UCLA Student Affairs

The Student Affairs Management Leadership Group Program (MLGP) was designed to offer a small group of professional staff members in Student Affairs a view of our organization that spans the entire panorama of what we offer our students, including exposure to elemental theories and critical issues in student affairs. At its core is the fundamental belief that the development of entry and mid-level professionals is a central task for senior management. The heart of the program is the regular interaction between participants and coordinators/conveners, along with expert presenters on a variety of topics relevant to the operation of Student Affairs. The small coordinating group includes Vice Chancellor Janina Montero, Career Center Director Kathy Sims, and Interim Assistant to the Vice Chancellor Maria Wilcox.

One of the program’s key aims is to introduce participants to a range of professional competencies that can enhance careers in student affairs or, for that matter, many other fields. These include empathy, compassion, and integrity in interpersonal dealings; cross-cultural communication skills; crisis intervention skills; and skill in data analysis, to name only a few. With exposure to these areas as a foundation, the long-term goal is to help participants understand how to continue to develop these competencies beyond the program.

For the Vice Chancellor, group discussion and sharing of views are key components of the process. It’s not uncommon for her to introduce a “hot topic” in student affairs to the group and ask for their feedback. She notes that this process pays dividends on both sides. At the same time she is getting very fresh and insightful views from participants, MLGP members also have the chance to build some “professional equity” in terms of their own understanding of issues, decision-making, and the pressures within the campus and the UC system.

The group meets twice a month for presentations and discussion of current topics in Student Affairs theory and practice. Program topics for the 2006-07 cohort are widely varying, such as “Student Development Theory,” “African American Enrollment Crisis,” “Professional Development,” “Student Affairs Strategic Planning Process,” and “Higher Education Issues: Campus Climate.”

The cycle spans approximately 18 months, during the academic quarters, usually with an elective social activity during the intervening summer. Each cohort is selected through an application process (briefly described below). The first MLGP cohort completed its cycle in June of 2006. The second group kicked off its activities in October 2006 and will “graduate” in December of 2007.

What do participants have to say about their experience? Jonathan Curtiss was a member of the first cohort. He says, “The MLGP was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had working at UCLA. It was a great opportunity to network with very motivated people within Student Affairs, and a chance to discuss ‘hot button’ issues and important topics with decision-makers both from our campus and the Office of the President. In addition, there are plenty of skills assessment sessions to see what your career potential might be.”

Another graduate, Martine Hall, adds, “What I appreciated most about the MLGP was the connections and relationships I developed with both my fellow participants and the coordinators. Before the program I had worked with a few of the participants on various campus committees and task groups. The MLGP allowed for us to get to know each other and to understand how our work contributes to the University. Through this experience I now have some working partners and lifelong friends.”

Eligibility for participation in the MLGP includes a minimum of five years in Student Affairs and a classification of either PSS II-VI or Programmer Analyst II or above. The next call for applications is expected to go out in October/November of 2007.