ACPA's newest eCommunity edition

Check out eCommunity August 2011 for some exciting updates from ACPA about job searching, the Annual Convention, and other hot topics.  ACPA continues to bring forward exciting professional development opportunities, so after you read an interesting section, leave a comment.  We would love to talk with you about any of the articles!

MCPA BBQ 2011

Check out some of the pictures from our amazing BBQ social, sponsored with MACUHO We all had a great time, thanks to everyone who came out!  Did you miss it?  To join in all the fun with the cool kids, be sure to make an appearance at our next event!



Summer School got you down?

According to a recent article in InsideHigherEd.com, summer enrollment is all over the place at different institutions.  Is it up or down at yours?  What does this mean for your plan?  How are residence life and activities professionals dealing with the changes in enrollment over the summer?  Does this cause an issue for your summer camps and conferences?

Could CUA being starting a new trend, that isn't quite new?

CUA will be returning to single gender residence halls for this year's incoming freshmen class.  The university's new president, John Garvey, announced that this decision was based on trying to decrease excessive drinking on campus and the "hook-up" scene.  This announcement came from the Wall Street Journal and has already been criticized as more of a PR move.  This info comes from InsideHigherEd 

What have you experienced on your campuses when it comes to single gender v. gender by floor v. completely coed housing?  What would you want your child to live in?  If you could change one thing about your university's housing, what would it be?

ACPA Webinar Series- Student Mental Health and Academic Affairs: Principles for Sharing Information

FOR MORE INFO...

The number of college students dealing with anxiety and mental health issues continues to increase and addressing these issues in the university environment presents many challenges for both mental health clinicians and academic affairs professionals. A student’s ability to function in the classroom is inextricably linked to their social and emotional well-being and the number of requests for academic accommodations based on mental health concerns compels communication across the boundaries of mental health and academic affairs. Yet, the varying administrative structures of colleges and universities and restrictions on the sharing of information necessitated by FERPA, HIPAA and the ethical standards off our professions sometimes make it difficult to fully address the needs of the student across these domains.

The intent of this webinar is to: facilitate a better understanding of the priorities and approaches of mental health and academic affairs professionals, survey the landscape of FERPA, HIPPA and other legal and ethical frameworks to identify key barriers to communication, and explore effective models for better communication and collaboration between the student mental health clinicians and academic affairs practitioners.

Not in MD, but close enough...

The ACPA Residential Curriculum Institute is being hosted on the campus of Penn State University September 28-October 1, 2011. 

PSU is less than 3 hours from most Western Maryland schools, about 3 hours away from Baltimore, 4 hours from the Washington, DC area, and 5.5 hours from Salisbury.

Overview of RCI

The 5th Annual Residential Curriculum Institute will challenge you to rethink the practices and grounding philosophies of your residential program. You will have the opportunity to view an alternative to traditional programming models; discover the connections between the residential communities on your campus and your institution’s educational mission; practice developing assessable learning outcomes; and examine the impact this shift in thinking and practice has on you, your department, and students. Sessions offered have been designed both for schools new to the residential curriculum approach and for those with more advanced experience. Whether this is your first RCI or your fifth, you’ll leave inspired with new insights, new collegial connections, and new energy. Come and learn with us!

We have gathered a group of excellent, insightful speakers to share their wisdom and expertise in practical applications. Institutions with residential curricula will also illustrate what has and has not worked on their campuses.

Residential communities constitute one of the most unconsidered and untapped educational venues on college and university campuses. The inherent physical design of these environments and the shared experience of a concentrated undergraduate population affords each student the access to an unprecedented learning experience; one that will likely never occur again. As student affairs professionals overseeing the direction of residence hall education, we have a responsibility to move beyond simply providing opportunities for learning towards an approach that is intentionally designed for our specific student populations.

Do your students nap during class? It's okay!

Check out this article in InsideHigherEd.  30 minute naps for undergrads could lead to more academic productivity.  Does your institution provide a down period between 2-3pm where no classes are offered?  Some schools do so that meetings can happen.  Maybe this should be a designated nap time for all!

Gun Control On Campus: Concealed Carry, Campus Safety & Common Sense

This Webinar, to be held on June 7, 2011 from 1:00-2:30 PM EDT, offers a comprehensive examination of the issues associated with guns on campus, and recommendations for developing institutional positions and policies in this area.
Sign up today.

Campus Safety and Emergency Preparedness Task Force

Do you have an interest in increasing knowledge and competency within ACPA and across the profession around campus safety and emergency preparedness? If you would like to participate in an ACPA task force focused on this topic, e-mail Heather Shea Gasser, Coordinator for Commissions, to express interest.

Helping Students Become Global Leaders

All information in this post is taken directly from: http://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/scukx?emc=lm&m=92321&l=3&v=583594

Free Conference Call sponsored by ACPA's Commissions for Global Dimensions of Student Development and Student Involvement.

Date: June 7, 2011 - 12:00-1:30pm (EST - please make adjustments if you are in a different time zone.) Please register by June 6, 2011. Conference dial-in number: (712) 432-0900 Participant access code: 136500 ****

Cost: Normal long distance charges will apply. (Callers will be charged for long-distance service on their phone bill.).

Abstract: Few institutions fully understand how to effectively create avenues for getting students involved with global service and leadership. This seminar will teach you how to help your students get involved in our wider global community and become the type of leaders that our world so desperately needs.

You will learn:
• How to make leadership approachable and realistic for virtually every student.
• The four barriers that prevent students from getting involved with international leadership (and how you can help your students overcome them!)
• The single most effective tip for getting students involved with global service and leadership.
• How to create low cost opportunities for your students to serve and lead all around the globe.
• A proven formula for increasing your students’ international awareness and action.

Speaker: Jason Connell
Jason believes that one the surest ways to build a better planet is by getting college students involved with service and leadership in the developing world.

At the fresh young age of 20, Jason Connell was a content, ambitious, and confident liberal arts student in sunny Florida. And like many other young people in similarly cozy situation, he thought his future would be relatively comfortable and straightforward: graduate from college, find a good job, and generally enjoy the rather hospitable hand that destiny had dealt him.

Then….he spent a semester abroad in China. And everything changed.

Mesmerized at the core by a world “outside of America,” – a world that featured unbelievable cultural wealth, contrasted with stark economic poverty and impenetrable sociopolitical obstacles – Jason resolved to explore all he could until his dried-up savings forced him to stop. And while dropping out of college was a necessary consequence of this “change in life plan,” any disappointment was far outweighed by the array of astonishing new experiences, and nourishing personal relationships, that he cultivated during this seminal time.

Now 24 years old, and equipped with a Political Science degree, Jason has volunteered in some of the world’s poorest areas. He has seen, heard, felt, and experienced things so removed from his quaint college life, that it’s hard to believe that it was only a handful of years ago; it truly feels like a handful of lives ago.
Dedicated to applying what he has experienced to change the world, an abbreviated list of Jason’s volunteer efforts to-date include: developing a microlending program in Uganda, conducting research on the effects of globalization in Thailand, and teaching HIV/AIDS prevention classes for high risk children in South Africa. Jason is also the Executive Director of the Changing the World 101 program, which provides college students with insights and strategies on volunteering and leading abroad so that they can effectively -- as the program name promises -- change the world. When not volunteering or inspiring others to do the same,

Jason is an in-demand international speaker, and lives in Washington, DC. To learn more about Jason see: http://www.changingtheworld101.com/

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New Executive Board Members Elected!

Hello MCPA!

It is my pleasure to welcome the newly-elected MCPA board members:

President-Elect
Crystal Hollenbaugh, Mount St. Mary’s

Membership Coordinator
Tim Cherney, Loyola University Maryland

Treasurer
Joshua Hiscock, University of Maryland College Park

Website & Newsletter Coordinator
Edward Wright, Mount St. Mary’s

Members-at-Large
Ashely McCartney, McDaniel College
Andrea Andrews, McDaniel College

Please help me in congratulating our new board members!

Karol Y. Martínez
President-Elect
Maryland College Personnel Association

It's the Final Countdown

Yes, today is the last day to vote!!!!

Hello MCPA!

It's that time of year to vote for new executive board members.  We've got a great ballot of commited professionals who want to serve you!  All you need to do is take a few minutes to read about each candidate and cast your vote!  We could not do it without your nominations and now we can't do it without your vote, make your voice heard.  Click the link below to read about our candidates and vote.

http://www.myacpa.org/sid/md/election.html 

Feel free to contact me with any questions. 

Sara Furr

Past President

Maryland College Personnel Association

1 More Week to Vote!

Hello MCPA!

It's that time of year to vote for new executive board members.  We've got a great ballot of commited professionals who want to serve you!  All you need to do is take a few minutes to read about each candidate and cast your vote!  We could not do it without your nominations and now we can't do it without your vote, make your voice heard.  Click the link below to read about our candidates and vote.

http://www.myacpa.org/sid/md/election.html 

Feel free to contact me with any questions. 

Sara Furr

Past President

Maryland College Personnel Association

I Wouldn't Miss It! Pre-Convention Social

Who: All MCPA Members are welcome to come catch up old friends and meet new colleagues!
What: MCPA Social with Appetizers!
Where: Pratt Street Ale House
When: Friday, March 25, 2011 from 4pm-7pm

Drinks and extra appetizers are on you!

Looking for volunteering opportunities during ACPA?

Hello Maryland CPA!

We have opportunities for each of you to volunteer at ACPA this year, and you can volunteer based on your schedule preferences!

Volunteering for the Maryland CPA

For volunteering specifically with the Maryland CPA, we have a social networking opportunity for you!

The Maryland CPA is looking for volunteers for our no-host dinners on Saturday, March 26.

Simply put, no-host dinners mean that all attendees pay for their own food. Our listing in the program book and on the web invites convention attendees to meet us in the Hilton Hotel Lobby at 5 PM on Saturday, March 26. We have five Inner Harbor restaurants in mind for breakout groups. They were all chosen based on different cuisines and pricing options that would allow for $10 meals. At this point, we still need volunteers to lead groups to Tir Na Nog Irish Bar & Grill (Harborplace, Pratt Street Pavilion), J. Paul’s (Harborplace, Light Street Pavilion), and Hard Rock Café (Power Plant, Pratt Street).

Basically, our call for volunteers is so that we have at least one Maryland student affairs professional per dinner location.

If you are interested in helping with this effort, please reply to this e-mail or e-mail me directly at lbudd@loyola.edu by Tuesday, March 15.

In addition, please forward this e-mail to other professionals who may not be on our MCPA listserv.

Volunteering for the Convention or for C3

We literally have hundreds of volunteer spots open for the convention and need your help. A successful convention is reliant on volunteers like you.
 
For volunteer information for the convention or for C3, sign up at tinyurl.com/ACPA2011!  The entire volunteer schedule of opportunities is listed there. To get started, you will need to provide your e-mail address to automatically receive an e-mail from Justin Fincher. Please note that once you reach the calendar option and select a day to volunteer, the pop-up box with opportunities might take some time to load. But once it does load, the opportunities are listed by time blocks and also list how many volunteer spaces are still available for each one.
 
If you have any questions about volunteer information for the Convention or for C3, please contact Justin or Emily.
 
Justin Fincher, Convention Volunteer Coordinator

justin@jhu.edu    
 
Emily Reetz, C3 Volunteer Coordinator

esr317@hotmail.com

Thank you,

Lorrie Budd

President, Maryland College Personnel Association

Rock the Vote!!!! MCPA Style

Hello MCPA!

It's that time of year to vote for new executive board members.  We've got a great ballot of commited professionals who want to serve you!  All you need to do is take a few minutes to read about each candidate and cast your vote!  We could not do it without your nominations and now we can't do it without your vote, make your voice heard.  Click the link below to read about our candidates and vote.

http://www.myacpa.org/sid/md/election.html 

Feel free to contact me with any questions. 

Sara Furr

Past President

Maryland College Personnel Association

The Future of Student Affairs

Remember that moment when you realized “yes, I do want to work in student affairs!”

For many of us it happened while we were in college at a time when we were setting up for an event, sitting in our RD’s office, planning a special Mass in campus ministry, or learning more about admissions and academic services.  For a few of us, it happened while we were at a conference with other college students.  That’s me!  I realized that higher education was the place for me while attending the Next Generation Conference in Nashville, TN in 2005.  What a great opportunity!  This is a chance to meet people who share passion in working with college students and to connect with experience professionals in student affairs. 

Now it’s time for us to share this passion with our students.  The ACPA Convention is in Baltimore this year, which means NextGen is close to all of us!  Consider sending some of your student leaders to this amazing conference.  I guarantee they will have a great time, meet some wonderful professionals and come away with a strong desire to serve other students.

Early Bird Registration ends March 7^th, so please take some time over the next 2 weeks to consider sharing this opportunity with your students.  For more information, visit us online at http://convention.myacpa.org/program/next-generation.php

Eddie Wright

MCPA Executive Board Member

NextGen Leadership Team

MCPA Executive Board Nominations- Submit Today!

The Maryland College Personnel Association is looking for colleagues from around our great state to join the MCPA Executive Board! Nominate a colleague or yourself today. The form takes only one minute to complete!

Nominations are due by Monday, February 21, 2011. 

All MCPA members are encouraged to use our online submission form, which is accessible right from the MCPA’s homepage (http://www.myacpa.org/sid/md/).

The positions open for nominations are as follows:

President Elect: This person will serve as President-Elect in 2011-12, President in 2012-13, and Past President in 2013-14. As President, this person will preside over all meetings of the organization, provide leadership in association activities, and be the representative of the MCPA in all ACPA business.

Membership Coordinator: This person is responsible for maintaining accurate records of all association members by maintaining the MCPA member database. This person also confirms new members, distributes membership materials, and submits reports to the Executive Board. Finally, the Membership Coordinator updates the listserv and identifies populations for targeted recruitment. 
Treasurer: The treasurer is responsible for all finances belonging to the association. In particular, the treasurer is responsible for bank deposits, payments, and reimbursements as well as keeping accurate reports of association expenses. The treasurer also prepares the budget and works with program chairs regarding workshop and event purchases.
Website/Newsletter Coordinator: The primary responsibilities of the Website & Newsletter Coordinator are (1) to ensure that the webpage is updated regularly with accurate information, (2) to solicit articles from the membership to compile the newsletter, and (3) to assist with the development of the online blog.
Member-at-Large (2): These individuals provide support services to the association by coordinating one MCPA event (e.g., programmatic, professional development, networking, and membership activities) each year during their two-year term.

Please note that elected board members must:

*Be a member in good standing of the MCPA and ACPA.

*Serve a two-year term, with the exception of the President-Elect, which is a three-year term.

*Not be a candidate to succeed him/herself in an MCPA office to which he/she has been elected by the membership.

*Take office on June 1, 2011.

*Be in attendance at the four Board meetings (typically June, August, October, & February) in addition to monthly conference calls.

*Be in attendance at a minimum of two MCPA events and the annual MCPA conference.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions and make sure you nominate today!

Thank you,

Lorrie Budd

President, Maryland College Personnel Association

Mock Conference vs. Real Placement

It is that time of the year again...when many higher education professionals from master's students to seasoned professionals find themselves in the same exact spot, the job search!

For some, this is a daunting experience filled with uncertainty and uncontrollable situations, for others this is nothing short of full blown fun.  But regardless of your experience or your feelings, this time can be stressful.  It can even drive you crazy if you do not take the tme to prepare and brush up on your skills.

ACPA hosts a fairly competitive placement program at its national conference, called C3.  This is not the only placement program out there, as many of us know, but it is the one that is in Baltimore this year!  Check it out if you have not done so already.  See if there are any schools or positions you might be interested in.  This is only one way to go about a search.  You can visit many websites such as higheredjobs.com or reconnect with professional colleagues that you would like to either work for or work with.

Whatever avenue you choose to seek out that new job, don't forget to practice!  Review your resume, think about where you want to go professionally and what your model of leadership is.  Find a friend and practice phone interviews and face-to-face meetings.  This last one might be a bit difficult to do, so let us help.

Have you heard of MCPA's Mock Interview and Convention Preparation Program?  We round up seasoned professionals and give you the opportunity to practice your skills. This year's conference will be hosted by the University of Maryland, College Park on Friday, March 4th from 11:30am-4pm.  Let us help!!!

No matter what your search process is like, remember to relax.  Don't let the stress build up.  There is a reason you want to work in higher education, a passion of sorts.  Let that guide your way.

How do you de-stress?  What do you do when you have the chance to take a break?  Share your thoughts here so that other professionals can learn some new tricks!

How do you professionally develop your Administrative Assistants and Support Staff Team?

MCPA has made the committment to assist in the professional development of all professionals who work in Student Affairs and Higher Education. 

We accomplish this goal through many different ways, including continually updating this blog, our facebook page and our website.  We also offer many different types of local conferences for professionals to choose from and we provide direct contact information for all members of the executive board for any questions you might have.

One of those great, upcoming conferences is the Support Staff Conference.  This is an amazing opportunity for Administrative Assistance and Support Staff members to network with other professionals in the field and attend some educational sessions.  This conference also allows Support Staff members to take a lead in the direction the conference will go in.  Right now, program proposals are being accepted and who is better equipped and knowledgable about issues facing Support Staff members than their peers?

This year's conference is being hosted at Goucher College on Friday, March 18, 2011.  We really hope to see you there!

If you have questions, post them in the comments or contact our conference co-chairs directly- Crystal (hollenbaugh@msmary.edu) and Brian (beccue@msmary.edu)

Presenting at ACPA in March?

As many of you know, ACPA (our parent organization) will be holding its annual convention at the Baltimore Convention Center from March 27-March 30.  This is a great opportunity to meet and network with other student affairs professionals throughout the country and attend numerous educational sessions that will enhance your professional knowledge and resources. 

Since the convention is in Baltimore, we hope to see many Maryland professionals through socials, sessions and random gatherings in hallways! 

In order to support those professionals who are presenting from our state, we would like to gather all of your presentation information.  Simly post a comment and tell us who you are, where you are from, the title of your presentation, a brief blurb and the date/time/location of the session.

See you in Baltimore! 

National Convention in our own Backyard!

We should have a great showing at ACPA’s National Convention since it’s in our back door. Together, we can be more in B’More with our colleagues from all over!

The deadline to register for regular registration is tomorrow, Friday, February 11, 2011.

If you haven’t already registered for the Convention, here are the top 25 reasons to do so:

1.       B’More is an accessible and very affordable city (and it’s right here in Maryland!)

2.       Extraordinary line-up of speakers, panels and faculty presentations

3.       Celebrating the 20^th anniversary of ADA with an exhibit called, “Allies for Inclusion: The Ability Exhibit”

4.       Family-friendly options searchable via our ACPA website

5.       50 years of Commissions (special celebration)!

6.       Higher Education Mental Health Alliance (HEMHA) meeting and 50 years of the Commission for Counseling and Psychological Services

7.       Institute for Community Colleges with a Community College President presenting at a networking social

8.       The Be More Challenge

9.       Graduate Student Scholarships via the Board

10.   Graduate Student Ambassador Program

11.   The ACPA convention has been approved by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) for up to 20 category 1 Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) contact hours

12.   The “level” and “competencies” categories for educational program offerings were verified/vetted

13.   Institutes for Social Justice & Sustainability

14.    Continuing Education units (CEUs) toward certification or re-certification for counselors will be available through ACPA, which is approved to award CEUs by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC)

15.Globalization colloquium and focus on international/globalization issues

16.Over 50 educational programs and networking opportunities for “advanced” levels

17.Over 150 faculty members have currently committed to attending

18.Institute for HBCUs with a HBCU President presenting at a networking social

19.Should we consolidate, while we may have 1-2 more ACPA only conventions due to contractual commitments, the 2011 convention will be the last ACPA convention as we know it to be and we will find ways to honor/celebrate

20.A big surprise at opening

21.Corporate partners plus Convention Showcase will share space

22.LGBT innovative education regarding AIDS/HIV

23.Convention itinerary builder/scheduler plus a mobile-friendly website for convention happenings

24.   Prayer, meditation, and reflection space

25.    Next Generation Program

Be there and be more in B’More with us!

Student Affairs at Sea

Read below for an exciting opportunity for Student Affairs professionals and graduate students!

ACPA colleague,

I'm coordinating a program through Semester at Sea called Student Affairs at Sea.  The program accepts 12 - 16 graduate students from student affairs preparation programs to undergo internships and take 6 credits of graduate credits while sailing on the summer 2011 voyage. 
In Summer 2011, Semester at Sea will offer the second annual Student Affairs at Sea (see attached flier).  A unique opportunity for graduate students, faculty, and administrators in higher education and student affairs, participants will study and sail aboard the MV Explorer and participate in Semester at Sea activities and programs.  

The Student Affairs at Sea program entails classroom work, university visits, and an optional internship experience.  Up to six graduate credits are available:  3 credits for “Cross Cultural Perspectives in Higher Education” (required and taught by Dr. Kathleen Manning, Professor, University of Vermont) and a second three-credit elective available from a select list of summer voyage courses.

This academically and experientially oriented program introduces participants to international and comparative aspects of higher education. Topics are examined and discussed in the context of the countries visited (Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, and Morocco) during the Summer 2011 Semester at Sea voyage (June 17 - August 20, 2011).

The program is available for non-credit to full-time professionals who sail as Lifelong Learners.

Further information is available at http://www.semesteratsea.org/lifelong-learners/overview/student-affairs-at-sea.php and on Facebook.

Getting ready for your next job interview? We can help!

The Maryland College Personnel Association (MCPA) presents the 2011 MCPA Mock Interview and Convention Preparation Program in cooperation with the University of Maryland’s Department of Resident Life and the District of Columbia College Personnel Association (DCCPA).

The purpose of the Mock Interview Program is to provide job-searching graduate students, young professionals, and undergraduates looking for a graduate position in higher education/student affairs

a real-life simulation of placement services at national student affairs conferences such as ACPA and NASPA. 

The program will feature interviewing tips, professional etiquette, and resume and cover letter development.  Most importantly, participants will have the opportunity to participate in mock interviews with professional Student Affairs staff members from around the state.

Advance registration is free and lunch is provided for interviewees

at no cost if registered by Wednesday February23rd.

If you are interested in getting interview practice as a Candidate and would like to attend this event, please register at the MCPA Website.

If you would like to be a mock interviewer or have any questions please contact Ivan Ceballos at ivceballos@loyola.edu or Candace Doane at Candace.doane@goucher.edu.

New Facebook Fan Page

Happy New Year!

Maryland College Personnel is transitioning from a Facebook group to a fan page, so please follow us to stay informed!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maryland-College-Personnel-Association/141548662561917