Division of Student Affairs Honored

05/13/2014 

SUNY Cortland has been named a promising place to work in student affairs based on a national study with an eye towards diversity.

The College was one of 31 institutions nationally — and just three in New York state — to earn the distinction, awarded by the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) as part of a collaborative project with Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazine.

Conducted by the Center for Inclusion, Diversity and Academic Success (iDEAS) at Ohio State University, the study examined the administrative structures, priorities tied to diversity and staffing practices of various divisions of student affairs at ACPA member institutions.

Although the survey’s questions mostly addressed SUNY Cortland employees and general campus practices, the results shed light on institutions that have created supportive spaces for their students.

“By creating and enhancing our efforts to create a supportive and inclusive environment for staff, we are able to support an increasingly diverse student body,” said C. Gregory Sharer, the College’s vice president for student affairs.

The initial survey was comprised of six categories, such as family friendliness and professional development opportunities. More than 100 institutions of higher education responded.

Questions addressed topics such as campus-wide diversity initiatives, support for different sexual orientations and flexible scheduling for employees. Many of SUNY Cortland’s responses considered policies that guide the College as a whole, Sharer said.

The survey was launched during the fall semester and the official report of results appeared in the March 27 edition of Diverse magazine. Pace University and Stony Brook University were the other New York state institutions to be recognized.

The complete list of Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs 2014 can be viewed on the ACPA website.