2008 Annual Conference

Region 1 - Online Career Resources for Advisors
James Peacock, Kennebec Valley Community College Kristina Ierardi, Cape Cod Community College

(Sponsored by the Research and Diversity Committees) “Racial bias, whether at the individual or collective levels, is hard to see and harder to talk about” (Bensimon, 2007, p. 454). But we’re going to talk about it!   If you work with students, then you should attend NACADA’s first Common Reading Thursday, October 2, 2008, from 6:30-8:00 p.m.. The discussion will focus on the issues of diversity presented by Estela Bensimon in Bensimon, E.M. (2007). The Underestimated Significance of Practitioner Knowledge in the Scholarship on Student Success.pdf. The Review of Higher Education, 30 (4), 441-469 (provided by permisson of The Association for the Study of Higher Education).

“We have learned to view inequality in educational outcomes as a problem of student underpreparedness, not a problem of practitioner knowledge, pedagogical approaches, or ‘culturally held’ ideas about minority students” (Bensimon, 2007, p. 456).  “Institutional agents … have the capacity to respond to students in ways that make them feel valued, worthy, and respected. In contrast … in the dominant scholarship on student success, practitioners are only present indirectly” (Bensimon, 2007, p. 463).

Through this discussion, participants will:

• Consider their gaps in understanding the behavior patterns of students from racial and ethnic groups other than their own.
• Explore ways to increase their multicultural competence.
• Discuss how the significance and impact of academic advising relate to issues of racial equity in higher education. 

Thursday, October 2, 2008, from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

The NACADA Member Career Services committee is committed to helping you advance your career. We will be offering a number of services at the Annual Conference, including the opportunity to have your résumé/CV and/or cover letter critiqued and even the possibility of interviewing for open positions throughout the country. We aim to be instrumental in connecting job-searching members with administrators that have available positions to fill. You may be able to meet your potential employer or candidate and actually interview at the conference in Chicago. Look for our counter located in the Exhibit area.

Members Seeking Employment

• Members who are seeking a new position or advancement in higher education are encouraged to bring several copies of their résumé to the conference. Member Career Services committee members will be available to offer constructive feedback on how to improve your cover letter and/or résumé/CV. In addition, résumés may be submitted for available positions. Job descriptions will be in binders at the Member Career Services booth for perusal.
• Interested candidates will need one résumé for each position for which they would like to apply. They will be provided to any employers who are at the conference so they can contact candidates and schedule interviews.

Employers

• Employers who are interested in posting available positions at the conference need to bring at least 20 copies of the position description to the conference. These need to be submitted to the Member Career Services table in the exhibit area as soon as possible, where they will be posted on a bulletin board and included in binders for perusal by candidates.
• Employers will be able to pre-screen candidates and schedule their own interviews. Come prepared to interview candidates on site if you would like!