Download - Developing a Cosmopolitan Outlook In Student Affairs Practice NYU Student Affairs Conference 2014
Developing a Cosmopolitan Outlook In Student Affairs Practice
NYU Student Affairs Conference 2014
Topics We Will Cover
Define “cosmopolitan” and “local” Benefits and challenges of both positions How balancing cosmopolitan & local
positions can positively affect practice Outline & brainstorm ways to broaden the
local paradigm
Differences(Gouldner, 1957)Local Highly committed
to organization Emphasizes
institutional knowledge
Focus on immediately available resources
More rules-bound
Cosmo More committed to
field Emphasizes global
knowledge Values external
resources and information
More willing to experiment
Influence
Challenges to Paradigm Balance
Professional Development
Task Orientati
on
Cosmopolitan On 4 Levels
FIELD
SCHOOLOFFICE
/ SERVICE
PERSON
Person: What Can I Do?
Talk to strangers. Weekly briefings. Build a big net. Keep it
working.
Office/Service: What Can We Do Innovate. But also… Go with what works. Share your results – with the
world!
Institution: You work here too? ABC: Always. Be. Collaborating. Knock down the silo. Common problems; common
solutions
Field: The Wide World of Education Find your orgs. Stay connected. Represent! (Yourself, your office,
your school, your work). Remember the nerds!
Small-group DiscussionResourc
es
• Which are being leveraged?• Location (internal/external)?• Which take the most
priority?
Balance
• How are you balancing local viability with best practices/scholarship?
• How are you engaging local stakeholders versus national social/professional networks?
Take-Away Recommendations Try to read at least one Inside
HigherEd or Chronicle or Journal article daily & share it if you find it applicable to your organization
Organize some sort of informal gathering with colleagues to discuss ideas/experiences
Engage with local, regional, and/or national professional organizations
Consider specialized institutes based on function/interest (RCI, MMI, SSO, SJTI, etc.)
Remember: Balance
Cosmopolitan
Local
Questions?Marc A. Lo, PhD StudentBenjamin S. Selznick, PhD StudentHigher & Postsecondary Education
Reference:Gouldner, A.W. (1957). Cosmopolitans and locals: Toward an analysis of latent social roles. Administrative Science Quarterly, 2(3), 281-306.