3.9.3 Qualified staff

The institution employs qualified personnel to ensure the quality and effectiveness of its student affairs programs.

Judgment of Compliance

Compliance

Narrative of Justification

Bennett College provides services supporting its mission with qualified personnel to ensure the quality and effectiveness of its Student Affairs programs.  As expressed in the Student Affairs Mission Statement (College Website: Office of Student Affairs), the Area provides a co-curricular program of educational development and is committed to creating an environment that encourages the evolution of the whole student…intellectually, culturally, socially, and spiritually.  The group of educators that staff Student Affairs provides and administers a cadre of programs designed to build and foster community, develop the life skills of integrity, responsibility, and self-respect, and prepare students for life beyond the college experience. 

Our mission is accomplished through the following services:

• Career Services– The Office of Career Services is responsible for aiding students in developing, evaluating, and effectively initiating career plans.  The efforts of this office are designed to stimulate the professional growth of each student by providing assistance with career planning and placement options, career development, and experiential opportunities to address the issues of career selection and preparation.
• Office of the Chaplain – This office serves as the spiritual covering for the campus, participating in various campus programs and reaching out to members of the College community in times of crisis and emergency.  The Chaplain is responsible for religious life on the campus, while counseling students, ministering to their needs, and encouraging their spiritual growth.
• Counseling Services– This department provides individual and group counseling for students to address developmental and interpersonal needs.  Programs are sponsored to promote and encourage prevention and responsibility, and include topics related to issues pertinent to students in a college setting.
• Health Services – The Health Center, through its programs and services, enhances the educational process by modifying and/or removing health-related barriers to learning.  The department offers a comprehensive approach to health through education, consultation, and referral.  The Director, in consultation with our consulting physician, ensures that all state mandates are followed regarding students’ health records and immunizations.
• Public Safety – The Department of Public Safety carries out its protective role by providing safety and security services for the entire Bennett community.  Their responsibilities include securing campus buildings and property, responding to emergencies, and enforcing parking and traffic regulations on the campus.  They are the only 24-hour, seven days a week, 365 days a year operation on the campus and can be reached at any time by dialing (336) 370-8621.
• Athletics and Recreation – Under the direction of the Director, this department is responsible for the organization, administration, and functioning of the Intercollegiate Sports Program, as well as fitness and recreational activities. 
• Residence Life – Residence Life provides a safe and comfortable living environment for all residential students.  The Director oversees the total program including housing assignments and facilitating community development programs and activities.  Each residence hall is managed by a full-time, live-in resident director.  These directors are responsible for evening and weekend duty coverage and work closely with Public Safety, especially after our general operating hours.
• Student Activities – This department offers a variety of recreational, social, cultural, educational, developmental, and experiential activities for the Bennett community.  It is responsible for ensuring that campus activities are valid to the needs and interests of students.  The Director serves as the advisor for the Student Government Association and oversees the membership intake process for our Greek-letter organizations.
• Academic Cultural Enrichment Series (ACES) - ACES is designed to enhance the cultural, spiritual, and educational development of the entire campus community through participation in a series of activities.  These activities include formal convocations, departmental and organization-sponsored events, concerts, and other related programs.  All students are expected to attend these activities.

The Area of Student Affairs employs 16 professional staff members, 17 public safety officers, and three administrative office support staff.  All department heads are required to have master’s degrees or bachelor’s degree with at least five to seven years of related experience.  The Vice President, in consultation with the Director for Human Resources, determines exemptions.  Rationale for exemptions may include transferable professional experiences.  Four of the current directors, along with the Vice President, have advanced (master’s) degrees.  All other staff members meet the educational and experience requirements specified in the position descriptions and resumes, with two exceptions.  In these two cases, proper justification is provided in the Office of Human Resources.  These staff members are resident directors and have extensive experience in managing residential experiences.  They have served the College in this capacity for 25 years and 7 years.   

Student Affairs uses the following strategies to enhance the professional knowledge of all employees and their overall job performance and effectiveness:

Professional In-Service Meetings and Retreats – The Area holds an annual retreat for the directors and the administrative assistants each summer.  The topics are wide-ranging and address issues that enhance their work and their overall professional development.  Additionally, in-service training meetings are held at least twice each semester to include such topics as customer service, transition, civility and citizenship, risk management, and serving special student populations.  Case studies have also been used to enhance training initiatives.  Professional development is also incorporated in weekly staff meetings.  Public Safety and Residence Life also present a number of training activities to their respective staffs.  (Civility and Citizenship Presentation; Student Affairs Sign-In Sheet for Staff Meetings; Student Affairs Meeting Minutes and Handouts).

Area Committee Involvement – Most professional staff members serve on campus-wide committees (e.g. Registration, Summer Programs, Academic Council, Enrollment Management), some are appointed and others serve based on their positions (e.g. the Registration Committee includes the Directors of Health Services and Residence Life).  The Office of Student Affairs also provides leadership for a number of campus committees to include New Student Orientation and ACES.  (See Student Affairs Sign-In Sheet for Staff Meetings and Student Affairs Meeting Minutes and Handouts)

Conferences and Professional Involvement – All Area staff have the opportunity to participate in local, regional, and/or national conferences (e.g. NASPA, NASAP, SEAHO, NACE).   Staff members have presented at national meetings and the Vice President currently serves on the NASPA HBCU Task Force.  Others have been involved in workshops on budgeting, conflict management, and working with difficult people.  Resources are also provided for staff members and all Area staff as required to demonstrate that they are staying abreast of current developments in their disciplines.

Annual Performance Reviews – The College requires that supervisors review the performance of all staff members annually.  In Student Affairs, the Vice President gives staff continuous feedback and expects her subordinates that manage staff do likewise. The Office of Human Resources provides training to managers in relation to the conducting of performance reviews.  The review process is designed to be a dialogue and includes the development of action and work plans, all created to enhance effectiveness (Sample Document of Staff Performance Evaluation).

Supporting Documents

SOURCE	LOCATION/Special Instructions
Civility and Citizenship Presentation	Office of Student Affairs
College Website: Office of Student Affairs	www.bennett.edu/web/administration/studaffairs.htm
Presentations on Positive Interactions	Office of Student Affairs
Student Affairs at Small Colleges Presentation	Office of Student Affairs
Student Affairs Meeting Minutes and Handouts	Office of Student Affairs
Student Affairs Position Descriptions Administrative Assistant Administrative Assistant (part-time) College Chaplain Director of Career Services Director of Health Services Director of Residence Life Vice President of Student Affairs	Office of Student Affairs
Sample Document of Staff Performance Evaluation	Office of Student Affairs
Student Affairs Sign-In Sheet for Staff Meetings	Office of Student Affairs