This article reminds me of how some professors I first met at Andres University preceded all their lectures with short prayers. On each day we met, a student was volunteered to pray regardless of his/her spiritual background. I now understand how religio-spirituality was working in them. It is a good action to emulate and I will never forget it wherever I may be!
I think it is a big challenge to us as future student affairs professionals. We need to display an utmost religio-spirituality in all our endeavors no matter where we find ourselves. I know that we need not boast of our beliefs and condemn others, but we can in a more subtle manner share our experiences with others. Again, I agree with the author that religio-spirituality shapes the development of relationship-building characteristics and values. The problem is how to start. First of all, I believe we can side with Paula who says we can use spirituality as a frame of reference for our leadership style just as we use leadership handbook. Your leadership style tells outsiders who you are. In other words, a religio-spiritual administrator promotes unity and brings harmony at work places and everyone sees you as such.
Students are our target group. We need to bring them to the level that we want. It is true as we read in the article that students are unique beings made by God and have strengths and weaknesses. My favorite university professor once said, “Students are equally intelligent as faculty only that they did not come to university earlier”. He therefore suggested students should be handled with extra care and love for they stand the chance of becoming as intelligent as they were. Now, I understand the perspective within which he was admonishing. It is a clear manifestation of religio-spiritual commitment, which I think should be the hallmark of all administrative work.
Lastly, we need to bring our religio-spiritual development to bear by supporting students and colleagues in times of adversity. Even though it is extremely difficult sometimes in certain environment to discuss our beliefs, with determination and subtle approach, we can make an impact. It is equally important to be open minded, good listener, tolerant, and appreciate people the way they are and by so doing we can build a better educational system
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
TYPES OF RELATIONSHIP
My reflection for this week reading will be on “types of relationship”. It became crystal clear that cordial relationship amongst co-workers in education intuition is crucial for effective management. One important type of relationship that student affairs personnel need to foster is among colleagues and constituents of the institution. This is because a good relationship is a key to success.
There is a common saying that together we stand, divided we fall. This is especially true in decision making. I agree with Rogers, 2003 by pointing out that a true collaborative leadership characterised by dialogue in which all voices are valued and power is shared is essential. Effective communication, tolerance, humility and love are necessary ingredients to promote good relationships.
There is a common saying that together we stand, divided we fall. This is especially true in decision making. I agree with Rogers, 2003 by pointing out that a true collaborative leadership characterised by dialogue in which all voices are valued and power is shared is essential. Effective communication, tolerance, humility and love are necessary ingredients to promote good relationships.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
PHYSICAL HEALTH ISSUES
Helping students with health and wellness issues touched my heart and would like to share some thought with you. There is a common Latin proverb which states that, “mens sana, incopore sano”, which literally means, “A healthy mind lives in a healthy body”. This is true and confirms what Ernest Boyer (1990) wrote that, “Students cannot be intellectually proficient if they are physically and psychologically unwell.” With this in mind, how do we as prospective administrators, student affairs professionals, teachers, Pastors, to name but a few, ensure that students entrusted into our hands get health support?
As rightly stated in the text (p. 267), the causes of health problems are many and vary from place to place. Majority, however, are due to genetic and environmental factors as well as attitude. My concern is about the environmental and lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart diseases and several others. Once these theses are mostly contracted through our lifestyle, we can do something to facilitate their prevention. For instance, we can form a group to handle health problems and dissipate health information to students and the college community as a whole. This group collaborates with the health services in the institution to inform and educate students anytime there is a pandemic like the swine flu. Anytime health issue looms, members of this group look out of information and put it in public domain as swiftly as possible. An ounce of prevention, they say, is better than a pound of cure.
Obesity with its concomitant health problems can be prevented by educating vulnerable students to change their lifestyle. Too much sugar intake, late dinner, and excessive intake of refined starch should be avoided. With effective education and support, most physical and mental health problems prevalent in our schools can be prevented if not curtailed.
As rightly stated in the text (p. 267), the causes of health problems are many and vary from place to place. Majority, however, are due to genetic and environmental factors as well as attitude. My concern is about the environmental and lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart diseases and several others. Once these theses are mostly contracted through our lifestyle, we can do something to facilitate their prevention. For instance, we can form a group to handle health problems and dissipate health information to students and the college community as a whole. This group collaborates with the health services in the institution to inform and educate students anytime there is a pandemic like the swine flu. Anytime health issue looms, members of this group look out of information and put it in public domain as swiftly as possible. An ounce of prevention, they say, is better than a pound of cure.
Obesity with its concomitant health problems can be prevented by educating vulnerable students to change their lifestyle. Too much sugar intake, late dinner, and excessive intake of refined starch should be avoided. With effective education and support, most physical and mental health problems prevalent in our schools can be prevented if not curtailed.
Friday, September 25, 2009
African movies
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Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Mission statement: Importance, challenges and suggestions
Every organisation including educational institutions has a mission statement, which is an articulation to its customers, employees and the entire world of the purpose of its existence. A careful and well-planned mission has some benefits. A few of such benefits have been discusses as follows:
Barr (2000) and Martin (1982) explanation of a mission gives one of the benefits. They say, "a mission reveals where the institution came from, where it is heading, and how it plans to get there." p. 19. I would like to refer a mission as GPS that directs the institution to its desired destination. The exclusive purposes and values stated in the mission help its clientele to make prudent choices. In other words, for the institution to be successful, it has to have a clear and broad mission that resonates with the public and tells them why it would be beneficial to choose.
Besides, the mission represents the institution’s vision of how it would like to be seen by its clients (students and parents). Programs of the institution can easily be evaluated with a clear mission statement. These, and several others, are the reasons why mission statements are important for every organisation.
My concern lies in the fact that even though a mission statement is very important and serves as a guide for the development and expansion of every institution, why is it that a number of them fail to realize their objectives. For example, there has been secularization of most Christian institutions despite their well articulated mission statements. I think there are challenges that confront such institutions and make it difficult for the outlined objectives to be realized. I am glad to share with you some of the challenges and recommendations that will help decision makers particularly, student affair profession to overcome the academic turbulence.
First and foremost, competition makes authorities take some decisions to the detriment of the mission. Again, economic factors and lack of modern teaching/learning materials contribute to such constraints. Some faculty members are not dedicated to follow the values and several others.
There is a saying that you cut your coat according to the size of your cloth. Administrators should work within available resources in order not to ignore the intended purposes of the institution. Moreover, student affair professional should understand such mission statements and translate into academic programs. Values set out should be rigorously followed.
Barr (2000) and Martin (1982) explanation of a mission gives one of the benefits. They say, "a mission reveals where the institution came from, where it is heading, and how it plans to get there." p. 19. I would like to refer a mission as GPS that directs the institution to its desired destination. The exclusive purposes and values stated in the mission help its clientele to make prudent choices. In other words, for the institution to be successful, it has to have a clear and broad mission that resonates with the public and tells them why it would be beneficial to choose.
Besides, the mission represents the institution’s vision of how it would like to be seen by its clients (students and parents). Programs of the institution can easily be evaluated with a clear mission statement. These, and several others, are the reasons why mission statements are important for every organisation.
My concern lies in the fact that even though a mission statement is very important and serves as a guide for the development and expansion of every institution, why is it that a number of them fail to realize their objectives. For example, there has been secularization of most Christian institutions despite their well articulated mission statements. I think there are challenges that confront such institutions and make it difficult for the outlined objectives to be realized. I am glad to share with you some of the challenges and recommendations that will help decision makers particularly, student affair profession to overcome the academic turbulence.
First and foremost, competition makes authorities take some decisions to the detriment of the mission. Again, economic factors and lack of modern teaching/learning materials contribute to such constraints. Some faculty members are not dedicated to follow the values and several others.
There is a saying that you cut your coat according to the size of your cloth. Administrators should work within available resources in order not to ignore the intended purposes of the institution. Moreover, student affair professional should understand such mission statements and translate into academic programs. Values set out should be rigorously followed.
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