Tag Archives: jobs

“Wait, what’s a visa?” My Summer Internship Abroad, by Benoit D. Sabourin

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Ok, ok, so I know what a visa is, and that I am required to have one to travel to many countries in the world. But there are so many things to think about when traveling and a visa is just a small part. 

The Backstory. In October of my first semester in graduate school I was wondering if I had made the right choice coming back to school. Though I am from Raleigh, I still felt like a stranger in this program. I wasn’t making the connections I thought I would and I certainly didn’t feel like I was advancing towards an exciting career. “Man, is this what life is going to be like after grad school?” So, instead of whining and waiting for things to change I started looking into different options that would get me re-excited (did I just make up this word? maybe) about Higher Education Administration. I started looking into what I could do for a summer internship, and I started applying. And man, did I apply! However, I had a list of requirements:

  • It couldn’t be in NC
  • It would be nice if I got paid…
  • I couldn’t know anyone in the place I was going
  • I had to fly to get there

Once I started looking at the internships that fit these qualifications, I started getting so excited. If I actually got the opportunity to do one, I was going to be ecstatic!

The Applications. I applied to NODA internships at about 12 schools. I applied to ones that were presented to us through our HEA email blasts. This included one at the American University of Kuwait, and one at Franklin University in Switzerland. I also inquired about one at the American University of the Caribbean. Now, after applying to all these, I really wasn’t expecting to hear back from any overseas. I thought those were too good to be true, and that the NODA internships would be more attainable. 

The Response. Then one day in December, I received an e-mail from the coordinator of the American University of Kuwait internship saying I was chosen for the summer 2015 program! I couldn’t believe it. I kind of sat there for 10 minutes looking at my phone in disbelief. Then, of course, I called everyone I knew to tell them. And no one else could believe it either. I was going to spend 2 months in Kuwait! And then it sunk in. “Wait, I know nothing about Kuwait, or the Middle East.” I had some research to do if I was going to be living in this culture for 2 months. 

The Research. I started like every good researcher, and went straight to Wikipedia. Kuwait is a very small, oil-rich country in the Arabian Gulf. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the Persian Gulf. It is unbearably hot in the summer (and I thought NC weather was hot), and it is mostly desert. The official language is Arabic. The American University of Kuwait is in Kuwait City, the largest city and capital.

The culture of Kuwait is very different than the one I am used to here in the US and there are many things I will have to keep in mind during my stay. I have included an excerpt taken straight from the resource guide shared with me: “Additionally, it is an Islamic country with local laws, customs, and business practices heavily influenced by the Islamic faith and the Islamic calendar. For instance, many public holidays are based on the Islamic calendar, which is based on the phases of the moon, with holiday dates moving forward approximately 10 days on an annual basis from the Gregorian calendar. It is important to note that the Holy month of Ramadan may occur during your time in Kuwait. This month sees a significant shift in practices and work conditions as often work hours are reduced, and that it is illegal to eat or drink in public during daylight hours.” This custom is one that struck me the most, and though I knew about Ramadan, I never saw it as a holiday that would affect me. Already, I am learning to be more sensitive to other cultures. Here in the US, most of our holidays are based around Christian traditions. It had me wondering how different life would be if they were centered on a different faith. Now that I will be submerging myself into this culture, will I be able to abide by these customs? The answer is: I’ll have to. And I am completely ok with that! I never really feel challenged until I am taken completely out of my comfort zone.

After having learned this much, I kept digging. I wanted to make sure I abided by all the laws and customs that would be different, and I didn’t want to offend anyone upon my arrival. I have since learned that physical displays of affection between the same sexes are very common. This, I was used to, for in France we commonly practice this also with our greetings. However, some men will not shake the hand of a woman and some women will not shake the hand of a man. A man, when greeting a Kuwaiti woman, ought to refrain from extending his hand first. Something that we have been taught here in America to be a polite gesture as soon as you meet someone can be considered too forward and rude in Kuwait. Another custom I am going to have to be careful to abide by.

While many of these differences may scare some people, I am so excited about this opportunity and I am looking forward to all the experiences I will be able to partake in. On top of all that, I am going to be advancing my knowledge in the field I will be working in. Two of my favorite things, international travel and higher education, all in one package! While preparing is exciting, I await with impatience to see what this trip will bring me! Hopefully I will learn more than I could ever have hoped, meet new and interesting people, learn how to break down barriers between two very different cultures, and even get a wicked tan! Wish me luck on my adventure, and until then, Masalama!

Benoit D. Sabourin is a first year student in the Higher Education Administration master’s program. He serves as a Graduate Assistant for Preparing Future Leaders with The Graduate School at NC State University.

Financial Literacy for the Student Affairs Professional, by Jason Lynch, 2011 alumnus

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How many times have you heard a colleague say, “I’m definitely not in this field for the money”? While it’s true that being a new professional in Student Affairs may not be the most lucrative career choice, you can definitely make your paycheck last longer by paying attention to your monthly budget! For this blog, I enlisted the help of 215 colleagues across the country to give one piece of advice to new professionals about managing their finances.  (You can access the full results of the poll by following this link.)  As with all advice columns, your situation may not match up with the advice given.  Take what resonates with you, and leave the rest.

Creating a Budget

The first, and perhaps most important, thing you can do towards better financial security is to create a personal budget.  How much do you normally spend per month?  Be real with yourself.  An easy way to obtain this information is to look at your last debit and/or credit card statement.  Adding up categories such as food, gas, clothes, etc. will help you see where you are spending the most money.  From there you can decide what is essential to get by every month, as well as what can be reduced or modified.

Follow this link to view the budget excel I use every month.

Student Loans

Many new professionals don’t realize that working at a college or university qualifies as a public service job, and therefore qualify to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLFP).  Through this program, qualifying individuals would make 120 of their lowest possible monthly payments.  This is roughly 10 years of payments.  After this period of time, the remaining balance will be forgiven.  So let’s say I have $50,000 in student loans, and my payments are $250 through the income contingent payment plan.  I would end up paying $30,000, with $20,000 forgiven.

Here are some tips if you feel like this may be an option for you:

  • Make sure to fill out a verification form found on the PSLFP website.  This form will need to be submitted to the HR department at your institution.  You have to fill out a new one every time you change institutions.
  • Save a copy of each of your monthly pay stubs.
  • You can defer payments and still remain eligible for the program.  (It will just take longer for you to qualify for forgiveness.)
  • Only government loans qualify
  • Use this website to contact someone regarding PSLFP or find answers to Frequently Asked Questions  

Credit Cards

Many peers will tell you to avoid credit cards, but, this is one area in which I would have to disagree, particularly if you accept a “live-on” position.  Often, new professionals are in a position where they are starting to build credit.  One way to do this is to appropriately manage a credit card.  Other ways to build credit include car payments, rent/mortgage payments, etc.   If you choose to open a line of credit, make sure that you that you are able to pay the credit card off every month.  I would also advise that you get a credit card with a rewards system, such as cash back or flight credits.  For example, I use an Amazon.com Rewards card through Visa.  For every dollar I spent, I receive one point, or more depending on certain purchases, which equates to a penny per point.  At the end of the month, I can use my points to pay towards my credit balance, or redeem them on Amazon.com.  If I spend $1,000 per month, I would receive $120 per year on rewards!  Remember, the trick is to pay off most of  the card each month so that you are not paying interest.

On the other hand, if you have found yourself already in debt via credit cards, it is highly important that you get these cards paid off as soon as possible.  Carrying large balances on your credit cards can hurt your credit, and you end up paying unnecessarily large amounts of interest.  If you’re in this situation, consider calling your credit company to negotiate a lower interest rate.  You can also obtain a free copy of your credit report once per year.

Resources and Tips

Below, I have bullet pointed some resources and tips that may be useful in finding your own way of managing your finances:

  • Consult a Financial Counselor.  Many institutions offer free consultations with a financial counselor.  They are particularly helpful in obtaining advice about retirement, savings, and investments.
  • Are a techie?  Use an app such as ‘Mint’ to help you budget.
  • Reach out to your Human Resources department.  Often, HR will have special employee programs meant to educate about topics such as personal budgeting and retirement
  • Work with your students to put on a program about personal finance.  I learned a great deal of information when one of the RA’s I supervised collaborated with the business department to put on a personal finance workshop.
  • Your employee ID will often grant you the same student discounts at local businesses such as movie theaters, or just hang on to your current student ID!  Institutions also tend to have a list of local venues that offer student discounts.
  • Keep a jar to put spare change, and don’t touch it!  Use it to contribute to your retirement savings or help pay down any debt you owe.  You’d be surprised how much change you accumulate in a year!
  • Because we all love listacles:  http://www.lifehack.org/articles/money/50-quick-easy-ways-save-money.html

Jason Lynch is a first year doctoral student at Old Dominion University focusing on higher education policy and first generation student access and support.  He is an alumnus of the NCSU program, graduating in 2011 and has worked in Residence Life, Fraternity & Sorority Life, and Multicultural Student Affairs.  You can contact him by email at rjl5883@gmail.com. 

When the Students Know More Than You, by Lisa Latronica, 2014 alumna

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When I started my first professional position, I expected to feel some imposter syndrome. I expected to feel like coworkers knew more than me and to be a little intimidated and nervous around them. We talked about it at length in Capstone and throughout the job search process.

I did not expect to be terrified of the students I would be supervising.

In Residence Life at Colorado School of Mines, there is an additional student staff position between professional staff and Resident Assistants and Community Assistants. Our Senior Staff – made up of Hall Directors and Community Directors – are upperclassmen or graduate students who have 1-2 years of experience as staff members. The job they do is basically the same as what a graduate student in student affairs would do – they supervise a staff, oversee a building of residents, and even serve as first responders on a duty rotation.

When I first learned all that the Senior Staff did, I was in disbelief. The number of times I said, “We let undergraduate students do that?” is more than I can count. But the closer we got to their arrival on campus and Senior Staff training, the more the skepticism faded, and the stronger the fear, nervousness, and uncertainty began.

These students had been in Mines Res Life for longer than I had been in residence life anywhere. They could do the job that I just left. They knew more about the campus culture, student population, and policies and procedures than my new professional mind could grasp. And that was uncomfortable and terrifying.

Then the 8 Senior Staff arrived. And they were so nice and talented. And that almost made it worse. My mantras all through our training retreat (which in true Colorado fashion, took place on the side of a mountain and with lots of hiking and bouldering), were, “Fake it till you make it,” and “Don’t let them see the fear in your eyes.” I thought that if I showed any hint of not knowing what I was doing, I would lose their respect and trust.  And on top of it, the more I got to know them, the more impressed I was with them, not just as students or staff, but as people. To this day, I would argue that you won’t find people who can balance as much, give as much, or care as much as our Senior Staff.

I felt this huge amount of pressure, but it took me weeks to realize that it wasn’t the students who were putting that pressure on me. I was doing it to myself.

A few weeks into the start of the semester, after all the training and move-in events were over, I had a conversation with one of the Senior Staff members that changed how I viewed our relationship. I was having an overwhelming day, and felt like I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. I finally caved and asked them to tell me about how things were done at Mines from their perspective. It was one of the most helpful conversations I had during those first few months. I later shared with them that I had been terrified to seem like I didn’t know what I was doing.

Their reaction? They laughed and said that was ridiculous.

As real as my fear and nervousness was, it was pretty unfounded. Sure, the students knew a lot more about some things, but I forgot to have confidence in my own experiences and education. I think part of my fear was because I wanted to be the best possible person for my students, and I forgot the most important part of that:

Intentions and trying. If you have good intentions, and you try hard to do the best for your students, you can’t go wrong.

It’s easy to forget that students see us a humans, just as we see them as such. They don’t expect us to be perfect, and it’s not fair to us or them to pressure ourselves to seem as such. We screw up. We don’t know answers. We need help. And the more we are ok with showing that side of ourselves, the more our students will be ok with showing us that side of themselves.

These days, I’m much more comfortable asking the Senior Staff for answers (and it happens almost daily). I’ve realized that they’re happy to help, and it’s so much easier than guessing. They know I’m not perfect, and I’m ok with that. And deep down, I know that they feel better asking me questions because of it.

I’m still scared of them some days, but now it’s more likely to be because they’re leaping from rocks on a mountain than because I think they’re judging me. I like this way much better.

Lisa Latronica is a 2014 graduate of the Higher Education Administration master’s program. She currently serves as a Residence Life Coordinator with the Department of Residence Life at the Colorado School of Mines.

“You did what over the summer?” Crash Course in NODA Internships, by Natalie Rollan

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Ever heard a colleague or #sagrad saying they did a “NODA”? Wondering what to do over the summer with all that free time graduate school affords you? You should apply for a NODA Internship! NODA is the Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education (formerly known as the National Orientation Directors Association). This is the national organization for knowledge and advancement of orientation and transition programs in higher education and student affairs. The NODA Internship Program connects host institutions and professionals with graduate students seeking to expand their orientation experiences or try something new. Host institutions post 10 – 14 week positions through the association and interested students are able to apply and be matched with their top preferences through an exciting and dynamic selection process.

I had the opportunity to serve as a NODA Intern at Montclair State University, in Montclair, New Jersey, this summer and it was an amazing experience! I’d never worked in orientation prior to applying for the internship and was ready to try a new functional area in the field, knowing I would gain a lot of valuable skills in the process. I was a bit nervous to apply at first, after hearing about how competitive the program was, but took a leap of faith and will be forever grateful for my experience at Montclair State with the team at the Center for Advising and Student Transitions. I am by no means an expert on the application process (having gone through this almost a year ago now) but I hope I can impart some of what I learned for those interested in pursuing this opportunity.

Sifting Through Lots of Postings. To begin the application process, you’ll want to look through the NODA Internship page and read up on the program and what applying and interning will look like. Then, you’ll need to create an account through their online selection system. There is an application fee involved so be prepared for that. Once you’ve created your account, you’ll be able to look through all of the available internship postings. THERE WILL BE A LOT. The positions are listed in a database by institution name, position name, state, institution type, start date, and end date. I would suggest first figuring out your ideal start and end date, according to assistantships or other commitments, to begin narrowing down the positions. Thinking about the location and institution type would help as well. There will also be different types of positions, anything from orientation leader supervisor, to family programs intern, to overnight orientation coordinator. Plenty of options to choose from!

Compensation. Most all internships offer housing and a stipend. Some may offer extra amenities, such as parking and meals on campus.

Narrowing Down Your Preferences. It can be overwhelming but also exciting to know you have so many places to choose from. To make it easier to process, I copied and pasted all of the database information into an Excel spreadsheet and used filters to search through positions. Each posting had a separate PDF document detailing the position description, compensation package, and institution background. I made sure to save all of the ones I was interested in to my laptop. Dropbox came in handy here! When applying, you’ll be given only eight slots for your preferences. Keep in mind that some institutions may have several positions available and you can select one or all of them, but one slot = one position. When selecting preferences, you can put down eight different positions, or use one of your slots to select “where needed in region…” This option would send your application to any institution, in a specific region of your choosing, looking for more applications and wishing to broaden their applicant pool. I chose to select eight different positions in mostly northern states, therefore limiting my options a bit.

Application Materials. You’ll need to submit a current resume and cover letter as part of your application. The website may say the cover letter is optional but it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (so just submit a cover letter). Your cover letter should be generalized to any position you might be applying for. It should focus on the skills and common duties required of the positions you’re looking into. I applied for several positions that involved supervising orientation leaders and emphasized my previous supervisory experience to show competence in that area. Your resume should also be tailored to the transferrable skills you’ll bring to those positions. I had no formal orientation experience but made sure to highlight advising and programming experiences from my assistantship at NC State. You’ll also have to answer a few brief questions about your interest in orientation and previous experiences with transition programs. Focus on your cover letter and resume and have someone you trust look over them!

Choose Your References Wisely. The application calls for three references. Ask three supervisors or mentors who know your work ethic and can attest to skills that would benefit you in any of the positions you’re applying for. Let them know they’ll be receiving a phone call from a potential employer according to the NODA Internship Program application timeline!

The Waiting Game. Applications are due at midnight on January 13, 2015. Submit them early if possible! After submission, you might end up waiting a very long time to hear back from institutions. Hosts may start contacting applicants on January 21 and interviewing on January 26. You might get a call right away and you might wait a long while; it just depends on the host institutions you applied for. Some might send you emails declining your application and some you may never hear from.

The Phone Interview. If you are contacted by an institution, they’ll schedule a phone interview with you. Carve out about an hour for this interview and make sure you are in a quiet space with no distractions. Learn everything you can about that institution and be ready with questions to ask them. Remember that mood and tone can be easily detected through a phone conversation; I would suggest talking over the phone with a friend or colleague and getting feedback on their interpretation of your demeanor over the phone. Again, you could get one interview, eight, or none—all a part of the process.

Final Decisions. My experience was a bit nerve-wracking because I didn’t hear from anyone for a very long time. I finally got a phone call in February to schedule a phone interview. That was my one and only interview and then my one and only internship offer. If you do not get an interview/offer towards the beginning, there is a second round of selection built into the process for institutions still looking for interns. Although your application will only be sent to those institutions you put down as preferences during the first round, your application may be sent to new institutions during the second round. In the end, depending on the offer(s) you get, you’ll have to decide what works best for your goals and interests and where you’ll have the most engaging experience.

I am beyond grateful I had the chance to spend my summer at Montclair State University. I met amazing people, explored a new institution with a refreshing culture, navigated a new state, and further honed in on the type of professional I aspire to be. The NODA experience gives graduate students the opportunity and flexibility to explore orientation while living and working at a new institution in a new area of the country. You can craft the experience around your interests and make it what you want. I encourage you to apply today!

Please email me at nmrollan@ncsu.edu with any questions and I’d be happy to help!

Natalie Rollan is a second-year master’s student in the Higher Education Administration Program. She serves as a Graduate Advisor with the Department of Greek Life at NC State and is the Higher Education Association’s Vice President for Communication.

Two Campuses, One Experience, by Lizzy Heurich

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As the Thanksgiving season approaches, I cannot help but think about those things for which I am thankful. There are the obvious things that I am always grateful for, like my family, friends, and health. Then there are the less noticeable things in my life that I am thankful for, like the opportunity to experience work and life at two college campuses during my time in graduate school. Currently, I am a first-year master’s student in the Higher Education Administration program at NC State; I also hold a graduate assistantship at Duke University. At Duke, I am the Devils After Dark Coordinator for the East Campus Housing, Dining, and Residence Life office. I help to program weekend and late night activities for first-year students. North Carolina has many fine higher education institutions, and I am lucky to go to school and work at two of the most prominent universities in this state.

Back in August, I did not feel as thankful to be having two separate experiences. First off, I am fairly directionally-challenged. Not only did I have to learn how to get around two different campuses and cities, I had to learn how to get from home to work to school to back home. On the way to my first graduate school class, I got quite lost on NC State’s campus and ended up running down Hillsborough Street so I would not be too late. I also had trouble learning the traditions, quirks, and colloquial language of each campus. Students at Duke would talk to me about house benches, SLGs, or eating at ABP. At NC State, peers were talking about Packapalooza and the Free Expression Tunnel. Needless to say, I was struggling to adapt to campus culture and traditions as well as a new work environment and course load.

Fast forward a few months and things are quite different. Although it took a transition period of a month or two, I finally began to feel like I belonged on both campuses. At work, I felt more established as a member of the team. I mastered my weekly routine of planning, promoting, and running programs. Twenty-five miles down the road, I was beginning to form friendships with people in my cohort. I felt more comfortable participating in class, and I was getting to know the professors in the department. I was becoming more aware of campus-specific acronyms and traditions. NC State and Duke finally felt like home.

In the beginning, it felt like I was juggling two campus experiences at once. Now, I embrace the fact that I get to be involved on two college campuses and integrate those experiences with my personal and professional goals. I get to see how the theories we learn in class play out on two college campuses. I get to build relationships and connections at two prominent universities. I get to root for two football teams!

Lizzy Heurich is a first year master’s student in the Higher Education Administration program. She is currently serving as the Devils After Dark Coordinator for East Campus Housing, Dining, and Residential Life at Duke University. She is also the Associate Vice President for Engagement for the Higher Education Association at NC State.