Feb 6, 2025
Exploring Student Affairs with International Grad Students
The field of student affairs is continuously evolving, adapting to diverse educational landscapes worldwide. In this week's Student Affairs Voices from the Field, hosted by Dr. Jill Creighton, we delve into the experiences and perspectives of six master's students from the hybrid master's course offered in collaboration with the European Council on Student Affairs (EECA) and NASPA. These students, hailing from various parts of Europe and beyond, share their insights on the past, present, and future of student affairs.
Embracing the Past
One recurring theme in the discussion was the value of preserving certain elements of student affairs' history. Simone Cameron Cohen emphasized the indispensable role of student voices in shaping university policies and support structures. She highlighted Ireland's robust student union organizational structure that ensures student representation in university governance, a system embedded in the nation’s legislation.
Jake McGrew and Giacomo Bacarelli, on the other hand, pointed out the need to dissolve the silos between academic and student affairs. Jake stressed that combining these areas is crucial for holistic student support, a sentiment echoed by Giacomo who reflected on his personal experiences in Italy's developing student affairs landscape. This theme underscores the necessity of integrating student welfare into the broader educational framework, fostering an environment where academics and student services support each other.
Current Trends in Student Affairs
Currently, student affairs professionals worldwide are paying increased attention to student mental health and well-being. Simone noted that institutions are now better equipped with specialized services, from counseling to academic advising, emphasizing a holistic approach to student support. Jake expanded on this, mentioning the positive shift in student attitudes towards utilizing mental health services, even in regions where stigma was historically prevalent.
Federico highlighted the importance of etiquette and institutional engagement in student affairs, advocating for attention to individual growth and freedom of thought, which is crucial in nurturing well-rounded individuals.
Envisioning the Future
Looking ahead, the consensus among the guests points towards increased collaboration and resource sharing across institutions. Simone and Giacomo both stressed the value of international cooperation, sharing best practices, and codifying these for broader implementation. This approach not only enriches the practices within individual institutions but also fosters a global network of support and innovation.
Jake suggested that for regions like Continental Europe, there's a growing recognition of the importance of student affairs, leading to a greater acceptance and integration of these services within the educational framework. This trend is promising for the future development of student affairs in areas where the field is still emerging.
Conclusion
The insights from these international graduate students paint a picture of a dynamic and evolving field where student voices are paramount, mental health is at the forefront, and collaboration is key to future success. By learning from each other and breaking down traditional silos, student affairs professionals can better support the holistic development of students worldwide. As these emerging leaders in student affairs continue their journey, their experiences and innovative approaches will undoubtedly shape the future of the profession.
TRANSCRIPT
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:01]:
Welcome to Student Affairs Voices from the Field, the podcast where
we share your student affairs stories from fresh perspectives to
seasoned experts. Brought to you by NASPA, we curate free and
accessible professional development for higher ed professionals
wherever you happen to be. This is season 12, continuing our
journey through the past, present, and future of student affairs.
I'm doctor Jill Creighton, she, her, hers, your essay Voices from
the Field host. Welcome to a very special episode of Student
Affairs Voices from the Field. I'm thrilled today to be joined by
six master's students who are currently enrolled in the hybrid
master's course in collaboration with EECA, which is the European
Council on Student Affairs and NASPA. This course is taught with
the the great collaboration of LUNA University in Rome, and it's
been my great privilege to teach the technology module for this
course. As we're on the theme of past, present and future of
student affairs, I wanted to introduce our listeners to the
students who are taking this course and get their perspectives on
what's important in student affairs today and why they're learning
in this program.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:07]:
So I'm gonna introduce our students one by one as I see them. And
so I'd love for you to tell us your name, your pronouns, and maybe
where you are on planet Earth, including what you're doing for work
right now. So, Jake, we'll start with you.
Jake McGrew [00:01:18]:
Hello, everyone. My name is Jake McGrew, hehim. I am American from
Oregon, but I am currently living in Kyiv, Ukraine working at the
student life office at American University Kyiv.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:29]:
And we'll go to Simone.
Simone Cameron Cohen [00:01:30]:
Hi, everyone. My name is Simone Cameron Cohen, sheher. I'm based in
Trinity College Dublin in Ireland, and I am the student welfare and
support officer for the School of Medicine.
Giacomo Bacarelli [00:01:39]:
Giacomo. Hi. I'm Giacomo Bacarelli. I'm currently in, Terni, close
to Rome, Italy. I work for the European University College
Association where I am a project officer.
Laura Malakowski [00:01:50]:
Laura. Hello, everyone. I'm Laura Malakowski. I pronounce it
differently. I'm from Lithuania, from Lithuania, Yale Science
University, and now I am the Dean of Students. So mostly in my
office, the students appear the main task, what we are working on
and and looking for.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:08]:
Federico.
Federico [00:02:08]:
I'm Federico. Hello, everyone. I take care of cultural activities
in the Cuir College in Rome.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:16]:
And Lorenzo.
Lorenzo Caffurini [00:02:17]:
Hi to everyone. My name is, Lorenzo Caffurini. I am the head of the
secretary of the co Leukini College in Brescia, Italy.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:27]:
Thank you all so much for agreeing to share your voice on the show
today. Since we're on this theme of the past, present, and future
of student affairs, I always love featuring current master's
students because you're the future of the profession. You're here
because you wanted to learn a little bit more to bolster your
professional identity and development. I'm hoping you can tell us
why you chose to take this one year master's program and how it's
changing the way that you look at your work. And anyone can jump in
on that. Go ahead, Jake.
Jake McGrew [00:02:56]:
So my background is actually in teaching in high school and middle
school teaching. I did that in The US as well as in Bulgaria. And
so I moved to work at this university, American University, Kyiv,
and I was put in charge of the student life office without having
anyone around me who works for student life and no background in
student life besides the normal student life you do as a teacher.
So I really wanted some extra education, extra support, and more
importantly, a network of other like minded student affairs
professionals who I could work with and talk with and kind of
bounce ideas off of. So that's mainly why I chose to be in this
program for the education since I've never been in this position
before as well as the network.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:36]:
Simone, how about you?
Simone Cameron Cohen [00:03:37]:
Similarly to Jake, I'm kind of a new post holder. So while I've
worked in the university for a lot of years, I have a background
from some time ago in student support. This role is the first of
its kind based in a school within the college. So, again, I was a
little bit peerless. There are a few people obviously, there are
several people doing student affairs, but the specificity of what
I'm doing, it's not there yet. It's growing now. But to have a
network of people at a European level, at international level is
fantastic. Like that to be able to learn a little bit more of
what's possible in terms of supports and procedures and ways to do
things.
Simone Cameron Cohen [00:04:15]:
It's really great.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:16]:
Yeah. I
Giacomo Bacarelli [00:04:17]:
am very young, so I start to work, like, one year and a half ago.
So for me, this world is completely new. In Italy, the stress
Fuelsa First is not so developed. So most of students don't know
what student services mean. So for me, since I start to work in
IUCAA, I started to read books about Fuelsa First, be updated to
learn, but a master, I think it's very important to have a basic
knowledge, know where to build your profession. So this is why, and
also I'm involved because I'm one of the organizers as part of
YUCA. This is why I'm the tutor. So it is a great opportunity to
participate in the master, be involved in, in the organization.
Giacomo Bacarelli [00:05:00]:
And this is the motivation.
Laura Malakowski [00:05:02]:
Laura. I would say that in Lithuania, in a lot of our universities,
we do have that support and advising of students, but we do not
have that, like, evidence based. So this is, like, the chance, for
us to get really good background, good knowledge all the practices,
all the communication between different countries, universities, so
it's a great value of if we want to flourish this help of our
students. And the Master, the modules, it's like support, first of
all, for those who are next, who will help our students. So it's a
good chance for us.
Federico [00:05:36]:
This is my first work experience before I was a university student.
I chose to train and work in this field because it's simply the
most beautiful job in the world, and I want to grow for the guys I
am lucky enough to work with every day. Also, my English is not
very good, and this is a chance to learn by working.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:00]:
I'm always incredibly impressed by anyone who can earn an
educational degree in their second language. It's it's just
amazing. Lorenzo.
Lorenzo Caffurini [00:06:07]:
For me, this master degree is a great opportunity. It allows me to
know new realities and organize new cultural activity also from an
international perspective. I have a degree in law, and the law the
world of student affairs is new to me. It is agreed to be able to
work every day in a college and to be able to deepen my knowledge
with master degree of this level.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:35]:
Now all of you are working at universities that are not based in
North America, and most of the NASPA members are either in The US
or Canada. So I'm wondering if you can share maybe one element of
student affairs that is happening in the country where you're
living and working that might be unique or might be much different
than, what somebody working in North America might be experiencing.
Jake, let's start with you.
Jake McGrew [00:06:59]:
So I come from The US, of course. So I have that background in
interacting with student affairs as an American student. I never
worked in the student affairs as an American, but as a student, I
had a good feeling of what student affairs was. And in Ukraine, as
I think in a lot of Europe, but even to, I think, to a higher
extent is student affairs isn't really a thing here. It's very
common just for students to go to class, do your classes, learn,
and then go home. So that's been a challenge for me to not only and
I have all Ukrainian students and Ukrainian staff. So I, as the
sole person in the student life office, the director and the sole
person, I've had to explain not only to students, but to staff and
faculty the importance of student affairs and the reasons why we
need to have mental health supports or reasons why we need to have
strong student life. It's been fairly easy.
Jake McGrew [00:07:53]:
It hasn't been that much of a challenge. My university has been
pretty open to that, which is good, but that's been a challenge.
Not to mention, of course, the war and everything, but that's a
completely different thing that is just always there for us.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:08:05]:
Limon, what's going on in Ireland?
Simone Cameron Cohen [00:08:07]:
So I suppose what I find, having been sort of been to The UK and
Europe a bit, our student union organizational structure in Ireland
is really, really strong and is very student led, and it is
essential to how we govern our universities. They are there to
challenge and push us, which is fantastic, and they're there to
support their students. And it is written into our legislation that
they must be on the governing bodies of our universities and must
be allowed to contribute in a very real way. And for us, I think
it's wonderful that that they really do still embrace that sense of
the importance of organization in that kind of nineteen sixties
sort of organization, protest, but also engagement, real engagement
with the issues that are affecting them as students, either within
the college, but also in the wider society and how they react to
that and push issues forward. So that is something that is still
really strong here, which we're quite proud of.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:09:10]:
That co governance being actually baked into laws and policies in
the nation is incredibly meaningful. And I I wish that more more
governing bodies would make it a priority to put students in
positions to be driving decisions about their education. That's
really special.
Simone Cameron Cohen [00:09:25]:
It is.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:09:25]:
I'm gonna go to Laura next. We'd like to know what's going on in
Lithuania because our other three guests are all from Italy. So
let's go to you first.
Laura Malakowski [00:09:32]:
Yeah. Thank you. I would say that we are trying to do as much as
possible, like other countries or American universities are doing.
I know that, when we were, inventing this student's appearance in
in my university, I was told that, Laura, you know, students' dean
office was established in American part of university. So I
wouldn't say that we are doing something new and something unique.
It would be unique because, my university is more a medical
university. So some specific things are really specific for our
students, their health, their mentality, their problems will be
some kind of different. But, you know, everything that that
support, that, trying to give the hope for them, I think it doesn't
matter.
Laura Malakowski [00:10:15]:
Are you in US? Are you in Ireland? Or some work. Our students'
fears, questions, challenges, they are almost everywhere the same.
We have to work together for the flourishing of our students, so it
doesn't matter. But Lithuania is doing, I think, the best of what
what we can.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:10:31]:
And finally, let's move over to what's going on that's unique in
Italy. And any of the three of you, please feel free to chime
in.
Giacomo Bacarelli [00:10:37]:
If I can permit, I'm live in Italy, and I work in Italy, but I work
in a European association. So for me, it could be better to talk
about Europe because Europe is, you know, several countries. So
every reality is different, but we have a unique situation where to
move from one county to another is very easy. We don't need much
industrial authorization, documentation. We can move from Italy to
France or to Ireland with the same document I use every day to go
everywhere in my city, in my country. So this is very useful to
create synergy amongst students for offices in Europe, to permit
students to meet each other, to have an international dialogue, to
discover great organization as the European Parliament Commission
Bank and other excellence in new whatever in Europe. So this is
something, that as Europe has and is very, very important to
remember because a unique condition in the world, this possibility
and this easy access to other culture, countries, languages.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:11:48]:
And the way that you serve students being incredibly different as
well because it lends itself to a much more multicultural
environment, I would imagine.
Giacomo Bacarelli [00:11:55]:
Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:11:56]:
And either Frederico or Lorenzo, do you have anything to add about
the specificity of student affairs in Italy?
Federico [00:12:02]:
Yes. So I believe that compared to our way of managing life in the
college, the possibility of comparing myself with country like
America helps me to accompany the boys in their growth with a
particular attention to each boy. Comparing students in their
growth from boys to adults in is the most important thing we can do
in, our life. I think this, giving trust to make people grow, this
is what we do. This is our mission. And the hell in this
international experience, I learned a lot in this sense.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:12:44]:
Lorenzo, anything to add?
Lorenzo Caffurini [00:12:46]:
Yes. I'm, totally agree with Giacomo. And, for me in Italy, Student
affairs are not very developed with respect, other countries. There
are service, yes, but they are dislocated. So in our case, there
are no specific offices or specialized staff. As a college of merit
in Italy, we have an association that is creating a virtuous
network of contacts. And, this all thanks, to EOCA, the European
Association. And so we have a lot to learn of, these new
matters.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:13:28]:
I'm going to go ahead and move us into our theme based questions
for the season. So I have three questions. One on the past, one on
the present, and one on the future of student affairs. And I'd love
to hear each of you reflect on them. So on the past, what's one
component of the history of the student affairs profession that you
think we should carry forward or alternatively let go of? Jake, go
ahead.
Jake McGrew [00:13:50]:
One thing that I've noticed as I'm coming in into this role and
even at a brand new university that is only on his third year, I
still see it is the siloing of student affairs and academic
affairs. I was just at the UCSAS conference in Malta, and that was
actually one of the presentations was about that, how to integrate
academic affairs and student affairs. And I think it's really,
really important. I'm finding it's difficult, especially if you
have leaders who are more specifically had they've always been in
academics or they've always been in student affairs rather than
kind of merging the two. And I think and I say this as a teacher
who's really into academics, who's really into education, who is a
student affairs person as well, that they're really we need to let
go of the silo siloing and really work on combining the two and
putting student affairs in all aspects of academic affairs and vice
versa.
Laura Malakowski [00:14:44]:
I'll give a shout
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:14:45]:
out to doctor Chris Lewis, our co producer and audio engineer on
the show who is currently the chair of the NASPA knowledge
community for ZAPA, which is student affairs partnering with
academic affairs. So if that's an interest of yours, highly
encourage you to reach out to Chris Simone.
Simone Cameron Cohen [00:15:00]:
For me, I think it is, again, embracing that student experience.
Having a strong student voice has been so important to push student
affairs along. Those students who stood up and sort of began to
express what they really, really needed to get through college and
thrive is something that is still important now. Having a constant
current voice of the student as they are now means that we can work
with them and provide the best supports that they need in the
moment. So our institution is 400 and odd years old, but it has
moved partly in in time with what the students' needs are. And
sometimes it takes a little time to get the big cog moving, but
when it does, when it gets momentum, it's great, but it's useless
without that student voice.
Laura Malakowski [00:15:50]:
I appreciate that that's been
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:15:51]:
the core of student affairs since its inception, and that inception
looks really different in different cultures, especially given that
Trinity College is older than most of the institutions that I'm
personally used to working with. But it's very neat to hear that
that has remained part of the most salient identity of student
affairs. Anyone else like to offer their thoughts on the past of
student affairs in terms of something we should either let go of or
keep going with?
Laura Malakowski [00:16:12]:
I could add that, I think still the past of student affairs is with
us Because, for example, for us in in our university, it's we need
to prove that student affairs has a huge role in the life of
students, life of institution, that we, as well, need the
resources, facilities, everything, like other academical, stuff or
academical, questions as well. Students at PSR is very important.
So I think we are still growing that understanding of of all the
institution that this is what we have to talk about, to work with,
and to try to do the best for our students. It was in the past, but
not very good at this moment, I would think.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:16:52]:
And I think likely in the present for a lot of student affairs
areas around the world where the justification for how we're
serving students is always a question from a budgetary perspective.
So it's both interesting and a little bit disheartening that that's
something that we're facing no matter where we are on the planet in
this profession.
Giacomo Bacarelli [00:17:09]:
I don't know very, very much this history of experience. At first,
I'm really young and but, I can bring my past experience as a
student because what was very few years ago, and I have to say
that, for example, in Italy, my experience, I didn't know
experience at first until two years ago. And my personal experience
is that a lot of the students leave because they didn't have
someone to help them. No. The moment of day where you are in the
university is a moment where you are not defined. Who am I? Who
will be? What I will do? These are question you bring with you for
several years. So you need to define yourself, but you can't. You
are waiting at this a very bad moment because you are preparing for
something you don't know.
Giacomo Bacarelli [00:17:54]:
And for example, after a lot of crisis, the perception of the
reality of students is like life will be worse. So we have a lot of
crisis and a lot of us stop to study and live because of that. So
students are first is very important. It permits the students to
discover this talent, to be able to face problems, all this problem
and this crisis, to have someone who believe in you and someone
that is fundamental, make the difference in the student's life,
change the value, the perspective. I'm doing something because I
have talents. I know that someone believe in me. When you are in a
delicate moment, when you are building your confidence, your self
perspective. So since my experience of the relevant students at
first, I have to say that this is crucial, the crucial part of the
university and is much as important as the academic.
Giacomo Bacarelli [00:18:52]:
Because without it, students are not able to learn with all their,
potential.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:18:58]:
Welfare and well-being at the absolute core of everything we do in
the field, for sure. Alright. Let's move into the present. And I
would like to know from you all, what's happening in your opinion
in the field of student affairs that's going well?
Giacomo Bacarelli [00:19:10]:
About the European students at first, I have to say there are a lot
of excellences of very great realities, like the one of Federico of
Lorenzo. What we talked we say this that there are not so many, not
every university. It's like small private or public, but very few
organization that are very prepared, provide a great training for
students in every kind of field. They have an holistic growth.
There is, as Simona will say after me and Saint Jake, a reality
like the Americans or universities or the angle of some countries
which has a great strong students of first culture. But there are
others like Italy or other in the center of Europe where there is
no history of students of first or not recently sort of students of
first. So there are only few initiative, very great level, height
level, but not that cannot reach everyone.
Federico [00:20:09]:
I think it is important to maintain an academic and professional
life studies in a student affair. This is a characteristic that
risk regain loss with the the new generation. An etiquette learning
to relate in a institutional way and with style is a beautiful
tradition to maintain in order to orient myself, oneself, well in
life.
Laura Malakowski [00:20:35]:
I'd like to pick up
Simone Cameron Cohen [00:20:36]:
on something that Jacqueline was saying actually in his last two
points, and I think it's something that is going really, really
well, which is that no matter what level everybody's at and what
where they've gotten to, whether they're brand new to student
services or if it's more embedded, what is being recognized is the
absolute need to support student well-being, that students matter.
And for us, where we are in Ireland, we have really good supports
that have been growing over the last number of years and have been
professionalizing over the last number of years. So, like, for
example, in Trinity, we have, like, a disability services office.
We have the student counseling service. We have the health service.
We have the gym and sports and recreation. We have the tutorial,
which is like academic advisers is what other people would call
them. So we have a whole suite of things, but that's because
students matter and we're we want to make sure that they are looked
after and their well-being is recognized and supported.
Simone Cameron Cohen [00:21:35]:
And I think that's kind of what Giacomo was saying that it is a
tender moment whether you're a traditional student who's coming in
as a school leaver or somebody returning to college or someone in
between. And I think no matter at what level people are, I think
it's the recognition that this is important. Jake?
Jake McGrew [00:21:52]:
I'll build off of what Simone was saying because I really think
there has been a a huge emphasis on supporting in student affairs,
supporting student mental health, especially student mental health.
After COVID, I think it really became a lot bigger because I
because I remember when I was in university in Oregon, and this was
fifteen years ago. And, I mean, we did have mental health services,
but it wasn't nearly as it was just, like, someone to just talk to.
And now even in my university in Ukraine, it's an American style
university, but it's still in a country that, unfortunately, in the
past, mental health services have been stigmatized very heavily.
And even then, students are requesting this, and if staff is
requesting this, that we have more and more mental health services
through the student life off through the student affairs
department. And so the fact that there's so much emphasis on this,
especially at a university for these students is really, really
important. And I it's it's really nice to see these students
knowing, oh, I needed to talk to someone because I'm having these
difficulties. So it's it's really cool that our the university and
student affairs department can be that hub to help student mental
health.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:23:02]:
Moving towards the future. In an ideal world, what does our field
need to be doing to thrive towards a successful future?
Simone Cameron Cohen [00:23:09]:
More collaboration, more sharing of information, sharing case
studies with each other so that we can learn from each other,
beginning to codify best practices, but also remembering context. I
think all of those things will help us to support students in the
best way possible.
Jake McGrew [00:23:26]:
I know many of the listeners are from North American universities,
so it might not be as applicable there. But at least in Europe, I
see more importance being put on student affairs in Continental
Europe, especially by administration. And administrators realizing
the importance of student affairs in terms of student well-being,
student retention, making sure that all students are treated
equitably. And so I think there's a positive trend towards the
acceptance and understanding of how important student affairs is in
Europe, just like it is in North America.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:24:03]:
Anyone else wanna chime in on the ideal future for student
affairs?
Federico [00:24:07]:
Attention to the individual. We are fully respecting the freedom of
each individual. A boy, even before being a a student, is a free
person free to think with his own head, heaven in a way contrary to
ours. So this is the central point.
Simone Cameron Cohen [00:24:28]:
Can I add, is it enough to say more resources? Just more of those,
please, from wherever they come from.
Giacomo Bacarelli [00:24:35]:
And I agree totally with what everyone said. In my Italian
experience as student, if I can, share is an important moment to
explain, for me what is the problem of auto students in similar
country of Europe like Italy with the same experience of
agriculture. I had a problem with, my internship because I was
required to finish my degree. I had a problem and I went to an
office and I said, it's not my my business. You have to go to
another office. I go to the second, the second sending me to the
third and to the fourth office. The fourth office send me to the
first. And I said to the first office, okay.
Giacomo Bacarelli [00:25:12]:
It's not busy. It's business of no one of you. What I can do? I
stop to study or you say me who is in charge of it or I call
police. No. Okay. I can do that. It was the first office. He or
she, the remember, will do that.
Giacomo Bacarelli [00:25:25]:
It's not their fault. They didn't care. And this attention to the
person is fundamental. In the university, you're like usually a
number. You have a number to be recognized, to send your
information, to be voted, to be valued, after the exams. And the
much more importance of the the individual. There is no a a limit
for a limit. It's something has to be much more and more important
and this need more and more attention.
Giacomo Bacarelli [00:25:55]:
Because if you are to build some, to build up the, the, the adult
of the future, you, as I said before, you need to someone who
believes in you. So more you have this and more you believe in
yourself, more you will have strong values that will guide you to
something beautiful and good.
Lorenzo Caffurini [00:26:15]:
Yes. I tell that the Kafka situation Giacomo describe is true.
More, awareness is needed. Definitely more exchange of information.
I would add that, the future is a multicultural society. I would
also like there to be more funding for student affairs.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:26:39]:
I think that's the dream for student affairs professionals
worldwide is more funding always. It's time to take a quick break
and toss it over to producer Chris to learn what's going on in the
NASPA world.
Dr. CHristopher Lewis [00:26:49]:
Thanks, Jill. So excited to be back in the NASPA world, and there's
a ton of things happening in NASPA. The Culture of Respect is
excited to reintroduce two invaluable NASPA resources designed to
strengthen institutional commitment to student safety, well-being,
and Title IX compliance. The first is the Title IX guide going
above and beyond compliance. While federal laws like Title IX and
the Clery Act provide a floor in terms of an institution of higher
education's requirements for addressing sexual violence, college
and universities for addressing sexual violence. Colleges and
universities can and should consider how they may reach a higher
ceiling above and beyond compliance. The Title IX guide going above
and beyond compliance originally published in response to the Title
IX rule issued by the US Department of Education in August of
twenty twenty was created by Culture of Respect to support
institutions who are required to follow the Title IX regulations
issued by the US Department of Education in August 2020. While many
schools have changed their policies in response to the Title IX
regulations issued in 2024, a recent federal court ruling struck
down those regulations and institutions will likely be expected to
return to the 2020 rule in the coming months.
Dr. CHristopher Lewis [00:28:11]:
This guide provides a series of questions that help institutions
assess compliance with key aspects of the new Title IX rule,
identify the source of the information in the rule, and most
importantly, prompt institutions to examine key questions,
considerations, and evidence based practices that help institutions
strengthen their prevention and response to sexual violence, their
prevention of and response to sexual violence, and create policies,
programs, and procedures that help foster a culture of respect.
This resource is available on the NASPA website. You can find out
more going to NASPA.org. The second resource that I mentioned from
the Culture of Respect is the ninth edition of Core Evaluation. The
core survey is designed to assess your institution's efforts to
prevent and respond to campus sexual violence. It covers practices
and policies mandated by federal law, as well as those recommended
by experts in the field. Questions are organized around the six
pillars of the culture of respect. The survey questions also are
included inside of this resource to encourage you to think
holistically about responding to and prevention about responding to
and preventing sexual violence and also to allow your institution
to document gaps and strengths in its current strategy.
Dr. CHristopher Lewis [00:29:33]:
Again, this resource is available on the NASPA website. Head over
to NASPA.org and click on publications to find both of these
amazing resources. And speaking of Title IX, there is a new
opportunity that is coming up here in the next few weeks. The ten
zero nine certificate program is running from February 24 through
March 15, and it is a virtual professional development opportunity.
So the twenty twenty ten zero nine regulations are officially the
law of the land nationwide and will remain so for the foreseeable
future. Whether you are a seasoned or new Title IX professional,
training on the twenty twenty regulatory mandates is required for
Title IX coordinators, decision makers, and investigators. The
NASPA Title Nine certificate program is a unique, individualized,
asynchronous and synchronous learning experience for personnel at
post secondary institutions. The speakers within the certificate
program include Peter Lake, who is a professor of law and director
of the Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy at
Stetson University, and Jake Sapp, assistant state attorney with
the Florida Fourth Circuit, both of which have a huge array of
experiences that have led them to being experts in their field and
will definitely be able to help you to traverse this topic and be
able to help you to be able to be not only proficient, but ready to
lead your organization into the future.
Dr. CHristopher Lewis [00:31:06]:
One other piece of professional development is the NCAA Student
Athlete Health and Wellness Trends and Resources web event that is
happening on 02/13/2025 at 1PM Eastern. This session will provide
an overview of the NCAA, as well as the health, safety and
performance priorities endorsed by the NCAA Board of Governors.
This session will highlight trends in student athlete mental health
and substance use, sharing outcome from the 2020 '3 NCAA Student
Athlete Health and Wellness Study and other NCAA research
initiatives related to student athlete mental health and
well-being. Lastly, this session will review the NCAA mental health
best practices and other resources in supporting student athlete
mental health, substance misuse prevention and harm reduction. If
you go to the NASPA website to the learning portal, you'll be able
to find this great web event and sign up today. Every week, we're
going to be sharing some amazing things that are happening within
the association. So we are going to be able to try and keep you up
to date on everything that's happening and allow for you to be able
to get involved in different ways because the association is as
strong as its members. And for all of us, we have to find our place
within the association, whether it be getting involved with a
knowledge community, giving back within one of the the centers or
the divisions of the association.
Dr. CHristopher Lewis [00:32:34]:
And as you're doing that, it's important to be able to identify for
yourself, Where do you fit? Where do you wanna give back? Each
week, we're hoping that we will share some things that might
encourage you, might allow for you to be able to get some ideas
that will provide you with an opportunity to be able to say, hey, I
see myself in that knowledge community. I see myself doing
something like that. Or encourage you in other ways that allow for
you to be able to think beyond what's available right now, to offer
other things to the association, to bring your gifts, your talents
to the association and to all of the members within the
association. Because through doing that, all of us are stronger and
the association is better. Tune in again next week as we find out
more about what is happening in NASPA.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:33:28]:
Chris, thank you so much for kicking off our season with this fresh
NASPA world segment. Now we're back with our lightning round, but
because we have so many guests, I've modified it just a little bit.
We're gonna be doing four questions instead of seven. Alright. Here
we go, everybody. Question number one. If you were a conference
keynote speaker, what would your entrance music be?
Jake McGrew [00:33:49]:
The final countdown.
Simone Cameron Cohen [00:33:50]:
Who runs the world?
Giacomo Bacarelli [00:33:51]:
Taraway too even.
Federico [00:33:52]:
The name is Clardy.
Lorenzo Caffurini [00:33:54]:
The final countdown also for me.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:33:56]:
Number two. What is your essential student affairs or higher
education read?
Jake McGrew [00:34:01]:
The NASPA monthly magazine.
Simone Cameron Cohen [00:34:04]:
Can I say two? Because I've it's like Stoner, the novel. I think
it's excellent for a journey on being an academic. But also,
there's a book called Unstuck by doctor Sophie Mort. It's not
specific to academia, but it's a really good read on getting in the
night of habits.
Giacomo Bacarelli [00:34:20]:
I'm a bit difficult with this question. Usually, I I try to search
the people I know asking, try to catch all the possible
interesting, books or argument not to be to be reading when I talk.
So not something I used to use.
Federico [00:34:36]:
Nasca and Euka are a good source for me.
Lorenzo Caffurini [00:34:39]:
Yes. Also for me, Nasca and Euka.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:34:42]:
Alright. Number three, the best TV show you've been binging
lately.
Jake McGrew [00:34:47]:
Oh, not lately because I haven't had time to watch anything because
this semester has been crazy. But as recently as I can think, I
really recommend watching Bojack Horseman. It looks like a cartoon.
It looks like it's really stupid, but just watch it for at least a
few seasons, and you'll understand.
Simone Cameron Cohen [00:35:02]:
I watch loads of television, lots and lots and lots. At the moment,
the old man is something that I'm catching up on, which is on
Disney, I think. It's really good.
Giacomo Bacarelli [00:35:10]:
I have several answers, but we'll say the chosen. For me, it's the
probably the the best.
Federico [00:35:16]:
Simpson, but the first ten season, and a school of life and then an
allergy of simple living.
Lorenzo Caffurini [00:35:23]:
For me, I recommend, watching Twin Peaks. It opens your mind.
Laura Malakowski [00:35:27]:
And for me, my mind opens with my daughter's suggestions. So I'm
watching if I have time just being with them and watching whatever,
they want to watch together.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:35:37]:
And my final question, any shout outs you'd like to give, personal
or professional?
Jake McGrew [00:35:42]:
I wanna give shout outs to while I'm the only student life office
person at my university, I work really closely with our program
managers who work with the different schools, Ira, Elena, and Olia,
and they make my life so much easier. I love working with them. We
have student council event tomorrow at kind of a winter ball, and
they're coming Ira's coming from across the country. And so we're
gonna meet up and I'm really excited to see them and they make my
life so much better.
Simone Cameron Cohen [00:36:09]:
For me, it's a couple of things as the senior tutor's office, which
is the sort of center of the academic advisors, but they're really
specialists in supporting students and the post grad advisory
service. Martin McAndrew there is just an absolute expert on
supporting research students and top master's students. He's fab.
And just generally our services altogether, they just do just such
epic work for our students. It's amazing.
Giacomo Bacarelli [00:36:31]:
Yeah. Absolutely. My boss, the president of VUCA, who believed in
me a lot of years ago, who was my mentor during the university, and
now he's my boss. And I have to say, I experienced that someone
believed in me during the university years, and I have to say thank
you for this. And, Noga.
Federico [00:36:51]:
For me, my school teacher because he opened my to their role for
the philosophy and, this my actually life study philosophy and
student affairs.
Lorenzo Caffurini [00:37:04]:
I thank to my director, Carla Bisleri, and also Carla Bisleri now
is also the president of the Italian conference of college of for
merit, to believe in me and my aspiration. Thank thank you,
Carla.
Laura Malakowski [00:37:23]:
I would like to say in general for all my team of my students at
your office that they still believe in me, that we are still
together, those pioneers keeping that way to the better life for
our students. So for all of them that they are still with me, not
dropping out this hard field that we have together.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:37:42]:
Now normally to close out our show, we would ask you all to share
how listeners can get ahold of you. But because, again, we've got a
large class today, we're not gonna do that. But I would encourage
anyone listening who would like to reach out to any of our guests
in their respective countries to take a look at LinkedIn. Most of
the students are on LinkedIn, and you can find them there. But I
wanna say thank you all so much for being willing to participate.
And especially to those of you who are doing this in your second
language, it's just so darn impressive that you're able to
articulate yourselves so brilliantly knowing that you're
translating your thoughts in your head. It's just it's amazing. So
thank you everybody for sharing your voices with us today.
Giacomo Bacarelli [00:38:21]:
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Lorenzo Caffurini [00:38:23]:
Thank you. Thank you.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:38:29]:
This has been an episode of SA Voices from the Field, a podcast
brought to you by NASPA. This show is made possible because of you,
the listeners, and we continue to be grateful that you spend your
time with us. If you'd like to reach the show, you can always email
us at essayvoices@NASPA.org or find me on LinkedIn by searching for
doctor Jill L. Creighton. We always welcome your feedback and your
topic and guest suggestions. We'd love it if you take a moment to
tell a a colleague about the show, and please leave us a five star
rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you're listening
now. It really helps other student affairs professionals find our
show and helps us to become more visible in the larger podcasting
community. This episode was produced and hosted by doctor Jill
Creighton.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:39:07]:
That's me. Produced and audio engineered by doctor Chris Lewis.
Special thanks to the University of Michigan Flint for your support
as we create this project. Catch you next time.