in HESA decided to get in on the fun.
On November 9, 2017 (yes, we know we technically missed CSAM… just roll {tide} with us…) HESA, in partnership with UA’s Division of Student Life, organized an event to introduce current UA undergraduate student leaders, many being prospective students of HiEd/SA graduate programs, to careers in the field of higher education. The event featured a panel of higher education administrators, faculty, and graduate students from a wide variety of educational, social, and functional area backgrounds. At the conclusion of the panel, undergraduate students mixed and mingled with panelists and other higher education professionals over light refreshments, asking any lingering questions as they begin the grad school search process and chart career plans. HESA would like to thank the Division of Student Life, specifically Assistant Vice President Dr. Adam Sterritt, for such a successful partnership. We would also like to thank our panelists for their generous contributions of time and knowledge: Dr. Cindy Ann Kilgo - Assistant Professor, Higher Education Administration Erica Campbell - Doctoral Student in Higher Education Administration Hunter Stewart - Master’s Student in Higher Education Administration Ashley Sanders - Coordinator, University Recreation Tori Lee Gray - Assistant Director, Ferguson Student Center Jared Pacileo - Assistant Director, Fraternity and Sorority Life Amy Bickel - Director, First Year Experience and Retention Initiatives Kim Sterritt - Director, Parent and Family Programs The middle of the semester has HESA members hard at work, so we decided it was time for a little break! In honor of all things fall, on October 15, members from the first and second year HEA cohorts made a visit to Griffin Farms pumpkin patch! We petted baby animals, ate snow cones and almost got lost in a corn maze. The main event was definitely the hay ride and pumpkin picking, which made for some excellent photo ops and instagram posts. We had so much fun taking a few hours to get together and appreciate the beauty that is fall and are already looking forward to our next social event, Service and S’mores on Saturday, November 11! |