In Student Affairs, many would argue that having your Ph.D. can certainly open many doors for you in your career. I truly don’t believe that everyone needs a Ph.D. to have opportunities come their way, but for the most part, I can see some validity to this school of thought. However, taking a step back to be able to jump forward certainly should give cause for ponder.

I made the decision to quit my full-time job, after working for almost 10 years professionally in Student Affairs, to become a full-time Ph.D. graduate student. Rest assured, many people thought I was crazy, especially leaving a comfortable salary, excellent health insurance, and a staff that anyone would envy in the middle of an economic crisis. I was very excited, yet nervous as hell about being a student again. Now, I don’t want to be forthcoming about my true age, but I can assure you that it’s been a LONG time since I’ve been a student in an academic classroom.

Now, I have to admit, the transition was a bit harder than I thought. I moved clear across the country (more than 23 hours drive to my mom’s front door) and into an area that is known for rough winters and corn fields in every direction. With this being said, here are just a few things that maybe you should ponder before you take a step back, so that you can take a jump forward.

1. Location, location, location!: Truly know your own personal limits and how far is too far for you. Do you want to be closer to your family and/or friends? What options would allow this to happen, within a distance that you consider reasonable for yourself.
2. Don’t forget your Piggy Bank!: Yes, you are leaving a comfortable salary . . . for a short period of time. Start saving now, even if this means putting away an extra $100 per month from each pay check. Most graduate student stipends are barely enough to keep your hair above the water. Do yourself a favor, become a penny pincher!
3. Positionality?: You should understand that as a Graduate student, you will likely not be in the position to make the same decisions that you previously freely did working full-time. Your scope of influence, however important that may be, will be different and a bit more limited than what you are accustomed to. Don’t be afraid to negotiate and advocate for yourself, but do understand that you are limited by the nature of your title, Graduate Student.
4. Transfer of Power?: I never really understood how personal academia could be. To faculty, their work is very personal and can be a sense of pride for them. Be delicate and sensitive to what they value. This doesn’t mean that you can’t engage them in fruitful dialogue, but please do understand that criticizing their work is just like criticizing them personally. The two go hand and hand.
5. Balance, Balance, Balance!: Being a full-time student again means an entirely different world, which involves working your assistantship, going to classes, conducting research, writing papers, reading things that you never knew existed, more writing and more reading. In all of this, don’t forget to create balance. Personally, I negotiated enough so that I do not work or go to classes on Fridays (rule broken every now and then, but protect your day as much as possible). Fridays are my days to catch up on my household chores, any reading/projects, laundry, grocery shopping, etc. Also, schedule regular work-out sessions during your busy week. Trust me, it’s a heck of a way to blow off steam and frustration!

If you learn anything from me, learn that it pays to dig deep into your soul and know your own limits about what it will take to make this transition work for you, yourself, and you!

Rinardo Reddick is coordinator for America Reads/America Counts and a doctoral student in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Iowa State University.

Student affairs is in the throes of job search season with many of the placement events just around the corner. #SAChat hosted a special job search edition on February 10 during which all of the questions asked were submitted by job seekers. More than 39 people submitted questions and while we tried to get to many of them during the hour-long chat, we didn’t get to ask everything submitted. I’ve created a Google Doc of the remaining questions and am asking our community to chime in with their thoughts, insight and expertise. Take a few minutes and read over the questions still hanging out there. Adding your thoughts to even one or two of them will be a huge help to those who are searching! And, of course, feel free to add more questions to this living document.

As always, keep the conversation going on Twitter using #sachat and #sajobs hashtags.

Click here to view the document.

Best of luck to all of our job seekers in the community. Remember, it’s not a race — it’s a journey and it’s your own journey. We’re all here to cheer you on!

If you cannot view this poll click here.

How many student affairs professional development webinars do you attend each semester?

I’ve been testing out 3 web-based social media apps. Built to leverage the API’s of sites like Twitter and Facebook, these apps are web-based and can be accessed from any net enabled computer. TweetDeck (Chrome only), HootSuite, and Seesmic are all amazing in terms of functionality. I tested them all out using Google’s Chrome browser. This was mostly due to the fact that TweetDeck is only available as a web app via Chrome.

Aesthetically speaking, I really like the look and feel of Seesmic. It’s been my favorite Twitter app on Android and the web-based version doesn’t disappoint. It’s feature-rich and integrates the following social media services: Twitter, Foursquare, Google Buzz, Facebook, and LinkedIn. TweetDeck works almost as well as the desktop version. HootSuite has long been a popular alternative to TweetDeck. However, I find it’s interface to be less intuitive and quite a bit more “clunky” than Seesmic or TweetDeck. The API connection that TweetDeck leverages in Chrome is impressive. Tweets stream into your web browser almost as fast as they are posted. This makes it very easy to participate in Twitter-based chats using “ChromeDeck.”

In terms of social media listening / engaging, I would recommend that you try out all 3 apps to determine which one works best for you. I’ve been using TweetDeck in Chrome for fast-paced Twitter chats and Seesmic works really well in Firefox. HootSuite offers up a paid, Pro service for folks who want access to a larger feature set. It will be interesting to see how these app providers can continue to provide such amazing apps while at the same time covering their operating costs. While these apps are certainly not as powerful as the social media listening stations that Gatorade and Dell launched last year, I’m certain that you can do quite a bit with a browser, a connection to the Internet, and one of these web-based social media apps.

Which of these 3 apps do you use? Do you use something else?

Hootsuite – (Works in Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, and Chrome)

Seesmic – (Works in Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, and Chrome)

TweetDeck – (Chrome browser)

Public employees in Wisconsin have been on edge ever since Governor Scott Walker presented his budget repair bill last week. The bill eliminates almost all collective bargaining rights for most state employees and dramatically increases required contributions to healthcare and pension plans. For employees of the University of Wisconsin System, this results in anywhere from an 8-15% decrease in take home pay, effective almost immediately.

The legislature held a public hearing on the bill on Monday, and it lasted more than 26 hours. Students and public employees have been protesting in and around the capitol in Madison since Monday, some staying overnight. The crowd of protestors today is estimated at 25,000. Madison public schools have been closed for two days because of a teacher sick-out. The most recent development was this afternoon’s protest from democratic senators: they left the state instead of attending the hearing to vote on the bill. Without at least one of the senators, quorum can’t be reached and a vote can’t be held. Students on most UW campuses staged protests and walkouts today in support of teachers and staff members.

This bill may have national implications. Right now, it looks like Ohio is next in line to attempt to deny collective bargaining rights for public employees. According to an NPR story, “It’s [healthcare & pensions] also a place that governors in other states are looking to find savings as they face crushing budget deficits.”

In full disclosure, I’m a UW System employee, and this bill will decrease my monthly take home pay by 12.4%. This is a crushing blow, as raises have already been rescinded from university employees for the last two years and are unlikely to occur over the next four, and for two years we’ve had mandatory furloughs, which amount to a 3.25% pay cut. I recently took a new position that represented a promotion. At the time, my new boss lamented that I would not be receiving much of a pay raise, and she was not authorized to offer me any more money. If this bill is approved, the minimal raise I received to become a department director and member of the campus administrative leadership team will return my net income to almost exactly what I was making at my entry-level job.

UW System employees are fed up. We are not eligible for merit raises, and we’re paid less than comparable employees in the public sector. Our benefits are what made it possible for us to continue working in the public sector, and now those are being augmented. This is just a budget repair bill. The real shock will come next week when Governor Walker unveils his budget for 2011-2013, which reportedly has plans to break up the UW System, and will no doubt include even more cuts.

This bill will have a lasting impact. The average starting salary for a faculty member with a PhD at my institution ($43,000) is significantly below peer institutions. In fact, if the bill passes we know we will have staff and faculty whose lowered incomes will mean their children could qualify for free school lunches and/or for Badger Care. The bill may impact our ability to attract and retain quality candidates for all campus positions. We need to recruit from all over the country and have to be able to compete nationally as well as regionally. The new measures would make us less competitive in recruiting and retaining talented employees.

It is my hope that the rest of the country will take notice of what’s happening in Wisconsin, particularly how it affects educators from kindergarten to college. Below I’ve provided links to what I believe is factual information. There are many opinion pieces available online, but I believe the facts speak for themselves. Educators deserve to receive a fair wage for their work, and the balancing of state budgets should not rest on the backs of public employees.

• Summary of the budget repair bill
• UW Colleges chancellor Ray Cross’ letter to the legislature
• Impact of budget repair bill on UW System employee benefits
• The economic impact of cutting public sector wages and benefits

This post was written on my own time, using my own computer and internet access. It expresses my opinion as a private citizen of Wisconsin. In no way am I representing the views of my institution or the UW System

I read Daniel Pink. I love the Pink Blog. I love Drive. I think his studies and TED talk on motivation are interesting, moving, and a hot plate for new research in higher education. Personally, his mention of “grit” in Drive has led to a small campus project revolving around what could possibly make my institution’s students stand out amongst superior business school students.

Along with this blog, I also try to do a small quote of the day e-mail to a group of people who first showed interest in it 2 years ago when I started it. Since I have taken over a director position, it has been extremely difficult to keep up and maintain it. However, I try at least once a week to send the small group a quote, a story, or a link to a blog post I found interesting. The last one I sent the group was a series of questions that Daniel Pink wants us to ask ourselves at the end of our day. Here they are:

How did the day go? What success did I experience? What challenges did I endure?

What did I learn today? About myself? About others? What do I plan to do — differently or the same — tomorrow?

Who did I interact with? Anyone I need to update? Thank? Ask a question? Share feedback?
Read them again. If you are Jesuit trained having worked at an institution and/or have been educated at an institution that is affiliated with the Jesuits, you could see this:

How did the day go? (Contemplatives in Action) What success did I experience? (MAGIS: Striving for Excellence) What challenges did I endure (Contemplatives in Action, MAGIS)

What did I learn today? (Care for the Whole Person) About myself ? (Contemplatives in Action) About others? (Being Men & Women for Others)

Who did I interact with? (Being Men & Women for Others) Anyone I need to update? Thank? Ask a question? Share feedback? (Contemplatives in Action)

So while Mr. Pink may not have been educated by the Jesuits, it certainly sent a message that fits right into their values. Or…perhaps it wasn’t his education or his thought process in making them. Maybe it was my own education and “lens” of processing that has led me to see things in light of the Jesuit values.

Either way, those series of questions are important and interesting to ask yourself – even just once a week. Try it out and see what your answers are…were you surprised?

Rock on,

Joe

Special thanks to Deb Cady Melzer, life coach, mentor, and former supervisor for pointing out the Jesuit message in every day occurrences and surroundings.

Did you attend your “dream school” for undergraduate or graduate education?

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I am sure that we are all familiar with the movie, The Lion King, which came out in 1994. The movie is about the development of Simba, from a young cub to a strong young leader. During one scene in the movie, the Rafiki (monkey) asked Simba a very simple question; “WHO ARE YOU?” This question, however, turned out to be what allowed Simba to define himself and take his rightful place as the leader of the lands.

As a student affairs professional, I think it’s important that you ask yourself this same question. “Who Are You” as a professional? “Who Are You” as a person? Of course, you surely understand who you already are, but I want you to take a deeper look at this question. Here are a few things that I would like you to examine, so that when asked, “Who Are You”, you can confidently convey the following:

W: What is your purpose?
It is important that you clearly understand what your purpose as a student affairs professional in order to be effective and functional. As an individual, it’s even more crucial that you have a defined concept of what you feel is your role in life. Is that to help others, to serve others or to teach others?

H: Hold onto your dreams!
As professionals, it’s important to be able to dream and allow those dreams to become reality! For no one can take those dreams away from you unless you let them! Dream big….and put things into place to make those dreams happen. As I use to commonly tell my staff, “make it happen.”

O: Overcoming obstacles defines your character!
We all have many trials and tribulations put before us. It’s more important to understand that how you address those obstacles is more important than the obstacle itself. Take the time to understand the full situation and than take the time to make/execute a plan of action.

A: Allow room for mistakes
I often tell my students that making a mistake is as natural as drinking water. It’s going to happen to every good professional. Learn from it, grow from it, and move on!

R: Remember to have FUN!
If you work just as hard as you play, you have a winning combination! Learn the art of balance in your life!

E: Explore new things!
Those that seek and test the uncharted waters are often the ones that we admire and envy. Set the standard and engage in changing the status quo.

Y: Yearning for knowledge is part of your education
Knowledge gives you the tool to strengthen your foundation. Be willing to share your knowledge and enable others to grow with you.

O: Observing others is very important
We often learn from the mistakes that others make. We learn what works and what doesn’t work. We need to take what we learn and develop it into our own.

U: Unified and not divided
When we are supportive of others and works towards unification, it allows for success that is often unforeseen.

Now, once you understand the question, “Who Are You”, using the first letter of each word will help you make your way. Learn how to make your own way in a positive manner and see where that takes you.

Rinardo Reddick is coordinator for America Reads/America Counts and a doctoral student in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Iowa State University.