Presentation on managing the expectations of graduate students as they transition into new professional roles, given at the 2011 NASPA-FL Drive In

2. Once Upon A Time…

3. The Purpose of This Project
 Build long lasting relationships
 Help me figure out my “fit”
 Hear the stories of others
 Learn about current issues at other institutions
 To engage in conversations outside of the classroom
and connect it to my classwork

4. Information I Asked For..
 Their story
 What are some current issues their office or institution
are facing?
 What advice would you give a first year graduate
student?
 What advice would you give a seconded year graduate
student?
 Any questions for myself?

5. What I Learned…
1. Current Issues:
 Mental health- what services/programs are we providing our
students?
 Space.- How can we put on programs/ add more classes/ hire
more staff/build more residence halls if we do not have the
space?
 Budget cuts- Now what? How to do more with less without over
working ourselves?
 Staffing – More students + budget cuts+ less space= we need
more staff, but how?
 Increasing enrollment
 Self care- As professionals are we remembering to take care of
ourselves? We need to be a role model for students.
 Working students/finances- Some of our student are working 2-
3 jobs just to pay for college. How do we help them balance
schoolwork, work, and a social life?

6. What I Learned…
2. Support- Many professionals found support from the
following areas:
 Co-workers
 Their division
 Social media: Twitter, (#sachat) Facebook, National
Committees, etc.
 Spouse/significant other/family/friends/mentors
 Students
3. Networking!!!

7. Best Advice…
1. The power of networking
2. “What are my non-negotiables?”
3. Support yourself with others who can give you
support.
4. Surrender the need to KNOW EVERYTHING
5. Policies: always ask the meaning behind them.

8. My Challenges
 Paying attention to detail
 I would have asked more defined questions
 Writing a blog after each interview

9. [Demographics of Grads]
 How many?
 What states/institutions?
 Those with assistantships vs. those without

10. 1. What was the biggest challenge about your transition from
your undergraduate institution to graduate school?
1. Transition in General
 Class structure
 Expectation from Faculty
 Time management
 Knowing the institutions process
2. Pressure to perform well academically and in our assistantship
3. Balance
 Assistantship AND being a student
 “One of the biggest challenges for me was time management and all
that came with it--balancing life as a graduate ASSISTANT with life as
a graduate STUDENT, especially. “Cassidy Sansone - FSU
 Additional responsibilities
 Obligations to friends and family
 Finding time for yourself

11. 1. What was the biggest challenge about your transition from
your undergraduate institution to graduate school?
4. Identity
 Letting go
 Starting over
 Relationships
5. Homesickness
6. Connecting with cohort
7. Culture
 “Moving to a new and unfamiliar area; this was just an
additional unwanted stressor as classes began and I
struggled to find a routine and balance between work and the
course load” -Lauren Hoffmann, Kent State University
8. Support

12. 2. What are some of your expectations that you have for your first pro
fessional position out of graduate school?
1. Professional development
 “I expect professional development training and to be valued as an
employee.” -Nikita O'Connor, FSU
2. Being able to ask questions and give input
3. Supportive and challenging environment
 “I expect to be treated as professional. I expect my supervisor to find a
balance of advising me to ensure success and allowing me to be
autonomous in my job responsibilities” -Michelle Robinson, FSU
 “I will look forward to those challenging days as I know they will help me
to grow as a professional and a person.” -Andrea Cappello, USF
4. Room for growth
 “To be trusted to do the job. I have the experience, I have the knowledge,
and now i'll have the degree - I don't want to spend years and years
earning the trust from supervisors to make decisions regarding the
student population I will oversee and work with. I need the room to grow
in the field with support being given as an individual.” -Heilit Biehl, Nova
Southeastern University
5. Respect

13. 3. What challenges do you anticipate dealing with in your first
professional position?
(Institutional or personal)
1. Consistent work/ life balance
 “A more consistent work life balance. There are times when I feel as I
will have "more time" as a professional than I do now because of
school work, however the grass may not be greener on the other side.
I won't know until I get there. Work life balance is a challenge now,
however saying no, honestly comes out easier than it ever used to in
my life before.” -Monica Rochon, University of South Florida
2. Adapting to the student population and campus culture
3.Office Culture
 “The challenges I expect will be if my office doesn't utilize me enough” -
Jessica, Bowling Green State University
4. Building a support network and adapting to a new environment
 #SAYR1 ( Student affairs year 1)

14. Where Do New Professionals
Fit Into This?

15. How to Strengthen the
Bridge?
 Asking questions!
 Being okay with not having all the answers
 Comprehensive training (NOT just manuals)
 Managing expectations

16. The New Pro Participants
 53 participants from 21 states
 The majority have completed graduate preparatory
programs
 Participants could have up to 5 years experience
 19 had less than 1 year of experience
 16 had 3 years
 8 had 2 years
 5 had 4 years
 3 had 1 year
 2 had 5 years

17. 1. What surprised you the most about your transition in to
a new professional?
What do you wish you’d known?
 Change in perception
 “I was most surprised by the immediate change in the way
students interact with me […] they saw me as professional
staff and did not interact with me as positively/openly when
I was a student.”
 “Suddenly my opinion was wanted and my voice was
heard by those who were in much higher positions.” –
Amanda, USF
 Level of preparedness
 “My program and assistantship truly did prepare me to
tackle whatever came my way.”
 “I wish I had known- and realized- that it really is okay to
make mistakes. You need to learn as much as your
students do!” –Megan, UGA

18. 1. What surprised you the most about your transition in to
a new professional?
What do you wish you’d known?
 Unique nature of each campus
 “Learning the culture has been more difficult than I had
thought due to the intricacies and traditions that make my
current institution unique.”
 The need to do what’s right for you!
 “I’ve learned to make the opportunities I want happen by
myself. I need to take ownership of my experience,
happiness and professional development.” –Tom, George
Mason (VA)
 “The thing I wish I would have known is the importance of
honoring your own needs/wants in the job search. I would
have benefitted greatly from respecting my own wishes
and doing some soul searching instead of moving forward
with a cross country move that resulted in a lot of stress
for me.” –Vince, Stetson

19. 2. What is the most important lesson you’ve learned?
“The most important thing has been knowing when to shut up and when to
speak up. As an entry level professional you want to bring what you know and
your skills […] show everyone how excellent you are at your job, and then they’ll
listen to your ideas.” –Stephanie, Texas State
“You must begin to immediately form an idea of who you are. This does not
mean that you shouldn’t continue to grow and change, but until you know your
priorities, your ethics and your strengths, it’s very difficult to function and get
work done.”
“The lesson I have learned the most through my experience is building solid
relationships with your co-workers. Feeling as though you have friends to talk to
at work is crucial during the first few months of a new position.”- Kris, USF
“[…]Regardless of how hard I try, there is ALWAYS going to be bureaucratic red
tape. Picking my battles is the only way I will stay sane. Sometimes I will pick the
wrong ones, but sometimes I can make a difference when I have a more calm
positive attitude.” –Megan, HCC Plant City

20. 2. What is the most important lesson you’ve learned?
“You have to take time to ask questions and get to know your job and those around you. Be
confident in what you know and humble about what you don’t.” -Whitney, Augustana College
(SD)
“Start out having an open relationship with your supervisor and peers. It makes it so much
easier when you find you need help or when you mess up! –Sarah, Emory University
“[…]To trust my instincts- after grad school you are more prepared than you believe. This
doesn’t mean don’t ask questions but that professional judgment is often reliable.- Woody,
North Carolina State
“I’ve learned to be nice to everyone. Anyone from the janitor to people you pass in the hall to
the officers in public safety. You never know how a simple smile can make their day, or how
they may be able to assist you in the future. –Loren, Wentworth Institute of Technology (MA)
“I have learned that the AA (or the Serenity) prayer really sums up everything about the most
important lesson in a new position.”

21. 3. What are the most pressing challenges you can
foresee your department/institution facing over the course
of the coming year?
 Budget
 Space (ESPECIALLY residence life and education!)
 Personnel
 Working through staff changes
 Preparation of staff
 Creation of new programming
 Resource challenges
 Institutional resistance

22. Challenges of the House
UPPER FLOOR ISSUES:
-Retention
-Social Media Presence
-Increasing Enrollment
-Student Finances
-Graduation Rates
GROUND FLOOR ISSUES:
-Budget
-Resources
-Personnel
-Self-Care
-Networking

23. Easing Transition Woes
 Consistent work/ life balance
 “It is important to make you a priority. I had the notion that
since this was my first professional position I needed to
overcommit […] this is simply not true. I need to make
sure that my personal needs are taken care of first in
order for me to be an effective professional.” –Rose,
Carleton (MN)
 Adapting to the student population and campus culture
 “Learn to observe. I am attempting to absorb as much as I can
in my position and in any experience I participate in while at
my new institution […] I have gained a tremendous amount of
knowledge just from listening to my supervisors speaking
with students than I could have if I attempted to dive in and
handle certain situations on my own.”-Hiram, Agnes Scott
(GA)

24. Easing Transition Woes
 Office Culture
 “The most important lesson I have learned is by far the
understanding of campus politics. You will NOT agree with
everything the institution is doing. But […] it is only ethical to follow
those policies and hold up the institutional goals. Understand that
not everything will be possible due to campus politics and focus your
time on what you do have control over.” –Ryan, Wentworth Institute
of Technology (MA)
 Building a support network and adapting to a new
environment
 “Because student affairs tends to be so inclusive and warm, it is easy
to assume that people will drop everything to welcome us when we
step onto a new campus. While this is the experience for some, it will
not be for everyone. Before you accept a position, ask really good
questions about support from your new campus and surrounding
community. What is there to do in town? What kind of support is your
supervisor/staff willing to give?” –Mallory, UNC Pembroke

25. Questions?
Tweet us! We’d love to hear from you!
Kelley McCarthy
@KMcCarthy8185
Amma Marfo
@ammamarfo