Mentoring has always been important to the development of the next generation of professionals in higher education and other fields. As Janni Aragon, Senior Instructor of Political Science at the University of Victoria, observed in Inside Higher Ed, “my time was never wasted” during graduate school years spent at conferences and professional development events. She learned a great deal during those critical years in her life, and continues to do so, but now stands at a point in her career where she feels compelled to step up and be a mentor herself.
Aragon’s experience in panel and roundtable events drove home to her that there is currently a lack of mentoring, coaching or professional development for graduate students or junior colleagues--but not because of a lack of interest from students. In fact, the feedback she has received from graduate students indicates that they are hungry for such events. “I have come to the conclusion that my mentors were outliers or at least the strong mentoring and coaching that they gave me was unusual. This is why I have dedicated so much of my time to mentoring or coaching my students and others around me.”
Development resources for new & established professionals
Once established, professionals in higher education have access to numerous professional development options from AACRAO, widely regarded as the leading authority within the field of enrollment management, and a recognized source of information on student admissions, academic records, and international education. AACRAO enhances the careers of members by providing valuable professional development programs, up-to-date news, practical professional tools, research, and networking events. The association offers opportunities ranging from large conferences that bring together thousands of AACRAO members to topic-specific conferences, institutes, online courses, workshops, webinars, and publications that focus on issues, regulations, and best practices in the various fields that the association represents.
And now, those resources will be easier for up-and-coming professionals to access. Because students and individuals who are on the verge of entering the profession may have difficulty accessing professional development opportunities, the association is providing a valuable opportunity to graduate students to become members of AACRAO for only $25.
Student members are eligible for all AACRAO benefits, such as discounts on publications and meetings and the complimentary subscription to College & University and its digital archives.
Becoming a member of AACRAO also opens up many opportunities for students to publish in professional journals with substantial circulation bases. Both of these resources are excellent vehicles for getting published and gaining recognition in the profession:
--College & University is always accepting articles and welcomes a wide variety of topics.
--SEM Quarterly targets a more specific audience and bridges the gap between theory and practice of Strategic Enrollment Management.
--Webinars and online courses provide a convenient and cost–effective ways to obtain the information a student will need when entering the profession. If you know of a graduate student at your institution that could benefit from an AACRAO membership please encourage them to take advantage of our member benefits today.
Aragon advises professionals within higher education to take more opportunities to mentor, coach, sponsor and help the next generation, and to heed Booker T. Washington’s advice: “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.”
Build a strong team
Encouraging young talent is one key aspect of successful office management. Grad students and entering professionals can play a key role on your team, if you can develop an effective "coaching" style. So how can you help integrate the rookies and the veterans?
Consider attending "Coaching Your Team," a full-day preconference workshop in advance of the 2014 AACRAO Annual Meeting. Using a “coaching-the-coach” perspective, this workshop uses sports theories and practices to learn how to coach and motivate different personality types to deliver their best work and contribute to a department's long-term strategic success.