Hi folks,
I'm just finishing up my Master of Education - Guidance and Counselling in Education.
I am a Student Affairs Professional.
To those of you who are wondering about why a candidate for Greek Affairs is often required to have a master's degree, I think I can help answer that.
You see, I think the people who participated in a fraternity or sorority sometimes seem to think working as a Greek Life Advisor would be "just" an extension of their time as undergraduate members. However, this is not the case.
Greek Affairs is but one of 30 or so sub-sections of "Student Affairs" also known as "Student Development in Higher Education" (SDHE). According to the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) website, here they are:
Quote:
http://www.cas.edu/
As of May 2001, CAS had developed 28 sets of functional area standards and guidelines and one set of student affairs master's level preparation standards. Functional areas for which standards have been developed include programs and services concerned with: 1. Academic Advising, 2. Admission, 3. Alcohol and Other Drug Programs, 4. Campus Activities, 5. Campus Information and Visitor Services, 6. Career Services, 7. College Health Services, 8. College Union, 9. Commuter Students, 10. Counseling, 11. Disability, 12. Educational Services for Distance Learners, 13. Financial Aid, 14. Fraternity and Sorority, 15. Housing, 16. International Student, 17. Judicial Affairs, 18. Student Leadership, 19. Learning Assistance, 20. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender, 21. Minority Student, 22. Student Orientation, 23. Outcomes Assessment and Program Evaluation, 24. Recreational Sports, 25. Registrar, 26. Religious, 27. TRIO and Other Educational Opportunity, and 28. Women Student.
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All areas of student affairs are concerned with the development of students....including Greeks. Look at the list above, would you want "any ol' person" serving as the director of Counseling and Psychology Services? Of the Equal Opportunity Programs? Of Judicial Affairs? No, of course not. That's why a master's degree is almost always required. A student affairs professional must understand the theories behind student development, the goals and concepts behind higher education in America, and how to effectively work with and counsel students so their needs are met.
SDHE Master's programs aren't always easy to get into and the job market for this career field is extremely competitive in where I am here in Southern California (An employee at the Human Resources office told me that about 300 people apply for each 1 student affairs job at UCSD!!
). However, the jobs are very rewarding!
If you are interested in pursuing a career in student affairs, check out
http://www.naspa.org and
http://www.myacpa.org for more info!
.....Kelly