Sorting It Out: Student Affair’s Values and Curriculum
All of this talk about AACU Values Rubrics, BaccCore, Student Affairs values and goals, Department values and goals, and the Co-Curriculum
comes together as a formless pile of “stuff”. It’s difficult to know where to point our arrow. These guidelines seem to sort into one of two categories
– environment or student learning. Student Learning is offered in two formats on campus. Technical Skills and Life Skills.
SA Goals, Values, Themes, Activities Environment Community Student Academic Affaris (Technical Skills) Student Affairs (Life Skills Development) Most Student Affairs guidelines have been weighted on the side of environment (Values, Principles, etc.). Learning Outcomes however will be
driven from the side of Student Learning. What remains undefined is the Student Affairs curriculum.
Technical skills and Life Skills are not mutually exclusive. They do each have some unique characteristics, but they also overlap. It is in the areas
of overlap where partnerships potential lies.
Questions/Thoughts
1. How do we make sense of what seems to be two focused areas for Student Affairs?
a. The impact we have on students who engage in our programs and services, learning that occur there. The resultant student we are
trying to build.
b. The environment we provide for the OSU community (this seems to be primarily what the Student Affairs goals and values are talking
about). Creating an environment where students can thrive. Practicing our values and guiding principles.
2. What is the curriculum for Life Skills? What is our focus? What is directing our work?
3. There are so many things we say we are as far as environment for students on campus. How do we make it easier to prioritize and align?
Environment: Place to practice skills, gain experience, build community, develop identity, have fun, etc. Is there a definition or guide we are
following there? Is this acting out the Student Affairs goals and values? Is this university wide? Do we need to tie more to OSU brand
here? Are there levels that should be unique yet related?
Achieving
Mindful
Authentic
Confident
Academic Affairs: Technical Skills
Quantitative Literacy
Informational Literacy
Integrated Learning
Competency & Knowledge
Is this the Student Affairs curriculum?
Career Planning
Goal Setting
Inquiry & Analysis
Critical Thinking
Creative Thinking
Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
Written Communication
Oral Communication
Communication
Teamwork
Collaboration
Social Networks
Civic knowledge & engagement
Ethical reasoning
Intercultural knowledge
AACU Values
Social Responsibility & Sustainability
Time & Money Management
Character Development
Community Building
Self Efficacy
Personal Care
Stress Management
Confidence
Problem Solving
Pluralism & Cultural Legacies
Bacc Core Learning Goals
Communication
Opportunities for Partnership
OSU Branding
Student Affairs: Life Skills
How can we purposely develop learning outcomes
if the curriculum has not been clearly defined?