Transcript Health Promotion in Higher Education – GA Training Program

Wellness Center
Southern Illinois University
The Mission of the Wellness Center is to
support Southern Illinois University
community through evidence-informed,
holistic and accessible programs and services
that maximize student growth, academic
success and life-long healthy behaviors.
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Medical/Counseling to Health
Promotion/Public Health Model
Individual intervention to a Policy, Systems
and Environment approach
Content based to process based
programming
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Need to attract more qualified HP GA’s
Shift from LCSW/LCPC GA’s
Approached MPH program and Health
Education PHD
 Promised additional GA positions to Academic
Dept
 In return, received opportunity to interview top
candidates
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HP in Higher Education is a specialty career
No HP in HE degree or certificate program in
the nation
Guiding Documents for HP in HE
 ACHA Standards and Practices
 CAS Standards
 NCHEC standards and CHES competencies
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All GA’s are .5 FTE – full tuition waiver
Focus on education/training
Weekly common readers
 Readings support the weekly training and build
upon each other
 In week 9 – GA’s assume the role of facilitator
 All readings prepare students for programming
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Fall – focus on mentoring and creating
community/teamwork
Spring – GA implement group programming
and individual programming
 End of spring semester, focus on job skills
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2nd year (if appropriate)
 GAs become mentor and help with the trainings
 Higher level and independent programming
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GA’s are treated as professionals
 Professional dress
 Punctuality
 Discipline
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Required to attend meetings
Help coordinators
Develop/inform programming
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Move from boss/employee dynamic
Opportunity to take more risk – opportunity
to make mistakes and correct them
Coordinator still responsible for GA
development
GA are not restricted to work with only one
coordinator and are encouraged to
experience all coordinators style and
programs.
I.
II.
III.
Health Education Practice
Communication
Health Promotion Programming & Research
Expert
Competent
Adequate
Novice
Unqualified
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Professional attibutes
Progress toward meeting competencies
Personal goal setting
Outstanding
Highly
Effective
Marginal
Unsatisfactory
Effective
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Final performance review
Focus group
Evaluation of Wellness Staff
GAs are able to
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have a variety of experiences
apply knowledge and skills in the field
experience diverse approaches to wellness
work with multiple coordinators
Challenges
 focusing on theory and policy in training
 not managing GA expectations
 failing to realize GA strengths and
weaknesses
 expecting GAs to switch coordinators in the
middle of large projects
Stumbling blocks
 MPH, PhD, and Dietetics GAs
 differences in GA preparedness
 personality conflicts
 differences in work ethic
Southern Illinois University
Wellness Center
618-536-4441
[email protected]