Comprehensive
Standards: Educational Programs 3.9.3 (adequate student affairs staff)
The institution
provides services supporting its mission with qualified personnel to
ensure the quality and effectiveness of its student affairs programs.
Compliance
North
Carolina State University is in compliance with this standard.
Explanation
NC State
University provides services supporting its mission with qualified personnel
to ensure the quality and effectiveness of its student affairs programs.
The Division of Student
Affairs contributes to the mission of NC State University by providing
programs and services that enhance quality of life, facilitate intellectual,
ethical and personal growth, and create a culture of respect for diversity.
To help achieve this mission, the division facilitates the personal,
social, physical, cultural, leadership, and intellectual development
of NC State University students.
The
division employs 583 employees: 190 are Exempt from the Personnel Act
(EPA); 323 are Subject to the Personnel Act (SPA); 35 are graduate assistants.
The remaining 35 employees include federal employees and chaplains.
Of
its 583 employees, 49 have worked in the division for over fifteen years.
All EPA employees are required to have at least a master’s degree,
unless exempted by the vice chancellor for student affairs. Of
the 190 EPA staff, 131 have master’s degrees and 48 have doctorates.
All support staff meet the educational and experience requirements specified
by the various classification levels of the State Personnel Act.
The
division uses the following strategies to improve the job performance
of all employees, and thereby to enhance the effectiveness of each unit.
Annual Beginning
of the Year Program
Every August, the vice chancellor for student affairs invites all
division employees to a professional development program. This
event provides an opportunity for all employees to receive support,
meet new employees, hear a professional speaker, and receive focus and
motivation from the vice chancellor.
Professional
Growth Committee
The Professional
Growth Committee, made up of approximately 15 division employees,
promotes personal and professional development for staff and graduate
assistants. Through training and in-service activities, employees
are helped to perform more effectively. The committee’s
goals are as follows:
- Orient
committee members to the responsibilities of their positions
- Develop
teamwork at the division and committee levels
- Enhance
the effectiveness of staff members
- Provide
opportunities for personal growth
- Introduce
staff to the philosophy of the division and the theoretical basis
for student personnel work
Diversity Theme
Each year, the division focuses on a different diversity theme,
designed to educate its employees to better serve NC State University.
The diversity theme is part of a long-standing effort to embrace the
diversity of student and employee populations. It focuses diversity
efforts on one specific area and creates a greater appreciation for
diversity in the NC State campus community. All units in the division
are encouraged to find ways to incorporate this theme into their efforts
throughout the year.
In
addition, the division’s Professional Growth Committee is asked
to present programs on the diversity theme. The diversity theme web site
provides information about the theme, university and other diversity
resources, educational programs, and other diversity themes.
Orientation of New Staff
Twice a year, the vice chancellor for student affairs conducts
orientation for all new staff in the division. During orientation,
the vice chancellor describes the organizational structure of the division,
NC State University, and the University of North Carolina System.
He highlights the ten values of the division, with a special focus on
its motto, “Students First”; emphasizes the division’s
commitments to diversity and to the elimination of all forms of discrimination;
and stresses the importance of professional development by encouraging
staff to take courses, join organizations, and attend and present at
conferences.
Annual Written
Evaluations
The vice chancellor for student affairs requires all supervisors
to complete annual written evaluations for all full-time EPA staff.
All supervisors must also develop work plans with support staff and
complete performance appraisals annually, as required by Administrative Regulation
05.50.4, SPA Employee Performance Appraisal Program. This
process ensures that employees are aware of expectations, receive timely
feedback about their performance, and receive opportunities for training
and development.
Dissertation
Support Group
An associate vice chancellor for student affairs convenes a support
group for staff in the division who are in the process of completing
their doctorates. Since the inception of the “Dissertation
Support Group” in 1998, seven employees have completed their doctorates.
End-of-the-Year
Awards
The vice chancellor for student affairs encourages outstanding performance
by all employees through the following end of the year division
awards. The Don Roberts Award recognizes efforts to combat
racism, sexism, homophobia or discrimination based on disability.
The Students First Award recognizes special, unique or extraordinary
efforts on behalf of students. The Technology Initiative Award
recognizes an individual unit for using technology to enhance the delivery
or effectiveness of student services or programs. The Team Spirit
Award recognizes outstanding teamwork, either within an organizational
unit or between organizational units. In addition, the division
participates in the university-wide Awards for Excellence
Program. This award recognizes outstanding contributions to
public service, safety, heroism, human relations or innovations.
Further
evidence of the quality of the division’s personnel and the effectiveness
of its programs can be found in the division’s Annual Report,
which includes examples of unit
achievements, progress reports on the status of
the division’s major Compact Plan initiatives, and highlights
of professional
activities and recognitions.
Chaplains’
Cooperative Ministry
The university
provides opportunities for the spiritual and moral development of its
students. However, the university does not pay the salaries of
the university-affiliated chaplains. The Chaplains’ Cooperative
Ministry is located within the Center for Leadership, Ethics and Public
Service and the affiliated chaplains are paid by their respective denominations.
References
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3.9.3
N.C.
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