Higher Ed Staff Development Programs

Do you sometimes feel like you're falling behind your peers in terms of professional development?  Or are you current with the latest trends in Higher Ed, but feel like the rest of your staff could benefit from some professonal development?  Del presents a number of excellent staff development programs for Student Life, Student Affairs, and Student Development personnel. Whether you are considering a full-day or half-day retreat, or a single one- or two-hour session, Del will improve your staff performance.

Del is pleased to announce his latest innovation--  Instant Assessment!TM  At the end of each program, your staff can complete an online assessment tool by using their smartphone, iPad/tablet, or computer.  The results will be available immediately, and can be provided to you as an excel spreadsheet and in graphic form complete with statistical analysis.  No more tabulating paper surveys and evaluations!

Del Suggs has a Master of Science Degree in Instructional Design and Development, and has served as an instructor at Florida State University in both the College of Education and the College of Music.  His programs are generally accepted for Continuing Education Credits for most professional organizations.

Del does presentations in two areas:

"Best Practices In Student Affairs" Training

(Full-day or half-day program)

This workshop addresses the specific skill sets required to implement and execute student activities, student life, and student development programs with excellence. While the exact content will be developed based on your specific needs, this workshop can include the following areas of expertise: program and event planning, scheduling and production; marketing and promotion of events; presenting venue- and program-specific events (such as cafeteria shows, coffeehouse shows, film series, etc.); special concerns and challenges such as programming for commuter and non-traditional student populations; and more. If you allow enough time, this workshop can include hands-on development time for designing and producing new programs by your staff.

"Student Affairs Reconsidered" Training

(Full-day or half-day program)

The NASPA/ACPA publication of Learning Reconsidered in 2004 and Learning Reconsidered 2 in 2006 has had a dramatic impact on higher education. Many institutions have embraced this new outlook and philosophy, and some have even included it in their mission statement or departmental goals. Learning Reconsidered will be impacting the role of Student Development-- and accreditation-- for the next decade and beyond. This workshop will introduce your staff to the basic concepts of Learning Reconsidered and clearly explain the principle tenets. Then, you will explore the seven domains called for in transformative learning, and learn to shape your existing programming into a true Student Development curriculum. Finally, you will learn to create student learning outcomes for your programs and events, and begin to explore various methods of assessment of the learning taking place. Enhance your programming into the holistic, comprehensive, and transformative activities called for in Learning Reconsidered.

The following topics are among those presented in the training sessions listed above. If you don't have a full-day (or even a half-day) for staff training, you might consider these specific programs. Each presentation takes approximately one hour.

Learning Reconsidered and Student Activities

(60 mins approx.)

The publication of Learning Reconsidered in 2004 and Learning Reconsidered 2 in 2006 has had a dramatic impact on higher education. In calling for a new outlook in education, these publications have laid the foundation for a new philosophy of teaching and learning that will be affecting your role in Student Development for the next decade. In this session, you will first be introduced to the basic concepts of Learning Reconsidered and understand the principle tenets. Then, you will explore the seven student outcomes for transformative learning, and learn to shape your existing programming into a true Student Development curriculum. Learn to enhance your programming into the holistic, comprehensive, and transformative activities called for in Learning Reconsidered.

Developing Student Learning Outcomes

(60 mins approx.)

This session covers the development of student learning outcomes:  what they are and how to write them.   We'll use a very simple "ABC" method of creating learning outcomes that is remarkably easy yet completely accurate.  We’ll cover the proper syntax and verbs, including specific examples of useful and measurable outcomes.  Developing learning outcomes is the first step in creating a“student life curriculum.”

Assessment in Student Activities

(60 mins approx.)

Assessment is the best means of evaluating the success of your programs and events, and demonstrates your commitment to the educational mission of your institution. Assessment is also the best way to improve your programs, as it indicates where they've been successful and where they have not. This program covers creating straight-forward learning outcomes for your programs. Using these outcomes as a benchmark, this session will discuss methods for evaluating the success of your programs. We'll consider various assessment tools and techniques: anecdotal, web surveys, exit evaluations, interviews, departmental reviews, faculty evaluations, discussion groups, and, yes, even headcounts.

Advisor Training 101

(60 mins approx.)

Congratulations on becoming the advisor for a campus organization. Now what the heck do you do? This program is for all advisors, both new and experienced. The session is designed to help you understand the basics of advising, some “do's and don'ts,” and give you a chance to interact with both seasoned and rookie advisors on your campus. Participants can learn Best Practices, share their experiences, and learn from the wisdom of others.

Keeping Students Engaged

(60 mins approx.)

According to the National Survey on Student Engagement, getting students engaged on campus leads to better educational outcomes. That means better learning, higher retention rates, and greater student satisfaction.  Retention is a large part of the engagement quotent. It has a “snowball” or mulitplier effect, in that improving retention on a very basic level can result in dramatic improvements at higher levels.  Getting students engaged with activities, events, and organizations can result in higher retention rates. Create activities with content students care about and you will see higher attendance. Hold engaging events and you will see greater involvement. Help students to form and run organizations that engage and inspire them, and you will see clubs with more members and higher retention.  That higher retention rate among organizations and events will translate into a more engaged campus, and increased academic achievement.

Instant Assessment!

(60 mins approx.)

How would you like to present a program, then just click a button to review the completed assessment? Sound too good to be true? It's not! Del has developed a way to do just that. At this session, you will learn to develop easily assessed learning outcomes, create an assessment tool using Google Drive, and discover how to get your students to complete the assessment survey at the event on their cell phones.

Avoiding Burnout

(60 mins approx.)

Burnout:  a state of mental, physical and emotional exhaustion.
When the alarm clock goes off, do you hit the snooze button and roll back over?  Does your life and job remind you of the film "Groundhog Day"?  At one time you were excited about your job and eagerly embraced each day.  Wouldn't you like to keep that enthusiasm alive-- or bring it back to life? This session may be the answer.  Del Suggs, noted Leadership Development trainer, author and APCA "Best Campus Speaker" will inspire you with this quick lesson in Attitude Restoration.  Learn to recognize burnout in yourself, and some simple steps to regain the joy in your life and work.

Making More Time  With Time Management

(60 mins approx.)

Time management is a lie-- we can't manage time.  What we can do is manage how we use the time we have.  This program deals with the "Three P's of Time Management":  Planning, Prioritizing, and Procrastination.  After attending this program, your staff will have some solid and useful tools for utilizing their time, and getting more done.  

Student Development Theory

(60 mins approx.)

Knowing what changes will occur in students-- when those changes will occur, and what they will be-- is the core of Student Development Theory. Serving as a "crash course" in psychology, this presentation covers the basics of Chickering, Perry, and Maslow for RA's, Directors, and other staff in Residence Life and Student Life. Student Development Theory is a remarkably powerful tool for staff working in Residence Life. This presentation will provide useful insight into your students' personal development, enabling your staff to better understand your students, to anticipate their needs, and foresee some problems before they occur.

DIY Surveys with Google Drive

(60 mins approx.)

One of the little-known attributes of Google Drive (formerly Google Docs) is that you can use it to create and compile surveys.  And, the price is right-- it's free.  If you are tired of the restrictions on Surveymonkey, Survey Console, and Zoomerang, then this session is your solution.  Come and learn to create your own surveys, and if you have your laptop or tablet you can create one on the spot.  We'll also discuss best practices and random sampling, and how to get the most accurate results.


What You Need to Know About Social Networking

(60 mins approx.)

You see your students thumb-typing like crazy and wonder what's the big deal? Not after this presentation. It's like this: students are totally comfortable in the sea of technology, while staff and faculty are trying to learn how to dog-paddle. This session will explain what social networking is, and help you understand the most popular sites Facebook and Twitter. If attendees have notebook computers, and wi-fi is available, then Del can assist staff and faculty in setting up their profiles. Here is a chance to catch up, before you get any further behind.

Building Campus Community

(60 mins approx.)

Everyone wants to feel like a part of a community. It's so important, it's probably in your college mission. But how do you create a sense of community? In this session, we'll look at ideas to break down the barriers between students, faculty, and staff. We'll also consider creating new traditions to carry the community forward for years to come.

Mission-driven Programs with Campus Collaboration

(60 mins approx.)

It's perhaps the most common missed opportunity on any college campus. While campus entertainment should be fun, it can also be culturally enriching, or have an educational slant. But more importantly, programs can serve to reach across campus and bring students, faculty, and staff together. You often hear those common buzz-words among the administration on campus, words like "campus community," and "experiential learning." The programming staff on your campus-- whether it's Student Activities, Student Life, Student Involvement, Student Leadership-- can truly be the key to campus collaboration in learning. This program discusses various ways to integrate student activities into the teaching/learning mission of the school, and seek to facilitate a true campus collaboration.

Programming for a Commuter Campus

(60 mins approx.)

Non-traditional schools have a difficult time meeting the programming needs of their students. It can be an exercise in frustration to present wonderful events in empty rooms. This session will discuss the differences in programming for non-traditional schools: without residence halls, older (or mixed age) student populations, "suitcase colleges" and more. We'll also come up with useful strategies to meet the program needs of these students.