The Student Learning and Development (SLD) competency area is comprised of an
individual's ability to utilize student development theories in their practice. The ACPA &
NASPA (2016) rubric provides three areas that measures an individual's proficiency level:
understanding theory, design and application, and assessment and integration. I believe that I am currently at a semi-intermediate proficiency level in this area.

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I believe that the HESAA program’s theory to practice model in the coursework allows me to be semi-intermediate in my proficiency in this area. Taking HEA 617, Student Development and Learning has helped me truly understand theories in our profession. In this course, I was able to learn many different theories that help guide our profession. The course gave me insight on the different models and theories used that help professionals understand the development of college students. In this course, I was able to use a theory that was taught in the course and apply it to an actual program implemented at an institution. For that assignment, I was able to work alongside two colleagues and apply theories such as Strayhorn’s sense of belonging theory as well as Astin’s theory of involvement to Buffalo State’s EOP Freshmen Summer Academy. This theory to practice model has gave me the tools to redesign a program and create learning outcomes of the program based on these theories.

 

My experience as a Residence Director has also helped me to understand why students behave in certain ways or why they act how they do. After learning about Astin’s theory of involvement, I was able to use this as a tool to encourage my residents to get involved on campus. I learned how to identify and understand how different students demographics, their background, and experiences, paired with the institutions environment affects a student's involvement on campus. Knowing that academic performance is correlated with a student’s involvement, I heavily encourage residents to join clubs and find their niche on campus. Astin’s theory of involvement has helped me to justify why being a part of a club and being involved on campus is important. 

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In my current role as a Career Coach and Student Outreach Coordinator, Sanford's challenge and support theory serves as the foundation of the work that I do. Sanford’s theory states that for growth to occur, a person needs a balanced amount of challenge and support. The theory states that in order to be most effective, a supervisor must provide enough support to prevent discouragement and defeat, but not too much, which may result in the supervisee being stagnant in their growth and development.  In terms of students career related documents, I believe that giving them too much support and doing these documents for them will result in them never really learning what they need to grow. I believe that too much challenge will result in the student becoming frustrated and possibly quit trying. When assisting students, I believe it is important to find a happy medium of challenge and support that works well for each student. 

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                                                     Artifact 1:

 

Using the theory of Self-Authorship, I was able to reflect on my journey to higher education and examined what phases of the theory I was in while getting here.

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                                    Artifact 2: 

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Colleagues and I were able to use student development theory to help improve a program. This presentation shows that I am able to integrate theory into decision making. 

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