There has long been a feeling of divide and an “us versus them” mentality between faculty and student affairs professionals. Amey and Reesor (2015) assert that “to build bridges between students’ experiences – both in and out of class – new professionals must first understand and appreciate the cultures of both the faculty and student affairs. A simple comparison of values of the two groups illustrates inherent cultural differences” (p.96). Syno, McBrayer, and Calhoun (2019) contend that “administrators interested in implementing collaborative efforts would be well suited to begin addressing the divide among perceptions between faculty and staff members” (p.11).
As you reflect upon the readings from Syno, McBrayer, and Calhoun (2019) and Amey and Reesor (2015), please address the following prompt:
What is a nugget and/or word of wisdom from these readings that resonated with you?
What is a way you could address this divide between faculty/staff and begin to foster collaboration?