2011 MoCPA Support Staff Drive-In Conference

By Judy Koenig

Support Staff from areas of higher education throughout the state of Missouri attended the 2011 MoCPA Support Staff Drive in Conference on Friday, March 4, at Maryville University in St. Louis and REACHED for the STARS….Mind, Body and Soul!  The 85 attendees represented 13 colleges and universities, from both public and private institutions. 

Some of the breakout sessions included:  True Colors; Intercultural Communication through Legos; De-Stress at your Desk; Ergonomics for Computer Users; How to Create a Smoke Free Environment, and numerous others. 

Dr. Jackie Elliott, MOCPA President, presented awards to 2011 support staff as nominated by their supervisors.  The 2011 Outstanding Support Staff Award - awarded for providing superior support of student related services and programs in the state of Missouri, was presented to Melissa Shull, Office Coordinator of Student Development at Drury University (in attendance).  The award for 2011 Outstanding Support Staff Spirit Award - awarded for exceptional school spirit to a support staff member in the state of Missouri  who has demonstrated commitment to their institution and exemplified considerable school spirit and a positive attitude, was awarded to Melissa Connor, Administrative Associate I, Resident Life – University Student Apartments, University of Missouri (unable to attend).  Congrats to both of these awesome support staff!

The conference received high accolades from attendees and everyone enjoyed meeting other support staff members, networking, food, fun and great speakers (the pictures speak for themselves)!  A huge thank you to the committee members who assisted with this year’s drive-in conference! 

	Free Conference Call Helping Students Become Global Leaders Sponsored by ACPA’s Commissions for Global Dimensions of Student Development and Student Involvement Date: June, 7, 2011, 12:00 – 1:30pm EST. (Please make adjustments if you are in a different time zone.) Please register by June 6, 2011. Cost: Normal long distance charges will apply.  (Callers will be charged for long-distance service on their phone bill.) Abstract: Few institutions fully understand how to effectively create avenues for getting students involved with global service and leadership. This seminar will teach you how to help your students get involved in our wider global community and become the type of leaders that our world so desperately needs.             Additional information can be found here: http://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/scukx

ACPA / NASPA Consolidation Vote Results

Plan For Consolidation Vote Results

ACPA –2/3 majority achieved      For Consolidation - 81%      Against Consolidation -19% NASPA –did not meet 2/3 majority      For Consolidation - 62%      Against Consolidation - 38% The 2/3 majority requirement is based on the District of Columbia law where both entities were incorporated. Forty-two percent (42%) of eligible ACPA voters cast their ballots from March 15-April 15, including student members.

Online Conversations On Post-Consolidation Vote Outcome

ACPA President Heidi Levine and Executive Director Gregory Roberts hosted a series of three open online community conversations discussing the vote results and answering questions regarding ACPA’s next steps. Transcripts of the conversations for the following dates are archived here – April 28, April 29 and May 1. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Savor Chat login required.

MoCPA Executive Board Membership – A Career Game Changer

Many great college professionals have considered getting involved in state, regional, or national student affairs organizations, but haven’t for one reason or another.  For those who just haven’t taken the step, I have a great experience to share.  Getting involved in MoCPA’s Executive Board has been a game changing experience for my career and I hope you’ll read on and consider taking that next step.

In the spring of 2010, I was in the 11^th year of my professional career.  Beyond going to conferences and presenting at a few, I had never gotten directly involved with the operations of any organization like MoCPA, UMR-ACUHO, or ACPA.  Then, I was nominated by one of my Hall Directors to run for the Public Institution Representative (PIR) position with MoCPA.  After speaking to MoCPA President, Dr.  Jackie Elliott, I was persuaded to run because it was a position that I could really make my own.  Dr. Elliott indicated that if I didn’t win the position there was still an appointed position I would be great for, serving as the Technology Chair.  It was the relationships I had built with Dr. Elliott and my PIR nominator that made this possible and led to me winning my PIR election.  Ultimately, I agreed to accept the Technology Chair and hold both offices.  I was interested in both, so why not?

My time on MoCPA Exec has been amazing.  I have been able to grow the PIR position by reaching out to student affairs professionals across the state.  Free online resources have enabled me to create online recruitment forms to build a list of 150 student affairs professionals from across the state, most of whom aren’t MoCPA members.  This lets me keep them informed of issues, events and resources available across the state.   We have been able to increase outreach and build interest in what MoCPA has to offer and the response has been positive.  In building these professional networks, I have also put myself in a position to take current issues from around the state and bring them to MoCPA’s attention. 

In my role as Technology Chair, I have been able to put my computer skills to work by completely revamping the MoCPA website.  We’ve updated our use of Facebook pages and I’m currently in the process of designing the annual conference website for MoCPA’s 40^th anniversary celebration.  On top of this, my personal amateur photographer hobby has come in quite handy for posting photos of the events MoCPA does and posting photos of award winners from our conferences.

I have enjoyed the colleagues and friends I have made serving on this committee.  Executive Board meetings have taken us to the University of Central Missouri, Park University, and Drury University to allow me to see schools I have never visited before.   These collaborations and travels have resulted in great state-wide colleagues that I can pick up the phone and with at any time. 

MoCPA has been great to me and I look forward to moving into the second year of my terms in both roles.  It is this experience that has made me strongly consider running for other offices and considering positions with UMR-ACUHO at the regional level.  As MoCPA elections are coming up, stay tuned to our Facebook page and the MoCPA website for details on which positions are open, nominations, and elections. 

Thanks for reading and I hope to see you on the ballot soon!

Scott P. Shields
Area Coordinator, Residential Life
Northwest Missouri State University