Tips for Tips for Institutionalizing Institutionalizing ProfessionalismProfessionalism

Dr. Rhonda R. Buckley – Texas Woman’s Dr. Rhonda R. Buckley – Texas Woman’s UniversityUniversity

Dr. Sterling K. Wall – University of Wisconsin-Dr. Sterling K. Wall – University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointStevens Point

Catherine L. Dutton – Texas Woman’s Catherine L. Dutton – Texas Woman’s UniversityUniversity

Kari A. Steffenhagen – University of Wisconsin-Kari A. Steffenhagen – University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointStevens Point

ProfessionalismProfessionalism Communication SkillsCommunication Skills CollaborationCollaboration Leadership SkillsLeadership Skills Impression Formation/ManagementImpression Formation/Management Positive Attitude/EnthusiasmPositive Attitude/Enthusiasm Networking AbilitiesNetworking Abilities

Institutionalizing Institutionalizing ProfessionalismProfessionalism

Get support from faculty & Get support from faculty & administratorsadministrators Potential funding sourcesPotential funding sources

DepartmentDepartment CollegeCollege Office of Research & Sponsored ProgramsOffice of Research & Sponsored Programs Student Service OrganizationsStudent Service Organizations Professional Development Grants from Professional Development Grants from

Professional OrganizationsProfessional Organizations

Institutionalizing Institutionalizing ProfessionalismProfessionalism

Developed CoursesDeveloped Courses ““Field Practicum” - BSField Practicum” - BS ““Seminar in Family Sciences” – MSSeminar in Family Sciences” – MS ““Leadership & Staff Development” – Leadership & Staff Development” –

MS/PHDMS/PHD ““Academic Life” - PHDAcademic Life” - PHD ““Professional Seminar – PHDProfessional Seminar – PHD

Required assignments/tasksRequired assignments/tasks

Skills BuildingSkills Building Communication strategiesCommunication strategies

Problem-solving skillsProblem-solving skills Role play interviews and interpersonal Role play interviews and interpersonal

interactionsinteractions Leadership Skills building exercisesLeadership Skills building exercises

Impromptu persuasive speechesImpromptu persuasive speeches Teambuilding exercisesTeambuilding exercises

Exercises where they must rely on one another to Exercises where they must rely on one another to complete the taskcomplete the task

Group projects that emphasize individual Group projects that emphasize individual contributions as well as the wholecontributions as well as the whole

Implement “Policies”Implement “Policies” Dress Codes Dress Codes

MeetingsMeetings PresentationsPresentations Classroom & Practicum sitesClassroom & Practicum sites

EmailEmail Language, grammar, sentence structure; Emails Language, grammar, sentence structure; Emails

that are all lower case, lacking punctuation, use that are all lower case, lacking punctuation, use inappropriate salutations or language will not be inappropriate salutations or language will not be returnedreturned

Email addresses from outside servers – Email addresses from outside servers – tinybubbles@yahoo.comtinybubbles@yahoo.com

Phone etiquettePhone etiquette Leaving voicemail messages that have complete Leaving voicemail messages that have complete

informationinformation

Membership & Active Membership & Active Involvement in Professional Involvement in Professional

OrganizationsOrganizations Research on organizational membershipResearch on organizational membership Students need to know:Students need to know:

About the organizationsAbout the organizations History, Current Goals, Membership History, Current Goals, Membership

ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities How to get involvedHow to get involved

Contact Names, Dues, Membership Applications, Contact Names, Dues, Membership Applications, Time CommitmentTime Commitment

Why it is important to get involvedWhy it is important to get involved Networking, Sharing Resources, Job Prospects, Networking, Sharing Resources, Job Prospects,

Continuing EducationContinuing Education

Working Smarter Not Working Smarter Not HarderHarder

All of this takes time from already All of this takes time from already strained faculty and students’ schedules.strained faculty and students’ schedules.

Key points for interventionKey points for intervention Intro CoursesIntro Courses Advising (especially when first joining Advising (especially when first joining

major)major) Make it visibleMake it visible

Recruit students to spread the wordRecruit students to spread the word Pictures – worth a thousand wordsPictures – worth a thousand words

Membership & Active Membership & Active Involvement in Professional Involvement in Professional

OrganizationsOrganizations Socializing students into organizations throughSocializing students into organizations through

Service projectsService projects Conducting researchConducting research Presenting research with FacultyPresenting research with Faculty Holding student offices at local, state, national Holding student offices at local, state, national

levelslevels Promoting involvement by Faculty & AdministratorsPromoting involvement by Faculty & Administrators

HPHD Student Conference ($12,000 & Time)HPHD Student Conference ($12,000 & Time) Valuing professional development starts at the topValuing professional development starts at the top

Still Working Smarter: Course Still Working Smarter: Course Imbedded Professional Imbedded Professional

Development TasksDevelopment Tasks““10% of the credit from this course may be 10% of the credit from this course may be earned by any combination of the following earned by any combination of the following activities”activities”

Current membership in National/State Current membership in National/State Organization - 4Organization - 4

Participation in a National Conference - 4Participation in a National Conference - 4 Participation in a State Conference/Meeting - 3Participation in a State Conference/Meeting - 3 Serve as an Officer with organizations - 3Serve as an Officer with organizations - 3 Membership in local student chapters - 2Membership in local student chapters - 2 Participation in professional organization activities Participation in professional organization activities

or service projects - 1or service projects - 1 Participation in professional development/training - Participation in professional development/training -

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SummarySummary Working smarter not harder is my key themeWorking smarter not harder is my key theme Creating an environment in which students Creating an environment in which students

automatically become socialized as automatically become socialized as professionalsprofessionals

Imbed assignments and tasks into coursework Imbed assignments and tasks into coursework and degree plans that strongly encourage and degree plans that strongly encourage students to become professionally activestudents to become professionally active

Build a community among students & faculty to Build a community among students & faculty to engender a sense of professionalism engender a sense of professionalism