SEAHO Report - Winter 2018 - 36

SEAHO Features
Challenge #6: Culture Adjustment
Departmental Culture
As you might intuit, different departments have different cultures. Some departments operate in a very
centralized way with processes and procedures while other are very decentralized and others still fall
somewhere in between those book ends. Values and priorities are other key influencers in departmental culture.
How much does your department value providing service to students? To what extent does your department
encourage student learning? Lastly, day-to-day norms such as dress policy, professional etiquette, office hours,
etc. also shape the culture of a department.
Institutional Culture
Just like departments, institutions have cultures as well (which often inform those of departments). The type
of student and demographic makeup surely influence how the institution operates, initiates programming, and
responds to challenges that arise. Institutional values drive the university as well. Is your institution committed
to the student experience, research, athletic recognition, service, or innovation? A tendency for many while
transitioning institutions is to compare cultures to previous experiences. You'll like find pros and cons to each
and would encourage you to focus on the pros and make the most of them.
Overall Tips
Be Reliable
If your boss or colleague ask you to complete a task, be reliable. You should finish the task on time and with
high quality. These are ways to set yourself apart by simply "doing your job." When others can depend on you,
your reputation will get around as being dependable. This is the reputation you want!
Be Authentic
It may sound cliché, but be authentic! You can only be the best you! Often times, we compare ourselves to
others and attempt to strive to be those people. However, it is important to be yourself and find comfort in that
as each person bring a unique blend of perspective, skill, and ability to every situation.
Be Reflective
As a new professional, your journey will be filled with ups and down. Therefore, it is very important to
document and reflect on those impactful experiences. As the years pass, it will be challenging to remember the
pivotal moments in the beginning of your career. Using a journal, or any writing system, to write down those
moments and the factors involved in your decision will help you reflect back on your decisions and learn from
them.
Be Inquisitive
Asking well thought out questions can be an effective way to understand your role, supervision expectations,
and how to work with stakeholders, manage work, transition well, and adjust to cultures. The more you ask, the
more you will understand and the more poised you'll be hit the ground running in your role!
References
Magolda, Peter & Carnaghi, Jill Ellen, Eds. Job One: Experiences of New Professionals in Student Affairs.
2004.
Magolda, Peter & Carnaghi, Jill Ellen, Eds. Job One 2.0: Understanding the Next Generation of Student
Affairs Professionals. 2014.

SEAHO Report Winter 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SEAHO Report - Winter 2018