Quote:
Originally Posted by FuzzieAlum
I think I'm confused. Being a chapter advisor (which sounds to me like what you mean) is an unpaid, part-time, volunteer position. Chapters often have, in addition to alumni advisors, a faculty member who serves as a faculty advisor. (As the names suggest, though, you probably need to be either an alumni or a faculty member.)
If you want to work full-time with students, you should probably check out www.naspa.org and www.myacpa.org. It's not a field you just walk into without any previous experience. Those who start in it straight out of school usually had extensive RA or similar experience; generally you need at least a masters degree in education. Private sector experience is likely not transferrable.
And hey, October is Careers in Student Affairs Month. (Really!) |
i agree on the "private sector experience not being transferrable" thing. one of our RDs was a big exec at a marketing firm and for whatever reasons wanted to be an RD for a freshman hall (maybe it was the inclusive apartment and meal plan? hmm...). he did a great job as an RD but everyone HATED him--from his RAs, to the residents and some of his fellow RDs and Student Affairs colleagues. surprise, surprise, he did not return the following year.
now i know thats just one case, but i feel like the business of working in student affairs is about who likes who, who gets along. a big business of playing nice. i guess my point is this guy figured if he could run the show in the corporate arena, then a residence hall was no biggie. WRONG!
and, to be on topic, i dont know if someone being outside the greek world would be the best greek system advisor (though i know it has been done) id imagine its complex enough even if you were in greek life. also, a chapter advisor is a lot of work, from what the 2 advisors my chapter has told me. also realize that you need to be a member to do that.
my big question is after leaving the private sector, you say you want to pursue academia, but off the top of my head i would think being a professor or a dean... but greek advisor? sounds like you just wanna hang out with the greeks...