Every profession has its rules which require that people who practice it can comply n order to produce an effective result. For a person evolving as a professional of Higher Education, it is important to understand and self-assess the NASPA/ACPA Competencies, to correct the course if necessary.
The Collins Dictionary defines competence as the ability to do something well or effectively. But for the meaning of proficiency, the dictionary simply says” If you show proficiency in something, you show ability or skill at it”.
NASPA/ACPA counted 10 areas of competencies that are gauged on proficiency levels of foundational, intermediate, and advanced: Personal and Ethical Foundations (PEF), Values, Philosophy, and History (VPH), Assessment, Evaluation, and Research (AER), Law, Policy, and Governance (LPG), Organizational and Human Resources (OHR), Leadership
(LEAD), Social Justice and Inclusion (SJI), Student Learning and Development (SLD), Technology (TECH), Advising and Supporting.
The Personal and Ethical Foundations involve the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to develop and maintain integrity in one’s life and work.
Values, Philosophy, and History (VPH): it is important to know the history and the philosophy of the student affairs profession. What are the values of this profession? This knowledge will enable a practitioner to think critically about it.
Law. Policy, and Governance (LPG): every science has diverse dispositions that rule it. Knowing is good, but it is better to be able to apply each rule in a variety of situations that can arise.
Assessment, Evaluation, and Research (AER): this area has grown and continues to be a professional development priority for NASPA. It is about judgment or rating, appraisal, investigation, analysis, or experimentation.
Organizational, Human Resources (OHR): Human capital is very important in an organization. What are the skills and abilities needed by a student affairs professional? In the management of an organization.
Leadership (LEAD): the skills that produce a superior performance that bring a plus value.
Social Justice and Inclusion (SJI): Skills that interact effectively with diverse people, and build equity and inclusivity (Goodman, 2013).
Student Learning and Development (SLD): It is the application of student development and learning theories. How someone can use and apply theories to improve student affairs and teaching practice.
Technology (TECH): In the era of Covid, technology made it possible for classes to be given by Zoom and other technical means. The practitioner must be able to create and use technology effectively.
Advising and supporting: In all areas, there are advisors. In student affairs, it is necessary and important to advise and support students to lead them to succeed in their studies. The counselor shows the direction to people to bring them to succeed. The mentor (advisor) is a guide to success.
In all of these 10 areas, I am at the basic level. I adapt quickly and I am open to learning new things that will be useful in my profession. That is why I am in class (I am 60 years old)!