CSP

CSP Practicum Site Visits

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This October, College Student Personnel (CSP) students, faculty, and practitioner-educators will visit multiple colleges and universities in Georgia to learn about student affairs and higher education at distinct institutional types. Site visits include the University of West Georgia, Georgia Institute of Technology (GA Tech), and Emory University.

These practicum visits are one of many program activities that combine peer-to-peer learning and professional socialization to provide graduates with practical experiences that are grounded in research and theory. Since the beginning of the College Student Personnel program over seventy years ago, more than 650 students have graduated and progressed to various roles in higher education and related services.

For more information on the University of Tennessee College Student Personnel program, visit https://elpsclone.flywheelsites.com/csp/.

National Panhellenic Conference Graduation Rate Study

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ELPS faculty Dr. Patrick Biddix and Dr. Terry Ishitani, along with ELPS alumnae Nicole Nicholson and Kaitlin Singer, completed and published a study that demonstrated women in sororities across 18 four-year institutions were more likely than non-members to graduate in four years, with the graduation rate between the two groups stabilizing for years five and six. Recommendations for practice to strengthen the educational component of sorority membership were also provided.

The article, “The Influence of National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) Sorority Membership on Graduation and Time-to-Degree: A Multi-Institution Study” was published in the Journal of Women and Gender in Higher Education (subscription required for access). 

UTK Attends SACSA Conference in Myrtle Beach, SC

UTK Attends Southern Association for College Student Affairs (SACSA) Conference in Myrtle Beach, SC

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More than 40 University of Tennessee Knoxville students (undergraduates and CSP – College Student Personnel), faculty, and Division of Student Life practitioner-educators recently attended the 2018 SACSA Conference in Myrtle Beach, SC (November 3-5, 2018).   Below are several highlights from the annual conference.

  • Tanisha Jenkins (ELPS Doctoral Candidate; Director, UTK Office of Multicultural Student Life) presided over the 2018 conference serving as SACSA President.
  • Luke Sciuilli (Cohort 2019), Aaron Dixon, Karen Boyd, Talisha Adams, Kelly Phillips, Kerri Lovegrove, Abby Grogan, Danny Glassman, Lori Smith, and David Ndiaye presented at the conference.
  • Luke Sciulli (Cohort 2019) and Madison Merrifield (Cohort 2019) finished 1st in the Case Study Competition. Each received a $150 award.
  • Karis Hill (Cohort 2020) and Olivia Stevens (Cohort 2020) finished 2nd in the Case Study Competition. Each received a $100 award. (There were 13 teams in the case study competition).
  • Jheri Wills (Cohort 2019) was the first SACSA Presidential Intern and chaired the Graduate Student Symposium.
  • Dorian McCoy was awarded the SACSA/CAS Ted K. Miller Award for Excellence (to recognize outstanding accomplishments in advancing standards of practice and quality assurance in educational programs and services in higher education).
  • We had approximately 30 members of the Vol Nation attend dinner Sunday at the Flying Fish.  Thanks to Abigail Brumfield for organizing. Tanisha Jenkins hosted a reception in the Presidential Suite after dinner (just for the Vol Nation).
  • Chris Ndiritu (Cohort 2018) chaired the Undergraduate Symposium.
  • The UT Baskets auctioned for $155.  For the second consecutive year, the UT Baskets generated the most dollars for the SACSA Foundation. Basket 1 auctioned for $100 and Basket 2 auctioned for $55.  Thanks Karis for “putting together” the baskets.

Patrick Biddix to Teach NASPA Online Course on March 26, 2018

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Patrick Biddix will join Joseph Levy and Rishi Sriram in teaching an online course hosted by The NASPA Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Knowledge Community.  The course titled, “Assessment versus Research.  What is the Difference?  Why Does It Matter?”, will help students to establish and clarify the language used for assessment and research, expectations of practitioners at multiple levels, and trends in the field.

As a result of attending the course, students will:

  • gain foundational knowledge about the concepts of assessment and research;
  • learn approaches to assessment and research based on definitions and philosophy;
  • apply assessment and research processes to student affairs practice; and
  • articulate the need for assessment and research skill development as professional practice.

The course will take place on March 26, 2018 at 1:00pm est.  It is free for members of the Assessment, Evaluation, and Research KC and $99 for non-members.

Read more about the course here

Chris Ndiritu

CSP Student Receive SACSA Graduate Student Award

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The College Student Personnel Program located in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies is proud to share that our 2018 Cohort student, Chris Ndiritu, has been awarded the Southern Association for College Student Affairs (SACSA) award for Outstanding Graduate Student for 2017.

Chris Ndiritu, Recipient of the SACSA Graduate Student AwardChris has demonstrated “academic achievement, campus involvement and potential for significant contributions to the Student Affairs profession” per the qualification guidelines for the award.  While working towards his degree, Chris is also an Assistant Hall Director for Hess Hall.

The College of Education, Health and Human Sciences congratulates you Chris!  Read more about the SACSA; an organization “providing cooperative assocation and professional development for professionals engaged in college student affairs work.”