Running head: IMPACT OF STUDENT AFFAIRS ON STUDENT DEVELOPMENT

Impact of Student Affairs on Student Development

at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Donna W. Carney
Georgia Southern University

IMPACT OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College (WGTC) is a public two-year public college of the
Technical College System of Georgia. The college is located in Valdosta, Georgia. WGTC was
formed on July 1, 2010 when Valdosta Technical College and East Central Technical College
were merged into one college. WGTC has four campuses in its 11-county service area. The
counties in this service area are: Atkinson, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Coffee, Cook, Echols,
Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, and Wilcox counties. Over 100 programs of study are available for
credit and non-credit training purposes (President's message, n.d.). Program offerings range
from Commercial Truck Driving to Registered Nursing. We also offer programs for high school
students.
The mission of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, a public two-year technical college
and a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, is to promote community,
educational, and economic development by providing a highly trained workforce in our
11-county service area in South Central Georgia. The college fulfills the mission by
providing quality technical and academic instruction, through campus-based and distance
education delivery methods, leading to associate degrees, diplomas, and technical
certificates of credit; customized training for new and existing industries; professional
and personal development through continuing education programs; and adult education
services to meet the needs of citizens, business, and industry in the service area (Mission,
n.d.).
As stated by Pascarella & Terenzini (2005), Arthur Chickering formulated a theory for
assimilating data involving college students and their development. Seven vectors of
development were identified which describe the changes a person goes through as he develops

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his identity while a college student (Pascarella & Terenzini, 2005). I will discuss how several
departments at WGTC encourage a college students growth and development.
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is an open-access college. We have students from
all races and all walks of life. It is our goal to make our students feel welcome as they begin
their educational journey. We realize the students will be greeted with new adventures and will
go through many life changes and personal growth while at our institution. The Admissions
office is the first area in which we have the opportunity to begin guiding and assisting our
potential students as they embark upon enrollment at our institution.
The Admissions department at WGTC is usually the first contact a student has with our
college. It is important to us that we generate a good impression to make the potential student
feel at ease and welcome at our institution. The Admissions office works closely with Financial
Aid, the Registrar, the Testing Center, and the Student Success Center. As a student is preparing
to enroll at our college, each of these departments spends a great deal of time with the student.
We do our best to make the college experience a great one for our students. It is very rewarding
to watch the students as they gain confidence and are successful in their classes. By meeting
with Admissions staff and counselors, a student will be able to clarify goals and make
educational and career plans. This process is one of Chickerings vectors called developing a
purpose (Pascarella & Terenzini, 2005). The admissions department in conjunction with other
Student Affairs offices helps the student pull together a career plan and create a strategy to
accomplish the students educational goal. A students college education should be rewarding.
Orientation is another area in which we can see Chickerings vectors at work. The
purpose of orientation is to familiarize students with the college, its offices, policies and

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procedures, and expectations of the students. Students are given information on the colleges
policies and procedures. State and federal regulations relative to the college are also discussed.
Students are shown how to login to their email accounts through My Campus portal. A tour of
the colleges facilities is given and students have an opportunity to have questions answered
while on the tour. Making a student feel at home on our campus is a top priority for the faculty
and staff. We desire for students to be successful and complete a program so they can provide
for their family and their community. Student retention is a high priority for our college and for
all of the technical colleges in the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). Most of the
TCSG institutions have seen declines in the number of students in the last few years so being
able to retain students is key to the colleges satisfying their completion goals for degrees and
diplomas awarded.
New students need to be able to find their way around the college campus and by
providing them with a tour we make finding administrative offices, bookstore, library, and other
offices a much easier task. Many students are nervous and are afraid to ask questions. By
reaching out to new students and making them feel welcome we add to the likelihood that they
will remain at our institution and complete their education. Familiarity with WGTC and its staff
will assist students with moving toward interdependence as discussed by Chickering (Pascarella
& Terenzini, 2005). It is important to lessen the students anxiety because many of them are at
our institution through no fault of their own due to loss of a job or changes in their family
dynamics. Orientation assists the students in overcoming obstacles in their vocation and
personal life which are parts of Chickerings vector concerning developing a purpose (Student
learning, n.d.).

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An additional way students can feel welcome and comfortable is to join in student
activities such as clubs. WGTC has several clubs and organizations on our campus. We
encourage our students to participate and be a part of their college and the surrounding
communities. These organizations provide services and support to our students and our
communities. The clubs and organizations help foster a kinship among individuals. Students
will learn to deal with all kinds of people in various situations (Get involved, 2009, November
8). Clubs at WGTC offer students opportunities to participate in state and national competitions
which showcase their skills and the programs of the college. Through participation in these
activities, clubs, and organizations, a student will experience major growth. Students will
develop mature interpersonal relationships by participating in student activities (Student
learning, n.d.). Students want to fit in and be accepted so they will do whatever it takes to
accomplish that goal (Kadison & DiGeronimo, 2004). Clubs and organizations available for
membership at WGTC include:
Association of Surgical Technologists Student Association
Dental Assisting Technology Student Organization
Future Educators Association
National Technical Honor Society
Phi Beta Lambda
SkillsUSA, Incorporated
Society of Radiologic Technology Students

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Student American Dental Hygiene Association

Student Leadership Council
Student Veterans of America
Wiregrass Georgia Collegiate Fellowship Organization
Wiregrass Health Information Tech Students (Student organizations, n.d.).
Studies have shown that students who are active with campus activities are better able to
focus and be academically successful in college (Get involved, 2009, November 8). It makes
sense for students to be involved in various clubs and activities because they get to spend time
with other classmates and are involved in service projects that aid fellow students or the
community. Oftentimes while participating in campus activities, students find other areas of
interest and even change their majors based upon the experiences (Get involved, 2009,
November 8).
Wiregrass Georgia Technical Colleges faculty and staff should be made aware of how
the learning and development theory, such as Chickerings Theory, applies to how individuals
grow and mature while they are college students. A positive atmosphere and learning experience
is essential to our students. A good first impression will assist us with our retention and
completion efforts. By understanding how college students develop and mature, everyone can
have a positive and rewarding experience at WGTC.

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References
Chickerings seven vectors. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://studentdevelopmenttheory.weebly.com/chickering.html
Get involved. (2009, November 8). Retrieved from
http://www.collegeparentcentral.com/2009/11/why-you-should-encourage-your-collegestudent-to-get-involved-on-campus/nty Workforce Development Center
Kadison, R., & DiGeronimo, T.F. (2004). College of the overwhelmed: The campus mental
health crisis and what to do about it. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, Inc.
Mission of WGTC. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.wiregrass.edu/about/mission.php
Pascarella, E.T., & Terenzini, P.T. (2005). How college affects students: A third decade of
research. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, Inc.

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President's message. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.wiregrass.edu/about/pres-message.php
Student learning & development. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.president.msu.edu/documents/Student_Develolpment_Estry.pdf
Student organizations. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.wiregrass.edu/student/studentorganizations.php