Student Affairs Professionals

“Skill Development Among Student Affairs Professionals” is an article written by Darby M. Roberts about self-evaluation by three different Student Affairs professional levels about skills within the Student Affairs profession. The three skill levels are new professionals, mid- managers, and senior student affairs officers. New professionals worked full time in Student Affairs for 0- 5 years. Mid- managers are defined as individual who reports directly to the CSAO (chief student affairs officer) reports directly to a person who reports directly to the CSAO and has to oversee at least one Student Affairs component. A senior student affairs officer has worked a minimum of 10 years with division wide responsibilities (Roberts, 2005). Roberts referenced a study that found college presidents have a set of skills that they expect their Student Affairs program to demonstrate through all levels of professions. Of course, the new professions will have the smallest skill set due the limited exposer to the field, whereas the senior affairs officers will have the most developed skill sets due the years dedicated to the …show more content…
The first piece of useful information is the stair- step effect. This effect breaks down to prospective employees and new professionals the importance of starting at the bottom and working up the ladder. Without starting at an entry level job, the professional will miss key skills that is needed to become a mid- manager and eventually a senior student affairs officer. Each skill set builds off of each other. Also, each year you are in the Student Affairs field the professional will gain knowledge, for example, new professional struggle the most with fiscal management whereas senior student affairs officer feels confident with that particular skill (Roberts,