A collaboration between Arkansas Tech University faculty members, staff members and administrators has yielded a new model in delivering online staff training.
Faculty members from ATU academic programs in student affairs administration and hospitality administration worked with ATU student affairs professionals in campus life, first generation student experience, health and wellness, orientation, residence life and Title IX to develop training topics and the accompanying online modules to deliver the content. Further assistance was provided by staff members from information systems and university marketing.
The results of the collaboration were presented by Dr. Susan Underwood, ATU professor of student affairs administration, Dr. Dana Tribble, ATU assistant professor of student affairs administration, and Dr. Keegan Nichols, ATU vice president for student affairs, during the 2022 National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) IV-West and East Joint Conference in Chicago, Ill., in November.
“It was great to work with the professionals in student affairs,” said Underwood. “The partnership has already been mutually beneficial but we expect the benefits to continue as we work to support one another. For me, reconnecting to the practice of student affairs energizes me and enriches my teaching in so many ways.”
The project team of ATU faculty and staff members created learning outcomes for each of the 14 training modules developed during phase one of the project. The training modules were first utilized to aid in training student staff members in the ATU Division of Student Affairs in advance of the fall 2022 semester. A similar professional development program will be offered to full-time student affairs staff members during the spring 2023 semester.
“It has been fun and rewarding, from the brainstorming sessions that began this initiative to the conference presentation,” said Tribble. “Working with a group dedicated to providing an avenue for students to grow personally and professionally has been enjoyable. I look forward to building on this initiative and positively contributing to each student’s flourishment.”
The ATU Master of Science degree in student affairs administration (formerly college student personnel) is celebrating its 20th anniversary this academic year. Faculty representing the program are observing the anniversary by reconnecting with alumni and reaching out to those completing their bachelor’s degrees to inform them about career opportunities made possible through the student affairs administration master’s degree.
For more information about the ATU Master of Science degree in student affairs administration, visit www.atu.edu/saa or call (479) 356-2007.
