NCFR 2007

1. Tips for InstitutionalizingTips for Institutionalizing
ProfessionalismProfessionalism
Dr. Rhonda R. Buckley – Texas Woman’s UniversityDr. Rhonda R. Buckley – Texas Woman’s University
Dr. Sterling K. Wall – University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointDr. Sterling K. Wall – University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Catherine L. Dutton – Texas Woman’s UniversityCatherine L. Dutton – Texas Woman’s University
Kari A. Steffenhagen – University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointKari A. Steffenhagen – University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

2. ProfessionalismProfessionalism
 Communication SkillsCommunication Skills
 CollaborationCollaboration
 Leadership SkillsLeadership Skills
 Impression Formation/ManagementImpression Formation/Management
 Positive Attitude/EnthusiasmPositive Attitude/Enthusiasm
 Networking AbilitiesNetworking Abilities

3. Institutionalizing ProfessionalismInstitutionalizing Professionalism
 Get support from faculty & administratorsGet support from faculty & administrators
 Potential funding sourcesPotential funding sources
 DepartmentDepartment
 CollegeCollege
 Office of Research & Sponsored ProgramsOffice of Research & Sponsored Programs
 Student Service OrganizationsStudent Service Organizations
 Professional Development Grants from ProfessionalProfessional Development Grants from Professional
OrganizationsOrganizations

4. Institutionalizing ProfessionalismInstitutionalizing Professionalism
 Developed CoursesDeveloped Courses
 ““Field Practicum” - BSField Practicum” - BS
 ““Seminar in Family Sciences” – MSSeminar in Family Sciences” – MS
 ““Leadership & Staff Development” – MS/PHDLeadership & Staff Development” – MS/PHD
 ““Academic Life” - PHDAcademic Life” - PHD
 ““Professional Seminar – PHDProfessional Seminar – PHD
 Required assignments/tasksRequired assignments/tasks

5. Skills BuildingSkills Building
 Communication strategiesCommunication strategies
 Problem-solving skillsProblem-solving skills
 Role play interviews and interpersonal interactionsRole play interviews and interpersonal interactions
 Leadership Skills building exercisesLeadership Skills building exercises
 Impromptu persuasive speechesImpromptu persuasive speeches
 Teambuilding exercisesTeambuilding exercises
 Exercises where they must rely on one another to completeExercises where they must rely on one another to complete
the taskthe task
 Group projects that emphasize individual contributions asGroup projects that emphasize individual contributions as
well as the wholewell as the whole

6. Implement “Policies”Implement “Policies”
 Dress CodesDress Codes
 MeetingsMeetings
 PresentationsPresentations
 Classroom & Practicum sitesClassroom & Practicum sites
 EmailEmail
 Language, grammar, sentence structure; Emails that are allLanguage, grammar, sentence structure; Emails that are all
lower case, lacking punctuation, use inappropriate salutationslower case, lacking punctuation, use inappropriate salutations
or language will not be returnedor language will not be returned
 Email addresses from outside servers –Email addresses from outside servers –
tinybubbles@yahoo.comtinybubbles@yahoo.com
 Phone etiquettePhone etiquette
 Leaving voicemail messages that have complete informationLeaving voicemail messages that have complete information

7. Membership & Active InvolvementMembership & Active Involvement
in Professional Organizationsin Professional Organizations
 Research on organizational membershipResearch on organizational membership
 Students need to know:Students need to know:
 About the organizationsAbout the organizations
 History, Current Goals, Membership ResponsibilitiesHistory, Current Goals, Membership Responsibilities
 How to get involvedHow to get involved
 Contact Names, Dues, Membership Applications, TimeContact Names, Dues, Membership Applications, Time
CommitmentCommitment
 Why it is important to get involvedWhy it is important to get involved
 Networking, Sharing Resources, Job Prospects,Networking, Sharing Resources, Job Prospects,
Continuing EducationContinuing Education

8. Working Smarter Not HarderWorking Smarter Not Harder
 All of this takes time from already strainedAll of this takes time from already strained
faculty and students’ schedules.faculty and students’ schedules.
 Key points for interventionKey points for intervention
 Intro CoursesIntro Courses
 Advising (especially when first joining major)Advising (especially when first joining major)
 Make it visibleMake it visible
 Recruit students to spread the wordRecruit students to spread the word
 Pictures – worth a thousand wordsPictures – worth a thousand words

9. Membership & Active InvolvementMembership & Active Involvement
in Professional Organizationsin Professional Organizations
 Socializing students into organizations throughSocializing students into organizations through
 Service projectsService projects
 Conducting researchConducting research
 Presenting research with FacultyPresenting research with Faculty
 Holding student offices at local, state, national levelsHolding student offices at local, state, national levels
 Promoting involvement by Faculty & AdministratorsPromoting involvement by Faculty & Administrators
 HPHD Student Conference ($12,000 & Time)HPHD Student Conference ($12,000 & Time)
 Valuing professional development starts at the topValuing professional development starts at the top

10. Still Working Smarter: Course ImbeddedStill Working Smarter: Course Imbedded
Professional Development TasksProfessional Development Tasks
““10% of the credit from this course may be earned by any10% of the credit from this course may be earned by any
combination of the following activities”combination of the following activities”
 Current membership in National/State Organization - 4Current membership in National/State Organization - 4
 Participation in a National Conference - 4Participation in a National Conference - 4
 Participation in a State Conference/Meeting - 3Participation in a State Conference/Meeting - 3
 Serve as an Officer with organizations - 3Serve as an Officer with organizations - 3
 Membership in local student chapters - 2Membership in local student chapters - 2
 Participation in professional organization activities orParticipation in professional organization activities or
service projects - 1service projects - 1
 Participation in professional development/training - 1Participation in professional development/training - 1

11. SummarySummary
 Working smarter not harder is my key themeWorking smarter not harder is my key theme
 Creating an environment in which studentsCreating an environment in which students
automatically become socialized as professionalsautomatically become socialized as professionals
 Imbed assignments and tasks into courseworkImbed assignments and tasks into coursework
and degree plans that strongly encourageand degree plans that strongly encourage
students to become professionally activestudents to become professionally active
 Build a community among students & faculty toBuild a community among students & faculty to
engender a sense of professionalismengender a sense of professionalism