The Division of Student Affairs recognizes that we exist primarily to serve students. We may not always be able to provide you with everything you want; however, you will be treated in a manner consistent with the following Service Creed:

Students Can Expect

• To be addressed and treated in a respectful, efficient and courteous manner.
• To receive answers to your questions or be directed to someone who can provide the answer.
• To be encouraged to advocate for themselves, but Student Affairs staff will help if you are not getting your issue addressed in an appropriate manner.

Student Affairs Staff Will

• Appreciate the diversity of our community and will give fair and equitable treatment to all.
• Value your input and respect your opinion.
• Work to help you have a positive experience at West Chester University.

The Division of Student Affairs is committed to the philosophies outlined in the University and Student Affairs Mission and Values Statements. Inherent in the Division of Student Affairs Core Values and Assumptions is that students, throughout their experience at WCU, will enhance their personal adult identity.

In combination with the student's academic program (including the general education component), the co-curricular program offered through the Division of Student Affairs is directed at producing graduates who:

1. Use critical, reflective and analytical thinking in decision-making and reasoning
   • Access, analyze, apply and assess information that has applicability to a particular issue/problem;
   • Develop and apply an effective decision-making model, which includes prioritizing options, finding alternative solutions, implementing a choice, and evaluating the selected choice;
   • Articulate a rationale for a chosen perspective.
2. Respond thoughtfully and responsibly to diversity
   • Identify and celebrate significant contributions of cultures both in and outside of an individual's frame of reference;
   • Describe their own cultural identity as well as its impact in the larger community;
   • Demonstrate an ability to work with people different from self.
3. Exhibit a commitment to civic engagement and an awareness of global responsibility
   • Articulate an individual response with regard to one's contribution to the university and global community;
   • Engage in activities that serve local and/or global communities;
   • Demonstrate awareness of civic and global events and their impact on self and society.
4. Demonstrate a sensibility, understanding, and perspective of lifelong leadership
   • Define and articulate their personal leadership style;
   • Identify skills and abilities of effective life-long leadership;
   • Recognize and access leadership opportunities.
5. Develop, enhance, clarify, and communicate one's personal and professional values
   • Demonstrate increased and realistic self-appraisal and understanding;
   • Identify various individual accomplishments which contribute to an overall sense of self-esteem and ability to manage one's affairs;
   • Engage in activities that explore and articulate one's career path.
6. Display the ability to integrate and apply knowledge, ideas, and experiences to one's daily life
   • Articulate the ability to synthesize information learned in and out of the classroom resulting in increased life-skills;
   • Demonstrate an ability to relate knowledge to daily life;
   • Recognize an appreciation for life-long learning.
7. Achieve academic success and persist to graduation
   • Attain academic goals by managing the college experience;
   • Graduate with a plan for future career paths.

In order to successfully accomplish its mission, the Division has identified core values which are shared by the staff throughout the Division and are used to make decisions and guide the programs and activities conducted within the Division. Those core values include the following:

1. All individuals have value and deserve our respect; however students are our priority and their values and individuality must be understood and considered in the development of our programs and services.
2. We appreciate the diversity the members of our community bring to the campus and give fair and equitable treatment to all; acts of insensitivity or discrimination against individuals based on their race, gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, abilities, or religious beliefs will not be tolerated.
3. The educational mission of the institution is preeminent and linkages with academic units and faculty are integral to the Student Affairs mission.
4. Student learning outside of the classroom is considered essential to student growth and their environment - co-curricular activities are essential to their learning, satisfaction and retention.
5. Students develop at different rates and times and not always as predicted by theory.
6. Development is not always painless; growth often occurs in the wake of challenge or adversity.
7. Effective services/programs require ongoing assessment of their quality and impact.

Preface

West Chester University, located in southeastern Pennsylvania, is the largest of the fourteen Universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. As a modern, public university, West Chester is committed to maintaining an environment that promotes a comprehensive array of student learning opportunities. Within this environment, the formal instructional process is a principal focus with learning occurring in the classroom and laboratory through interaction between students and faculty.

However, as John Dewey has stated, the whole student comes to the university. The Division of Student Affairs performs a leadership role in offering services and activities which support all students at this time of intense intellectual, personal, social and emotional growth. Thus, the Division is responsible for developing co-curricular experiences which promote student learning both within and outside of the classroom and prepares them to live in a pluralistic world.

Our Mission

The Division of Student Affairs exists to deliver quality programs and services, and to promote student learning in the areas of identity development, acquisition of complex cognitive skills, life skills, leadership skills, a sense of community responsibility and interpersonal skills. Achievement of these outcomes is designed to promote students' retention and graduation.

In addition to these principal core values, our Student Affairs staff in the Division of Student Affairs also believe in certain underlying assumptions which affect their interactions with students and the delivery of services and programs.

• Students are adults and should be treated as adults and held responsible for their behavior.
• Students' feelings and personal circumstances affect their learning.
• Students should be involved in the development of policies and decisions which affect them.
• Student Affairs professionals are always learning and must keep their skills current.
• Appreciation of differences must be central in the planning of programs and services throughout the Division.

The Division of Student Affairs has identified eight essential functions from which a wide variety of programs, services and other projects emerge. Those essential functions are as follows:

1. Promote the educational mission of the University by providing co-curricular programs, services and an overall environment that supports students' academic pursuits, aids in retention of students and compliments the goals of a liberal education.
2. Develop strategies that value diversity and promote multiculturalism. Ongoing program efforts, routine departmental operations, and individual student contacts should demonstrate sensitivity and respect for all members of the campus community and should reflect a commitment to social equity goals.
3. All members of the Division serve as student advocates by articulating needs/issues related to their curricular and co-curricular life by encouraging students to take full advantage of the resources and opportunities available to them through the University.
4. Develop and cultivate faculty relationships through special programming efforts, University committee work, routine department functioning and by participating in Academic Affairs programs wherever possible. The formation of partnerships and other collaborative efforts with faculty is essential to enhancing the quality of student life.
5. The Division of Student Affairs must develop programs and opportunities that provide students with experiences and environments through which values and education can occur. Ethical decision making and values development must be emphasized through promotion of student leadership programs, community services efforts, cooperative group living and topical programming on such issues as Racism/Oppression, Sexuality, Substance Abuse, etc.
6. The Division must strive to enhance its visibility on the campus and in the community by frequent communication about programs, services and opportunities provided by the Division for our various constituents (students, staff, faculty, parents, alumni, community members). This should include communication with both on and off campus media as well as other internal and external communication methods.
7. The Division will advance a philosophy of teamwork and cooperation through collaborative programming among departments, cross office consultation/support and an ongoing program of Staff Development through which Student Affairs staff members can improve their skills and knowledge base and, subsequently, provide an optimal campus environment for student growth.
8. The Division will develop, implement and periodically evaluate its goals and objectives within the Division so that each unit can demonstrate and articulate a tangible assessment of the quantity, quality and effect of the programs they provide to meet student and institutional needs.