The document summarizes responses from Senior Student Affairs Officers (SSAOs) about common mistakes campus activities practitioners make regarding work-life balance and changes that could be made to improve work-life balance. SSAOs identified mistakes like spending too much time socializing at work instead of being productive, having an attitude that their work is harder than others, and failing to take full vacation time. SSAOs suggested changes like allowing more flexible schedules, reducing expectations to always be present and accessible, and recognizing that campus activities work affects practitioners' workflow and life outside of work.

1. ENOUGH
ALREADY.
Haven’t we fixed the work-life balance thing yet?

2. We will build dramatic anticipation
for the session using quotes from
participants in our survey.

3. imagine suspenseful theme music
playing here.
[We’ll have to work on that next time
we present.]

4. Let’s get serious.
We surveyed Senior Student Affairs
Officers in our region with some
specific questions about work-life
balance for campus activities
practitioners.

5. Question 1:
What are the most serious mistakes
you see made by campus activities
practitioners with regard to work/life
balance that are within their control
to correct?

6. “Making use of their time when they are in the
office. They often need to stay late or work
longer hours because they allow students to
spend an hour "in between classes" hanging
out and shooting the breeze - then they
get nothing done.”
--Senior Student Affairs Officer who stopped
in to visit you at your office
What mistakes do we make?

7. “Attitude. The myth that Campus Activities professionals
work harder than everyone else on campus. The work in
the field of Campus Activities is very visual as it relates to
events and programs. Sometimes we forget that there are
faculty grading assignments late into the evening who are
still expected to do individual research in their fields along
with professionals in other areas who take work home
every night.”
--Senior Student Affairs Officer
What mistakes do we make?

8. “The demands and expectations
are high for all staff. Being
outcomes driven is the coin of the
realm.”
--Senior Student Affairs Officer
What mistakes do we make?

9. “They stay too long at activities - needing to
do and see everything. Don't take full
advantage of vacation time. Find true done
time - off social media as well.”
--SSAO in the Northeast Region
What mistakes do we make?

10. “Oversharing of personal lives in social
media, in staff meetings, in casual
conversations. The implication is that
everyone wants to know, and has to know
about the personal issues and challenges in
one's life- and if you are in the
conversation, you have to sympathize or
agree with the perspective offered by the
staff member.”
--SSAO who could be your next boss
What mistakes do we make?

11. “I think new professionals think of
work/life balance as day to day or week
to week. I suggest they need to think of
this balance as over a career.”
--SSAO in the Northeast Region
What mistakes do we make?

12. Question 2:
If you could change one thing
about institutional or professional
culture that makes work/life
balance difficult for campus
activities professionals, what
would it be?
The SSAO responds...

13. “I would change the need to be always
present, to avoid judgement. Generally,
there is pressure thinking that that
judgement comes from colleagues.
Technology has exacerbated this, as we are
always accessible, and never truly away,
when we are 'not at work'.”
--Senior Student Affairs Officer
What would you change?

14. “I need to send the message that they are not
expected to be at everything and be everything
to every one. In addition, we, as student affairs
culture, need to change that dynamic that
programs are "mine" and I am the only one that
can do it right.”
--Senior Student Affairs Officer
(could be yours?)
What would you change?

15. “One should not be expected to be in
the office at 8:30 or 9:00 am. Campus
Activities staff should have schedules
more akin to students- start at noon or
1pm- 7 or 8pm, and when working an
evening event, take an afternoon off
once in an while.”
---SSAO at a campus near you!
What would you change?

16. “No administrative meetings in the early
mornings. Division leader needs to ask for
vacation and time off schedule not to
"check-up" but to make sure folks are not
getting burnt-out. Campus activities staffs
need to be guided in their work/life balance
- and rewarded for their "overtime" work
when others in the division do 9-5 5
weekdays a week.”
--Senior Student Affairs Officer
What would you change?

17. question 2
“Recognition that these professionals are
called upon to develop or over see the
development of programs/events, be a
presence at major ones, train students, and
then participate in the life of the campus
through committees and other institutional
assignments. Others at the institution need
to be mindful of elements that effect
activities practitioners workflow such as how
early we schedule committee meetings, etc.”
What would you change?

18. “I would change the degree to
which ‘keeping students
occupied’ seems to be directed
nearly solely toward the Student
Activities office.”
--SSAO at a campus near you
What would you change?

19. “Campus Activities professionals really should
not complain about late nights and long hours,
no one forced us into this field. Our work is
positive and enjoyable as we help students
grow. Your perspective is key in this balancing
act. Don't alienate yourself from allies on
campus by having an elitist attitude about your
work hours. Everyone on campus is working
hard, but I assure you they are not having as
much fun!”
What would you change?

20. “I would correct the assumption that
Student Life is a "young person's"
job...that it is for those who have all the
time in the world, few responsibilities
outside of work, and will move on when
they ‘grow up’.”
What would you change?