History
What
is A.R.T.? Where did it come from? What
is its purpose? All good questions that
we will answer in depth in Core I - Adviser as an Information Resource, For
this packet, we will include some basic information for your review.
The beginnings of ART
began as a discussion among several of the RHA Advisers during various SAACURH
(South Atlantic Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls)
conferences about what there was for advisers to do at these conferences
(especially at the business conferences.) Especially when there were no
programs or delegations, and we were there mainly as support for NCCS, van
drivers, etc. Through these discussions
there came several issues:
1)
There was a lack of consistency in programs at
conferences to develop the adviser's professional skills,
2)
There was a lack of training for many of our
advisers in the basic competencies required of advisers,
3)
There was no general consensus about what those
competencies were,
4)
There was an undesirable amount of turnover in
advisers leading to limited experience in our region, and
5)
There was no remedy in sight.
From this came the
Research Project. In 1996, Norbert
Dunkel and J. Diane Porter produced a national survey administered to all the
member institutions of NACURH (National Association of College and University
Residence Halls). Based on this survey, a list of competencies was created for
successful advising.
Using this list, a
model was created by the advisers to propose to the SAACURH voting members to
have an organization that would coordinate training, efforts for the advisers
in SAACURH in these areas. This would
address issues 1, 2, and of the list above.
In order for this to
occur, a sixth issue arose - Who would do all of this? The advisers in SAACURH went to the regional
business meeting and received the charge to take full responsibility for all
adviser track programming at the SAACURH regional conferences. The group then went to the SEAHO
(SouthEastem Association of Housing Officers) and requested, and received,
financial funding from the organization to cover mailing, publicity, and
recognition efforts of the fledgling ART organization.
With both resources
and support, ART began presenting programs at the 1997 SAACURH Conference at
Georgia Tech. Since then, programs have
been presented at SEAHO, No-Frills, NACURH, various state conferences, and even
on individual campuses as part of workshops.
As ART grows, additional courses, advance tracks, new electives, and
further research is in the works.
Listed for your review are the requirements for
Basic Qualification of the A -RT program.
Because of the need for common understanding of participants, a common
starting ground, all advisers are required to complete the Basic Curriculum
before qualification. Attendance at ART
recognized sessions allow for certainty that minimum requirements are met in a
program that is focused on the residence hall organization setting.
For this reason, attendance (or even
presentations) on similar or related topics, extensive personal experience, or
personal educational efforts (readings) are not acceptable alternatives.
Experiential requirements are not time sensitive and past experience gained
prior to ART qualification is relevant and valued and used in meeting basic
qualification requirements.
Basic Curriculum:
Core I - Adviser as an Information Resource
At
this session, advisers discuss the kinds of information they need to have
available
to assist their students. Included in
this is: campus information
departmental issues, state/regional/national RHA
organizations, ART history
and organization, and general information
that students may not need (travel requirements, financial structures, etc.)
This session will also address how to present the structure/organization of the
student group to others in your department/institution.
Core II- Student/Group Development Theory and Models
During
this session, the participants will discuss current theories and models of how
students and groups develop. Special attention will be placed on the role of
the adviser in this development as well as planning for 0rowth for the
organization. Multiple perspectives
will be presented from a variety of theorists.
Core III - Recruitment and Retention
This
session will share strategies and techniques advisers can use to gain and keep
their members. Research data on
involvement will reflect the nature of the student as well as what you, as
adviser, can do to take advantage of this information to the benefit of the
organization. Recognition, reward, and
renumeration will also be addressed, briefly, in this program.
Core IV - Working with an Executive Board
Participants will
discuss how advisers work with the student leaders in their organization. They will discuss the purpose and goals
behind: retreats, officer training, job
descriptions, group organization models, and developmental activities. Transition of officers, dealing with
internal conflicts, and the adviser's role in these events will also be
addressed.
Core V - Meetings and Activities
The
last of the core requirements deals with what is the responsibility and duty of
the adviser during organizational meetings and events. Participants will discuss issues such as seating,
speaking rights, body language, and actions during events. They will also address how the adviser's
role changes as the group matures and develops.
Electives
In addition to the
five Core courses, participants must complete two of the offered
electives.
The elective courses follow the research data as well as the Core does,
but is reflective of regional concerns and other factors that are specific to
the croup. Additional electives may
develop from the original research or follow up efforts.
E!ective - Legal Issues
In
the Legal Issues program, participants are introduced to some legal terms,
sources of law, and issues that are most likely to affect them in their day to
day work as organization advisers. This
course does not give legal advice! The
purpose of this course is to create an awareness of legal concerns and how to
begin being aware of, and preparing for, possible legal issues.
Elective - How Diversity Affects the RHA
This
course is an interactive session that allows participants to explore how the
concept of diversity both aids and hinders a student organization. Activities are designed to give participants
the chance to discuss specific diversity issues they are facing and to gather
support and information from other advisers.
Elective - Conferencing
During
this program, participants discuss the nature of student leadership conferences
and their role during these events.
Issues discussed focus on preparations, travel concerns, and activities at the conference itself. Participants also briefly discuss the role
of the adviser in hosting a conference as well.
Elective - Motivation
During
this elective, participants discuss how the adviser can motivate their students
and keep them motivated throughout the year.
Strategies, techniques, and opportunities will be discussed as well as
general discussions of successful methods used by participants on their own
campuses. We will also discuss ways to
transfer this responsibility to your members so they become self-motivators.
In
addition to the course requirements, there are three experience-based
requirements that advisers must complete before qualification. These can be done at any time before,
during, or after beginning the ART program.
1) Have advised a residential student
organization for two years (note: this is
as a full time professional.
Graduate advising work counts for ½
credit for each year.),
2) Have attended a NACURH Affiliated
conference (not state conferences), and
3) Have attended a NACURH business
meeting, (regional or national level).
Once
all the above is complete, a certificate and pin is presented to the qualified ARTist and a letter sent to their
CHO/supervisor informing him-/her of the nature of the course and the
accomplishment of that participant.