engaging students in a movement Dr. Frank Shushok, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Shane McCarty, Undergraduate Representative to the Board of Visitors Deepu George, Graduate Representative to the Board of Visitors NASPA 2011
In thinking about your time at NASPA, have you observed acts of kindness, compassion, or caring of people around you, especially among those you don’t even know?
What have you seen? If nothing comes to mind, why might that be?
If you did see an act of kindness, compassion, or caring – What did you do?
The Division of Student Affairs at Virginia Tech focuses on 4 areas in “Unlocking Potential”
Commitment to Unwavering Curiosity
Pursue Self-understanding & Integrity
Practice Civility
Prepare for a life of Courageous Leadership
Embrace Ut Prosim as a way of life
The Actively Caring Wristbands
See. Act. Pass.
Curiosity Self Understanding Integrity
Curiosity Self Understanding & Integrity Courageous Leadership Practice Civility Ut Prosim as a way of life
Actively Caring Concept ACT CARE PASS
Objectives Understand past research Understand the Actively Caring model Changing the “caring-ethos” with an engaged Academic Triangle and positive intervention Understand the Actively Caring model and its transferability to other college and university settings Discuss an individualized plan for using the Actively Caring model to improve the campus culture
Movement Leaders at VT Center for Applied Behavior Systems Student Government Association Representatives to the Board of Visitors Student Leaders AC Underground Office of Residence Life Office of Multicultural Programs and Services
Positive Psychology A movement away from pre-occupation with pathology A movement towards building on the best qualities in life Psychology should be able to help document what kinds of families result in children who flourish, what work settings support the greatest satisfaction among workers, what policies result in the strongest civic engagement and how people’s lives can be most worth living. (Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi, 2000)
Actively-Caring Person States Courage
Courage Self-Efficacy “I can do it”
Actively-Caring Person States Courage Self-Efficacy “I can do it” Personal Control “I am in control”
Actively-Caring Person States Courage Self-Efficacy “I can do it” Optimism “I expect the best” Personal Control “I am in control”
Actively-Caring Person States Courage Self-Efficacy “I can do it” Optimism “I expect the best” Belongingness “I care about my classmates” Personal Control “I am in control”
Actively-Caring Person States Courage Self-Efficacy “I can do it” Optimism “I expect the best” Belongingness “I care about my classmates” Self-Esteem “I care about myself” Personal Control “I am in control” Raising each person state increases an individual’s propensity to actively care (Geller, 2001).
Self-Transcendence From Helping Others Cite Maslow
Reducing Bullying in Schools Students write observational stories of classmates prosocial behavior Teacher reads three stories at the start of each day Then, selects two students to wear the green wristbands Weekly, students have caring chats to facilitate relationships After everyone has worn the wristband twice, everyone will receive a wristband to keep
Actively Caring in Schools
Courage Self-Efficacy “I can do it” Optimism “I expect the best” Belongingness “I care about my classmates” Self-Esteem “I care about myself” Personal Control “I am in control” Raising each person state increases an individual’s propensity to actively care (Geller, 2001). How can you raise these five states to improve your campus culture?
Two wristbands 1)Recognize someone at the conference 2)Recognize someone at your school
Join the movement.
Empowerment Can I do it? Will it work? Is it worth it?