Presented by Lesley D'Souza & Jen Gonzales
A Women & Work/Life Balance in Student Affairs survey was distributed to the CACUSS membership and presented in this session. In addition a panel of Student Affairs professionals spoke about their experiences balancing personal and professional commitments.
3. Lesley D’Souza, MA
CAMPUS ACTIVITIES & EVENTS
FACILITATOR, RYERSON UNIVERSITY
Lesley is responsible for managing the
Student Life Programs office at Ryerson.
She has worked previously at Centennial
College, the University of Guelph, &
Bowling Green State University whilst
completing her MA in College Student
Personnel. She feels strongly about
developing women as leaders and is
excited to continue the dialogue at
CACUSS 2012.
JenGonzales, MT
RESIDENCE LIFE EDUCATION
COORDINATOR, RYERSON UNIVERSITY
Jen is responsible for the
implementation of the residence life
program at Ryerson. She is the President
of OACUHO and is deeply passionate
about issues facing women in leadership
within Student Affairs. She worked
previously at the University of Guelph as
a Residence Manager and is a Faculty
member at George Brown College
teaching "Life Skills" to first-year social
service worker students.
4. Alyssa Graham
RESIDENCE LIFE COORDINATOR,
HUMBER COLLEGE
She just finished a two year stint as an RLC in
Calgary, AB, where she worked with a
Princess and saw a lot of mountains. She
holds an undergrad degree from the
University of Guelph and enjoys fiction,
feminism, and the food network.
John Austin
SENIOR ADVISOR, SPECIAL PROJECTS
RYERSON UNIVERSITY
John received his M.Ed. in Higher Education from the
University of North Carolina and his Ed.D. in Higher
Education Leadership, Policy & Administration from
Fordham University in New York City. His 19 year career
in Student Affairs/Services has been spent at a wide
range of public, private, and performing arts schools in
the U.S. and Canada. He currently serves as the Senior
Advisor, Special Projects at Ryerson University.
JenniferHamilton
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
CACUSS/ASEUCC
Jennifer began her career in Student Affairs in
1997 after graduating from the University of
Guelph & Colorado State University. She has
worked at 6 institutions in student affairs in
Canada and the US in her 15 year career. She
has two children aged 6 and 3 years old.
Jennifer made a career change in September
2010.
Heather LaneVetere
VICE-PROVOST, STUDENTS,
RYERSON UNIVERSITY
Heather’s large & diverse portfolio includes
admissions, enrollment services, student services,
athletics, etc. She earned a PhD from Bowling Green
State University in Higher Education Administration.
Her previous positions have included Dean of Students
at Victoria University , & Executive Director of Student
Housing Services at the University of Guelph. Heather
lives with her husband and two dogs, obsessively knits
socks and just last year got her motorcycle license.
5. InHer Shoes: Women &Work/LifeBalance began as a presentation at CACUSS2011,and received a surprisingly
strong response.
“• Jen & Lesley began the conversation as colleagues
at Ryerson in 2010.
• At CACUSS 2011, their session was attended by 55
and received a significant amount of feedback
indicating a desire to continue the dialogue.
• In February 2012, an article titled «In Her Shoes:
Women and Work/Life Balance in Student Affairs»
was published in CACUSS’ Communique.
• A survey of the CACUSS membership was
conducted in February 2012 to gather data about
work/life balance within Student Affairs.
6. The following data sets are highlights from a survey
conducted to the CACUSS/ASEUCC membership in
February 2012.
7. General demographic information relating to institutions associated with CACUSS.
INSTITUTIONSIZE
47.6% - Large (over 22,000)
23.1% - Med (12-22,000)
19.0% - Small (4-12,000)
10.2% - V. Small (Under 4,000)
CAMPUSTYPE
69.9% Commuter
30.1% Residential
GEOGRAPHICDISTRIBUTION
Majority of responses from
Ontario, Alberta & British
Columbia (76.8%).
CACUSS/ASEUCCDIVISIONS
Representation from all
divisions, with majority (64.3%)
from SASA.
8. « How many years have you worked in Student Affairs? »
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
0-2Years 2-5Years 6-10 Years 11-20 Years 20+ Years
9. « How would you identify yourself professionally? »
4%
19%
22%
40%
15%
Admin Support
FrontLine
Program Facilitation
Management
11. « Do you identify with any of these groups? (Check any that apply) »
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
12. « What number of dependents do you have? »
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
0 1 2 3 4
13. « Is career and life balance a challenge for you? »
59%
8%
33%
Yes
No
Somewhat
14. « Is work life balance more of an issue for: »
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Men Women Equal forallgenders
15. « What are the primary challenges to your ability to maintain a good work/life balance? (Check all that
apply) »
53%
62%
77%
59%
Time management
Balancing familycommitments
Balancing career goals with personal goals
Balancing w ongoing PD (Associations,Post-grad,
Certifications, etc.)
16. « Do you see achieving Work/Life balance as an issue for Student Affairs professionals? »
81.0%
2.2%
16.8%
Yes
No
Somewhat
17. General integration perceptions & preferences:
Is balance a
challenge for
you?
Top strategies to
manage balance:
Current career
goals:
Is this an issue
for S.A.
professionals?
Males
Yes – 76.2%
No – 4.8%
Somewhat – 19%
Network (86.4%),
Calendar (59.1%),
Fitness (54.5%)
Retirement (57.1%),
Promotion (52.4%), Post-
grad (33.3%)
Yes – 78.9%
No – 5.3%
Somewhat – 15.8%
Females
Yes – 56.7%
No – 7.5%
Somewhat – 35.8%
Network (85.3%),
Calendar (78.4%), Fitness
(54.3%), Wellness
Professionals (49.1%)
Retirement (50.9%),
Promotion (43.4%),
Post-grad (37.7%)
Yes – 80.9%
No – 1.7%
Somewhat – 17.4%
Single
Yes – 55.1%
No – 9%
Somewhat – 35.9%
Network (85.9%),
Calendar (78.2%), Fitness
(57.7%), Wellness
Professionals (48.7%)
Promotion (52.8%),
Retirement (45.8%),
Post-grad (41.7%)
Entrepreneurial (15.3%)
Yes – 77.3%
No – 2.7%
Somewhat – 20%
With
Dependents
Yes – 64.6%
No – 6.2%
Somewhat – 29.2%
Network (87.1%),
Calendar (71%), Fitness
(50%), Wellness
Professionals (43.5%)
Retirement (60.3%),
Promotion (34.5%),
Post-grad (31%)
Yes – 85.5%
No – 1.6%
Somewhat – 12.9%
18. Gender & work/life fit perceptions:
Does Work/Life
Balance Differ by
Gender?
Can taking time off
limit career
options?
Work/life balance is
more of an issue for:
Males
Yes – 58.8%
No – 41.2%
Yes – 80%
No – 20%
Equal for all – 100%
Females
Yes – 68.8%
No – 31.3%
Yes – 74.8%
No – 25.2%
Women – 61.9%
Equal for all – 38.1%
Single
Yes – 63.4%
No – 36.6%
Yes – 76.4%
No – 23.6%
Women – 50.7%
Equal for all – 49.3%
With Dependents
Yes – 72.1%
No – 27.9%
Yes – 75.8%
No – 24.2%
Women – 55.7%
Equal for all – 44.3%
19. “
« I think in Student Affairs, in general, we really have a strong martyrdom syndrome-
we work long hours but feel like we need to perform this obligatory suffering in order
to make it look like we are doing important work. Its not uncommon for folks to
brag/backdoor-complain about having to stay up until 3am getting work done or
having to be available 24/7 for their students- but this is not a sustainable model. »
« Aside from the guilt at home I addressed earlier, I also think there is the workplace
guilt. Missing evening events, inflexibility before and after work, having to leave for a sick
child etc. I often want to support my peers doing an event i.e. Black History month in the
evening but my personal committments interfer. Tough to get a promotion if you are
always having to leave at ‘quitting time’… »
« There is a reason I look around the Student Affairs units at my institution and see
more and more women leaving during their child raising years. It is unfortunate that
this field does not easily support parents who want to work part-time, or even regular
hours. »
« …while I think active parents face some of the biggest challenges with work-life
balance, I think new professionals without families are just as much at risk. Sometimes it
feels like those who are married or have children are encouraged to take time to
maintain these relationships while those who do not have those obligations do not
receive the same messages and can find themselves faced with more work than
expected as a result. »
« We work in environments of enormous privilege --lovely campuses, decently paid,
benefits & pensions, client groups amongst the top quartile/half of the population in
terms of intelligence, resilience, communication stills. So if the price to be paid is extra
time on campus to 'go the extra mile' for our students, we should be glad to have the
opportunity. »
20. Remember – you can also ask questions to the panelists via twitter by using the #INHERSHOES12 hashtag!
Alyssa Graham
RESIDENCE LIFE COORDINATOR,
HUMBER COLLEGE
She just finished a two year stint as an RLC in
Calgary, AB, where she worked with a
Princess and saw a lot of mountains. She
holds an undergrad degree from the
University of Guelph and enjoys fiction,
feminism, and the food network.
John Austin
SENIOR ADVISOR, SPECIAL PROJECTS
RYERSON UNIVERSITY
John received his M.Ed. in Higher Education from the
University of North Carolina and his Ed.D. in Higher
Education Leadership, Policy & Administration from
Fordham University in New York City. His 19 year career
in Student Affairs/Services has been spent at a wide
range of public, private, and performing arts schools in
the U.S. and Canada. He currently serves as the Senior
Advisor, Special Projects at Ryerson University.
JenniferHamilton
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
CACUSS/ASEUCC
Jennifer began her career in Student Affairs in
1997 after graduating from the University of
Guelph & Colorado State University. She has
worked at 6 institutions in student affairs in
Canada and the US in her 15 year career. She
has two children aged 6 and 3 years old.
Jennifer made a career change in September
2010.
HeatherLaneVetere
VICE-PROVOST, STUDENTS,
RYERSON UNIVERSITY
Heather’s large & diverse portfolio includes admissions,
enrollment services, student services, athletics,
etc. She earned a PhD from Bowling Green State
University in Higher Education Administration. Her
previous positions have included Dean of Students at
Victoria University , & Executive Director of Student
Housing Services at the University of Guelph. Heather
lives with her husband and two dogs, obsessively knits
socks and just last year got her motorcycle license.
21. • How do you navigate your career as a
woman and/or support women in their
careers?
• What were defining challenges? Successes?
• What words of advice would you offer
women working in student affairs?
22. If you found this session interesting, please check out the
following online resources to hear more about issues
facing women in leadership & Student Affairs.
twitter.com/jengonzales8
twitter.com/lesleydsz
#WISA, #WLSalt, #CdnWISA
www.naspa.org/kc/wisa/
http://wisakc.wordpress.com
www2.myacpa.org/what-is-scw
We’d love to hear from you!
Google Map
Twitter Email
@jengonzales8 j8gonzal@ryerson.ca
@lesleydsz lesleyd@ryerson.ca
Editor's Notes
Males – 59.1% Single, 40.9% Dependents
Females – 54.2% Single, 45.8% Dependents
Single – 16.7% Male, 83.3% Female
Dependents – 14.1% Male, 85.9% Female
Males – 59.1% Single, 40.9% Dependents
Females – 54.2% Single, 45.8% Dependents
Single – 16.7% Male, 83.3% Female
Dependents – 14.1% Male, 85.9% Female
