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NASPAIV-WEST

H How can I draft a newsletter article that can encompass an entire year of activities: the fall conference, the annual conference, planning meetings, monthly conference calls with the national office, monthly conference calls with the regional leadership team, frequent conference calls with the regional conference committee, featured speaker committee meetings for the national conference, appointing some of the 50-plus member board, and the plethora of other expectations, in 750 words or less? In addition, there are the board meetings with the national office and regional board. Sitting in meetings and attempting to recall the munificent information I was expected to remember, I was struck by the fact – is this what we expect our stu-dents to do? As I reflect on my freshman year as regional director and what I expect from my senior year (notice I skipped sophomore and junior years since the RD is a 2-year appointment), I was awestruck. How much of my experience is like that of the traditional freshman population? Like many of the freshmen we serve, it’s about navigating transitions. It’s about having the willingness to place yourself in situations where all of your peers are smarter than you (at least you think they are), and you have to have the confidence, nay the disposition to take risks. It’s about meeting new people and searching for someone to connect with – we all want to feel like we are part of something bigger than us – right? Too often, we “forget what it’s like not to know.” We fail to “sense” what our students are experiencing. When I sense these types of conditions, I try to contemplate - how does this consciousness influence my future actions - is this what it feels like to be a freshman? Try it

sometime – it can be cathartic and more powerful than you can imagine. And now for the senior year: been there, done that – right? Not so fast my friends! I am already beginning to consider: what do I do next? Now that I have all of this knowledge, now that I know a little more about my strengths and passions – how can I use them? Where do I focus my energies? What will I do with all that free time (yeah, right!)? It has been a very transformative year for me (and I hope for many of you as well)! I discovered that I still love to learn (I am still a work in progress); that I continue to make too many mistakes (but try to learn from them); that I have been blessed to work with such amazingly talented and authentic colleagues (and they are all smarter than me); and that I still love working with students (and professional staff). As I gaze into the next year, I have no clue what to expect, but I am delighted that I will not be travelling down this road less travelled alone. I will have 1400 of my best friends with me. Thank you for the opportunity to guide the board and IV-West region. It has been an honor, and I pledge to you that I will do my best to graduate on time. Best wishes.

NASPA IV-W, Spring 2013 Newsletter

Tim AlvarezRegional Regional Director NASPA IV-WUniversity of Nebraska - Lincoln

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Howdy Region IV-West Family! I want to take one last opportunity to thank all the fine folks in Region IV-West for their well-wishes and congratulations. I truly am honored, humbled, and plan to build upon the work of so many colleagues who I benefit from—indeed, our past Regional Directors are legends in our field and have led our region so very well. Again, thank you. This next year I really plan to do a lot of listening, learning, and laughing with as many of you as possible. As I mentioned in my vision statement, I want to ap-proach this position with humor, hard-work, and humility. Additionally, if you want to be involved—no matter how small or large your ideas are—please let either our current Regional Director, Dr. Tim Alvarez, or myself know. I know I speak for both Tim and myself when I say that we want to hear from you, we want this region to constantly be YOUR region. The many initiatives, programs, resources, and services that we enjoy today in our region have come from the ideas, the sparks, from members like each of you. Please don’t hesitate to contact me at waynejr@creighton.edu or on Twitter @wwyjr Have a great start to the summer! All my best to all of you in the Region IV-West family!

A WORD FROM OUR REGIONAL DIRECTOR - ELECT

Wayne Young, Jr. Associate Vice President for Student LifeCreighton University

2013 REGIONAL CONFERENCENovember 5 - 7

Hot Springs, Arkansas

Conference Co-Chairs: Dan Mabery and Sara Mata

Registration

Hotel Information

Call for Programs

mailto:waynejr%40creighton.edu?subject=https://twitter.com/wwyjrhttp://naspa.org/regions/regioniv-w/2013conference.cfmhttp://naspa.org/regions/regioniv-w/2013conference.cfmhttp://naspa.org/regions/regioniv-w/2013conference/registration.cfmhttp://embassysuites.hilton.com/en/es/groups/personalized/H/HOTESES-SP1-20131103/index.jhtml%3FWT.mc_id%3DPOGhttp://naspa.org/regions/regioniv-w/2013conference/proposals.cfm

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Are you a student affairs manager looking for a great way to train and motivate future leaders of student affairs on your staff? Are you a new professional in student affairs looking for an amazing opportunity to network with other new professionals and receive mentoring by top faculty and administrators around the region? If you answer “yes” to either of those, then this is the perfect opportunity for you.

This year, in conjunction with the NASPA IV-West Regional Conference, you have the chance to participate in the New Professionals Institute (NPI). NPI is an interactive training event for new professionals who have been full-time student affairs professionals less than five years and report to a mid-level or senior student affairs officer. Region IV-West will sponsor this institute for new professionals November 3-5, 2013, immediately before the Regional Conference, November 5-7, 2013 in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

NPI has long been known for the invaluable opportunities for interactions between participants and the Institute faculty. These professional mentors devote their time and talents by sharing personal experiences, posing challenging questions, and providing advice to new professionals as they develop greater understanding and competence in the student affairs profession.

Institute participants will experience a high quality, intellectually stimulating and enjoyable program that will facilitate both professional and personal growth. The curriculum for NPI 2013 was developed using NASPA’s matrix and professional development curriculum. Many institutions have used this Institute not only as a training ground for rising stars in the profession, but as a form of recognition for outstanding new professionals on their campus. Participants come from all areas: student activities, academic advising, career services, health and wellness, residential life, judicial affairs, admissions, fraternity and sorority life, counseling, international services, and more!

Don’t miss out on this incredible professional development opportunity! Our new professionals are the future of our profession; therefore, NPI will help focus on recruitment and retention of new employees. There are several factors that contribute to retention of new professionals, including opportunity for growth, salary, institutional fit, and personal balance. Strong training and orientation programs for new staff members can aid them in their transition into a professional role as they adjust through the pressures of working in a new environment and community culture. Additionally, professional development is an important opportunity for any employee. For less experienced professionals, opportunities for networking can increase their feelings of collegiality among other student affairs professionals and provide a foundation for more global understanding of initiatives and practices, helping stimulate feelings of pride, teamwork and collaboration.

Program and registration information will be available on the NASPA Region IV-West website starting in June 2013. Specific questions about NPI 2013 should be directed to either NPI co-chair, Melissa Hoffman (Melissa.hoffman@methodistcollege.edu) or Myron Pope, (mpope5@uco.edu).

Thank you for your support of NASPA IV-West staff development programs for new professionals.

The 2013 NASPA Region IV-W Conference is in beautiful Hot Springs, AR November 5-7, 2013. The 2013 Proposal Committee is seeking proposals that will be informative and relevant, informed by theory and research, encourage opportunities for learner engagement, and/or demonstrate application to the work of participants.

THE FUTURE OF OUR PROFESSION - NEW PROFESSIONALS MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE 2013 NEW PROFESSIONALS INSTITUTE

mailto:Melissa.hoffman%40methodistcollege.edu?subject=NPI%20-%20NASPA%202013mailto:Melissa.hoffman%40methodistcollege.edu?subject=NPI%20-%20NASPA%202013mailto:mpope5%40uco.edu?subject=NPI%20-%20NASPA%202013

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In particular, the committee is keen to receive proposals that meet the conference learning outcomes:• Theme: Reflections of Leadership• The conference will reflect on best-practices in the field of student affairs• The conference will promote intergenerational connections between the senior student affairs officers and future/

new professionals in the field.• The conference will encourage involvement in leadership roles through volunteerism and service.• The conference will examine opportunities, methods, and strategies to prepare students for leadership roles in a

complex global society.The deadline for proposals is July 31, 2013. Here are some important considerations as you prepare your proposal.

• The Audience • NASPA regional conferences include both professionals and graduate students. Therefore, please know that your

audience may consist of both. If your presentation targets one or the other, please note it in your description.• If you plan to have graduate students in your session, consider applying what they learn in the classroom to the

topic to help them “wrap their brains around it” (or ask them to refer to the coursework and apply). • Structure

• NASPA regional conferences have a less formal culture than the national conference. Consider an interactive presentation to provide opportunity for sharing of ideas, networking and graduate students learning from pro-fessionals.

• Allow enough time for questions, yet be prepared if you have extra time. • Consider leaving technology at home to encourage discussion and interaction among the participants. Some-

times it’s nice to have a break from PowerPoint. • Research Agenda

• In the summer of 2011 the NASPA Executive Board developed a new set of strategic goals. Goal number one is to “build the capacity to create knowledge and use data to provide evidence that will support excellence in practice.”

• Consider reviewing the research agenda when developing your outstanding programs. The research agenda can be found at http://www.naspa.org/divctr/research/agenda.pdf.

• Competencies • Throughout your session, explain and/or apply the Professional Competency Areas for Student Affairs Practitio-

ners that is addressed. If a knowledge community might be interested in sponsoring your topic, please note that also.

The regional conferences are distinguished from the national conference in a very important way: we offer the opportu-nity to network, build relationships, and build community with colleagues on a closer level than a national meeting allows. Don’t hesitate to focus on community and capacity-building in your sessions.

The site to submit your conference session will be available the first of May. The deadline is July 31, 2013.For questions, please contact the Co-Proposal Chairs Dr. Jerrid P. Freeman, freeman22@nsuok.edu, or Dr. Keegan N. Nichols, at keegan.nichols@colbycc.edu.Thanks, and we hope to see you in Hot Springs this fall.

SUBMIT YOUR PROGRAMS NOW!

http://www.naspa.org/divctr/research/agenda.pdfmailto:freeman22%40nsuok.edu?subject=Program%20Submission%20-%20NASPA%202013mailto:keegan.nichols%40colbycc.edu?subject=Program%20Proposal%20-%20NASPA%202013http://http://naspa.org/regions/regioniv-w/2013conference/photos.cfm

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KNOWLEDGE COMMUNITIESIt’s Not Too Early To Plan For National Campus Safety Month

September is National Campus Safety Awareness Month, and now is the time to start thinking of ideas to promote campus safety on your campus. Think broadly, as campus safety is not limited to facilities or personal safety programs! Programs on suicide prevention, bystander education, fire safety, campus preparedness and wellness promotion can be part of safety awareness.

National Hazing Prevention Week is also in September (September 23-27), and it ties in nicely with campus safety. Partner with your student organizations and Greek life offices to provide information on hazing prevention & campus safety. For more information, visit: http://www.hazingprevention.org/programs/national-hazing-prevention-week.

National Fire Safety and Prevention Week is October 6-12. You can work with your off campus living office to remind students about the importance of smoke detectors as well as having a home escape plan. The National Fire Protection Association provides an entire home fire escape planning kit: www.nfpa.org. You can partner with your Greek Life colleagues to coordinate fire protection programs in those chapters that have houses.

Finally, you will want to be cognizant of your campus’s policy and your state’s law on concealed weapons on campus. In May 2011, NASPA, along with six other higher education associations, issued a statement on campus safety. The statement reaffirms the need for state legislatures to consult the experts on campus safety – the campus professionals themselves. You can read the entire statement and find other resources at: http://www.naspa.org/divctr/concealcarry.cfm

Campus Safety is a universal concern and one that we can each do something about: Campus safety is no acci-dent!

The Campus Safety Knowledge Community (SCKC) is relatively new; however, the SCKC area on the NASPA website is packed with information. The SCKC area of the NASPA website is found at: http://www.naspa.org/kc/cskc/. On the left navigation bar is an electronic library of resources dealing with campus safety. One of the areas that I found helpful was the “recent conference presentations” that deal with all aspects of campus safety (FERPA, Clery, Prevention & Emergency Management).

Also on the SCKC area is the link to join the listserv. If you are interested in the Campus Safety KC listserv, send an email indicating that you wish to join the Campus Safety listserv to subscribe@naspa.org. You will be added to the listserv and connected to others who are interested in campus safety.

Jane TuttleAssistant Vice Provost for Student AffairsUniversity of Kansas

Submit your article to the Region IV-W Newsletter. The deadline for the next newsletter is Sept. 15.

http://www.hazingprevention.org/programs/national-hazing-prevention-weekhttp://www.hazingprevention.org/programs/national-hazing-prevention-weekwww.nfpa.orghttp://www.naspa.org/divctr/concealcarry.cfmhttp://www.naspa.org/divctr/concealcarry.cfmhttp://www.naspa.org/kc/cskc/http://www.naspa.org/kc/cskc/mailto:subscribe%40naspa.org?subject=Subscribe%20to%20Campus%20Safety%20Listserv

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Hello NASPA Region IV-West! I wanted to introduce myself to you as the new Oklahoma Membership Coordinator. I am thrilled to have this opportunity to serve in this capacity for our amazing region and look forward to getting to know many more of you soon. To give you a glimpse into my background, I wanted to provide you with my current professional role, as well as some other odds and ends to help you get to know me. I am fortunate to serve as the Student Leadership and ExternalRelations Coordinator for the University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus, College of Engineering, with my office housed in our three-year-old, state-of-the-art ExxonMobil Lawrence G. Rawl Engineering Practice Facility. Celebrating my six-year anniversary here in April, I have had the opportunity to coordinate and oversee our women in engineering programs, student activities and huge events for the College, high school summer camps directed at serving underrepresented students, as well as serving as advisor to three of our student groups: American Indian Science and Engineering Society, Society

of Women Engineers, and Engineers’ Club. With over 40 active student organizations in our College alone, I also assist in keeping our groups in compliance with university policies and helping them seek funding opportunities, in addition to working with Career Services and company partners to increase internship, co-op and full-time opportunities for our students. I believe in life-long learning and am living proof of that as I am currently continuing my education at the University of Oklahoma, seeking my Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration/Student Affairs. You can see that my blood runs deep with crimson as I also received my two previous degrees from OU: M.Ed. in Adult and Higher Education/Student Affairs and B.A. in Public Relations/Sociology. Prior to OU Engineering, I worked for OU Public Affairs, coordinating presidential special events and managing advertising, OSU-Oklahoma City in the Public Relations Office, and the Big 12 Conference serving as the Media Relations Intern. On a random note, I love playing sand volleyball, salsa dancing and am a huge college football (Boomer Sooner!) and OKC Thunder fan…THUNDER UP!!! Being a member of NASPA since 2008, I previously served as the Region IV-W Indigenous Peoples KC Rep and the Women in Student Affairs KC Rep. Attending my first NASPA Annual Conference in Boston in 2008, NASPA became more than a professional outlet for me, but also a welcoming, inclusive community – a family. I want others to experience this, and I know those of you who are involved already know this feeling as well, which serves as a driving force for wanting to better this organization so that we can better serve our students at our respective institutions.Thank you so much for this opportunity to be a part of this unique family. I look forward to meeting each of you very soon. Please e-mail me at tdsmith@ou.edu if you need anything or know of professionals at your institutions that need to get involved in NASPA. Keep inspiring!

Tiffany D. SmithStud. Leadership and Ext. Relat. Coord.University of Oklahoma

M.Edmailto:tdsmith%40ou.edu?subject=

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As the New Mexico Membership Coordinator, I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Sergio Nájera, and I am a Senior Student Program Advisor with the College Enrichment Program at the University of New Mexico. My alma mater is the University of New Mexico, where I am currently enrolled in the Sport Administration Master’s Program. During my undergraduate career, I was active in several organizations, one of which was NASPA. As the New Mexico Membership Coordinator, I plan to share how being a member of NASPA can be a rewarding experience and also share information regarding the vast number of opportunities that are available to undergraduates, graduates and professionals from New Mexico colleges and universities.

Hello all! My name is Brittany Nefcy, and I will be serving as this year’s Graduate Repre-sentative for NASPA IV-West. A little background information on me: I am from Beaverton, Oregon and received my undergraduate degree in Sociology from the University of Oregon. I took a year off in between undergraduate and graduate school and worked for a year at Texas A&M University in Student Activities and Residence Life. Now I am just finishing up my first year in the Higher Education Administration program at the University of Kansas. I have an assistantship in KU Student Housing as a Scholarship Hall Director for Miller/Sellards Scholarship Halls. For this position, I am hoping to find new ways to connect with grads in our region while continuing the connections that Spencer initiated in his term. Social media is a great tool that has been used, and I will be utilizing that resource to keep up communications with grads. I also

would like to work to find a creative way to engage the grads that attend our regional conference. As I amlearning more about our region and how we operate, if anyone has any suggestions please let me know! Thank you for this opportunity and I look forward to what this year will bring!

Sergio Nájera Senior Student Program AdvisorUniversity of New Mexico

Brittany NefcyHall Director - Student HousingUniversity of Kansas

Submit your article to the Region IV-W Newsletter. The deadline for the next newsletter is Sept. 15.

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With the excitement of our NASPA national conference winding down, it’s easy to get lost in the blur of an impending summer. Among the commencement speeches and vernal farewells, we hope you’ll take a moment to plan your regional conference experience. Held in beautiful Hot Springs, Arkansas, this year’s IV-West conference will exemplify “Reflections of Leadership” and continue our region’s tradition of outstanding programming, professional development, and networking opportunities.

Partnering with our ArCPA colleagues, there will be numerous ways to engage both before and during the conference. Keep an eye out for the call for programs and program reviewers, award submissions, and registration – all coming soon. And, for our new professionals in the region, we encourage you to consider the New Professionals Institute, held November 3rd – 5th (see ‘The Future of Our Profession …’ elsewhere in the newsletter for more details).

The city of Hot Springs hosts an array of outdoor activities, stellar dining options, and relaxing spas and baths. In between perusing an art gallery and taking in a live jazz performance, it’ll be easy to enjoy the natural breath-taking sights around the area - you shouldn’t need to wander far from your hotel to get your fill. The Embassy Suites Hot Springs Hotel and Spa, conveniently located near numerous Arkan-san attractions, will be offering a special rate for conference participants until October 14th or until the group block is sold-out. Visit our website at http://www.naspa.org/regions/regioniv-w/2013conference.cfm or call (501) 624-9200 to reserve your room today.

We look forward to seeing our NASPA IV-West friends November 5th - 7th!

Katie GareyActing Assistant DirectorUniversity of Missouri - Kansas City

NASPA IV-W REGIONAL CONFERENCE

www.naspa.org/regions/regioniv-w/2013conference.cfmwww.naspa.org/regions/regioniv-w/2013conference.cfm

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Now that spring is here, and with summer quickly approaching, we can hopefully look forward to longer days, warmer weather, and greener surroundings. With the cold winter months behind us, we can look forward to spending more time outside, and away from the house. If you are anything like me, any excuse to spend time away from the confines of your apartment or house is a good one! Although many of us have busy schedules as we prepare for graduation, summer classes or summer practicums and jobs, it is never a bad idea to plan a little time to give back to your local community. Service opportunities are always abundant as the weather gets warmer, especially those related to outdoor projects. Habitat for Humanity, watershed projects, local parks and nature centers, waterways and lakes…all are in need of steady volunteers, especially in the warm spring and summer months. Many opportunities just require a few hours on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, when most of us are not at work anyway. As a graduate student, I rely on volunteer and service opportunities to connect with my campus and fellow undergraduate and graduate students. It can be a great way to “stay in touch” with younger generations and with the mission and values of the institution I attend. It also provides great leadership opportunities for graduate students and young professionals, as volunteer center coordinators often pick graduate students and professionals to lead or advise groups and to facilitate reflection activities after the initial service and discuss social justice and social change.

As student affairs professionals, we have an innate passion to foster a student’s learning and development. We want to see them strive for greatness, to maximize their college experience, and to be a responsible, civically engaged, and democratic citizen. Students often look to their campus leaders, senior leaders, and other students and mimic their leadership styles and incorporate perceived values and beliefs. What better way to showcase your commitment to the university’s mission and values as well as providing a positive model of leadership than engaging in service opportunities in your community? Earth Day is right around the corner, so get in touch with your campus volunteer center, service coordinator or community partners and kick off the season right by springing into service!

SPRING INTO SERVICE

Brett McKnightGraduate StudentMissouri State University

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Are you ready for the regional conference? Have some words to motivate others to come to the conference? Has a new networking opportunity become available, and you would like to share with the region? Let everyone know by submitting your article to the Region IV-W newsletter by emailing submissions to Richard Monroe at RichardMonroe04@Gmail.com

The deadline for the next newsletter is September 15.

Feel free to contact Richard via email at RichardMonroe04@gmail.com, by phone 417-529-9324, on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/richardlmonroe, or on Twitter @Richard_Monroe

mailto:RichardMonroe@missouristate.edumailto:RichardMonroe@missouristate.eduhttp://www.facebook.com/richardlmonroehttps://twitter.com/richard_monroe

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from the editorF

NASPA Region IV-W, Spring 2013 Newsletter

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Connect with us online

A special thanks to Kristen Abell & Tim Alvarez for their help in editing the newsletter.

Thanks to all those who submitted an article for this issue of the NASPA IV-W newsletter.

Richard Monroe- Technical Operations and Marketing Manager, Missouri State University

Finally crossing the finish line after a long race is the most euphoric feeling anyone can experience. This feeling can be compared to any moment in a student affairs professional’s life; whether it is seeing that student you advised finally graduate, turning in a long research project to your supervisor, getting through your to-do list, or having just received the call that you are hired into a new position. All these feelings and more are why we are student affairs professionals and do what we do everyday.

About a year ago, I took the personal challenge to begin running, and it is a decision I definitely do not regret. Hitting the road early in the morning allows you to really begin to think through many aspects of your day before the day really even begins. This time has allowed me to contemplate what I can do differently to continue to be the best student affairs professional for the students, faculty, administrators and staff I interact with on a daily basis. Bringing this perspective into scope really allows you to look deep into yourself to keep going and drive towards the “finish line;” and then moving onto the next opportunity or adventure.

Today, I challenge you to feel that moment of crossing the finish line in your life. Where are you going? What is your next move? Who have you helped out today? Can you make a difference in someone’s life today, tomorrow, this week, this month?

Maybe there are no medals handed out to you, or you did not finish in first place; remember, you finished. So take a moment and reflect on that opportunity and move onto the next one. What keeps you going is really the fact that you did it, by working hard and crossing the finish line, no matter what. Those feelings and more are why we are student affairs professionals and do what we do everyday. It is time to seize the day, start with a new perspective, and look towards the finish line!

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