Small Colleges and Universities Division Newsletter
Message from our Director
We work to hold space on our campuses for our students where they build community, where they enhance their wellbeing, and where they find their sense of belonging. Unions are examples of these physical spaces at our institutions. As I complete my tenure as the NASPA Small Colleges and Universities Division Director, I’ve come to realize that the SCU Division has been my “Union” in NASPA. I have had the privilege of meeting and connecting with colleagues who are now lifelong friends. I have created a robust network of small college professionals who I can connect with at any time for any purpose. And although there are a variety of volunteer opportunities within NASPA, this is where I have felt most comfortable and nourished. You all have poured in to me and my hope is that you have had the same. If you have not, please reach out and get connected, find your place. I want to truly thank you for the opportunity and for the great privilege I’ve had in being able to serve and lead as your SCU Division Director. If you’re going to be in Boston, let’s connect.
With deep gratitude,
Kim
Dr. Kimberly J. Blea, she/her/ella
Dean of Students
New Mexico Highlands University
Director, NASPA Small Colleges & Universities Division
Greeting Small Colleges and Universities Colleagues,
I am humbled and honored to be your Board Director for the next two years. As the saying goes, we may be designated as small, but we are mighty!
Having joined Goucher College as the Vice President of Student Affairs in 2020 at the height of the pandemic and amplification of the need for equitable treatment for marginalized communities, I needed to lean on my colleagues at other small colleges and universities like never before. It is within this community that I hope you are able to foster creative ideas, celebrate our achievements, and offer support during challenging times.
While I am ready and eager to serve as SCU Board Director, I don’t do it alone. The entire board and your engagement is critical in achieving our goals of:
Expand professional development, visibility and communication supporting excellence in practice at small colleges and universities
Provide strong advocacy for small colleges and universities in NASPA
Strengthen partnerships, outreach and collaboration among small colleges and universities
The Power of Place: Leveraging Student Unions at Small Colleges & Universities
By Brett L. Bruner, Ed.D.
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management/Dean of Students, Missouri Western State University|
Early Career Development Institute Co-coordinator, NASPA Small Colleges & Universities Division
Place
When you close your eyes and think back to your experiences at your alma mater, a variety of visual images may come to mind about the campus. You may be transported to classrooms in your academic buildings where you engaged in instruction, research, and group projects. You may have fond memories of gathering with friends at athletic stadiums to cheer on your favorite sports. You may remember your residence hall room where you and your roommate(s) learned how to live together in community. Physical environments matter and make a profound influence on the lives of college and university students. It is within these physical places that we feel included, make connections, engage in meaningful conversation, and realize that we belong at our chosen institution.
The college/student union facilitates such inclusion, belonging, connection, and interactions at higher education institutions. It is here where a student can meet with their peers (formally or informally). It is here where faculty and staff may grab a coffee, attend a meeting or event, or dine in a campus dining facility. It is here where we all, as members of the campus community, can find connections with others and engage in meaningful conversation, even if it is with that person in line in front or behind us as we grab a cup of coffee at the union’s coffee shop before the meeting or event we are attending.
The Power of the Small College or University
A strength of the small college or university is its ability to facilitate connections to all members of the campus community. The college/student union at the small college or university has a great opportunity to set the standard for this. This past summer, as I attended a gathering of student union staff members from across the region with my Blum Student Union team, I looked around the group and thought “huh, where are the rest of my small college and university colleagues?” Many times, for those of us who work at small colleges and universities, we may not have the luxury of full-time (or even part-time) staff dedicated to our college/student union (or whatever it may be called on your campus). However, just because we are small and mighty, does not mean that we cannot leverage and utilize our college/student unions to maximize connections, conversations, and experiences to support belonging and mattering.
Visibility in the College/Student Union. Be visible in your college/student union. I am fortunate that, as the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management/Dean of Students at Missouri Western State University, my office is located on the second floor of the Blum Student Union. Thus, I’m in the student union daily. When I have worked previously at institutions where my office was not located in the college/student union, I made it a priority to be visible and present in the union on a regular basis. When we show up in this space, we make connections with others (either impromptu or planned) that allow us time of reflection, rejuvenation, and connection. And sometimes, you might be able to make someone’s day just by stopping to talk to that student who is hosting an informational table to learn about their organization, event, or cause.
Dine. For those of us with a dining facility within your college/student union, take time every once in a while, to meet your students where they are – dining in the dining facility. It may not be daily or even weekly, but when we meet our students where they are, we learn so much about our students as individuals and form authentic connections that translate well beyond a name in an email signature block. Recently, as I had lunch in the dining center within the Blum Student Union, a student approached the table I was sitting at and said “hey, you’re that Dean of Students. Can I sit and have lunch with you?” I said, “absolutely yes,” and had a great conversation with this student. As we chatted about his experience as a new student transferring to the institution, I learned his story and got him connected with campus resources that went well beyond an email with a link to websites. When we take intentional time to show up, our students see us as humans and not just people sending emails.
Taking Ownership for our Space. If you are like me, you might be jealous of our colleagues at larger institutions who have dedicated full-time staff members for the college/student union. When we don’t have such staff at a small college or university student union, we must all take responsibility for ownership of this campus living room. I don’t have any full-time staff members dedicated to the management of the Blum Student Union. Instead, myself and my amazing colleagues who occupy the facility take pride in assuring that the space meets all of our community needs. We pick up the trash as we see it walking by. We realign the furniture in the lobby after students use the space for a late-night event. And, yes, I even turn on the televisions throughout the building each morning when I arrive at 7:30 a.m. It may take a few minutes out of my day as I arrive (and is not a part of my AVP/Dean of Students job description); however, it is a simple thing that can be done to make our campus community members feel the Blum Student Union is their living room throughout the day to engage in those meaningful conversations with friends and colleagues over a meal in the food court or a cup of coffee in the coffee shop.
Join us at the 2023 NASPA Annual Conference in Boston!
The Small Colleges and Universities (SCU) Board is always looking for ways to welcome new members and keep current members engaged. We hope that you will be able to join us at any of the several SCU specific events during the annual conference in Boston:
Sponsored Programs
Session
Date/Time
Strategically Positioning Roles at Small Colleges for Staff Engagement & Retention
Tuesday, April 4, 10:00 a.m.
BCEC 103
Pathways to the Dean Position at a Small College & University
Tuesday, April 4, 11:05 a.m.
Virtual Room 3
Beyond Therapy Walls: A Holistic Approach to Student Mental Health at Two Small Universities
Monday, April 3, 10:00 a.m.
BCEC 154
Pre-Conference Workshop, Meetings, and Receptions
Session
Date/Time
Pre-Conference Workshop: The Changing Realities of the Roaring 20’s: Mid- and Senior-level Administrators at Small Colleges and Universities New Perspectives on Time Management
Saturday, April 1, 9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
BCEC 151B
Session: Small and Mighty: Student Affairs at Small Colleges and Universities
Monday, April 3, 11:30 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. BCEC 205B
Book signing: Small and Mighty: Student Affairs at Small Colleges and Universities
Monday, April 3, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. BCEC Bookstore
VPSA Roundtable: Small Colleges and Universities
Monday, April 3, 2:30 p.m.-3:45 p.m.
Omni-Encore
NASPA Small Colleges and Universities Division VPSA Reception
Tuesday, April 4, 7:30-8:30 p.m. ET Omni-Deco
NASPA Small Colleges and Universities Division Virtual Town Hall Meeting
Thursday, April 13, 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET Virtual
*Please utilize the NASPA App during the 2023 NASPA Annual Conference as times/locations might change
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