Talking Stick - November/December 2010 - 34

F i n d i ng

yoU r

Wa y
of the department or institution. Understanding the institution’s history and its present priorities will enable new professionals to discern an immediate mission and thus to direct their work towards that end. Ben Walizer, residence life coordinator at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, says he did just that when he was a firstyear professional. He recognized the talents of his co-workers and sought to incorporate the skills that made them successful into his own work so that it was consistent with departmental expectations. New professionals also need to be adaptable and open to change, demonstrating that they are eager to learn about the institution and what potential it holds for the students it serves. Understanding institutional politics is also an important responsibility during this transition from being a student to being a professional who works with students. Though many new professionals fear they may become privy to information they do not want to find out or will be perceived as snooping, they need to see that institutional politics is an integral part of the bigger picture. “It is learning about the fabric of the institution,” Chambliss says. There is, however, no single and consistent stance that will define an institution’s politics, for political issues can be interpreted differently by different people. As Amber Poulsen, residence hall director at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, says, “It may come down to personal preferences.” As such, new professionals are advised to keep an open mind when speaking with people about campus and departmental politics and when trying to determine who is a trustworthy source of information. Beyond directly exploring campus political agendas, Allison Toney, coordinator of student organizations at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, suggests that new professionals should “Ask questions and observe conversations

coordinator at Kansas State University in Manhattan, learning about institutional culture is “all about relationships,” and this message is easily imparted to new staff from returning staff members. David Chambliss, associate director of development at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, encourages new professionals to speak with students, faculty, and staff beyond the immediate peer group so that they can pursue their direct responsibilities within the context of a bigger picture.

Dr. Wade Livingston, assistant professor in the School of Education at Clemson University in South Carolina, recommends that new professionals specifically seek out staff who have a history with the institution and can thus provide the best view of where the institution has been, where it is now, and where it is going. Additionally, he suggests that new professionals should listen for the jargon of an institution – for example, phrases like “data-driven decision making” – in order to determine the priorities

34

Talking STick
http://www.webebi.com http://www.webebi.com
Talking Stick - November/December 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Talking Stick - November/December 2010
