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The benefit of the cohort model is that students move through the program together. This facilitates the development of a strong academic community and personal relationships that extend well beyond their time in the program. Students regularly work on course assignments together and engage in social activities outside of class.

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The Department of Counseling and Development supports student engagement in professional development activities. We assist Student Affairs and College Counseling students in finding professional development activities that align with their professional interests. Students take advantage of many local, regional, and national conferences and trainings to further develop competencies in the field.

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The SAHE and College Counseling programs accept applications on a rolling basis. Click on the SRU logo above for the Graduate Admissions application portal.

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Apply now to graduate programs at Slippery Rock University.

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Graduate Assistantships provide tuition waivers + stipends to offset the costs of a master's degree. Students with Graduate Assistantships also gain valuable campus work experience that employers value.

Many SRU offices prefer to hire our students to fill their Graduate Assistantships because SAHE and CC students learn valuable skills and knowledge in their courses that directly contribute to the mission of many student-facing offices on campus.

Each year, Graduate Assistantship providers across Slippery Rock University participate in a focused & streamlined hiring process in collaboration with the SAHE and College Counseling programs. Click on the picture above for instructions on how to apply for Graduate Assistantships through this process.

Applications for Graduate Assistantships will be accepted until all positions are filled.

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Bailey Welch graduated from the SAHE program in 2020. She is currently serving as the Assistant Director of Residence Life at Penn State Harrisburg. Prior to that, she worked at Penn State Harrisburg as a Residential Coordinator.

Bailey was recently recognized in the "We Are!" feature at Penn State. This highlights members of the university community who have gone above and beyond what's asked of them in their work.

Bailey recieved multiple nominations. One nominator wrote:

“Bailey is a gift to our campus. She manages every conversation with gifted expertise, navigating difficult conversations with poise and respect. Her smile warms the room. She is a wonderful advocate for students and works diligently to make sure her staff has what they need to succeed!”

Another nominator wrote:

“Bailey's leadership is calming during difficult times. She is level-headed, and she has high morals and standards which guide her practices. She is open to feedback and willing to implement changes to ensure Penn State Harrisburg students are well cared for.”

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Using this Padlet is easy! The toggle bar on the right will allow you to navigate up and down the columns. The toggle bar on the bottom of the screen will allow you to navigate right and left across the columns.

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The SAHE and College Counseling programs are taught using a blended model. Our programs balance in-person classes with some online learning. Students benefit through having consistent in-person engagement with fellow students and faculty while also having a convenient class schedule that allows them to manage graduate assistantships, classes, and other responsibilities.

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Our classes focus on the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful career in higher education. Our distinctive focus is on the "human element" of student affairs work. We are in the process of updating our curriculum, which we do every 3-5 years to ensure what you learn in the program aligns with the knowledge and skills you need as a professional. Classes you will take include:

Helping Relationships. Counseling/helping skills to promote effective listening and communication.

Conflict & Crisis Management in HE. Skills and knowledge to respond to a variety of problems and issues on campus.

The American College Student. Learn to effectively support different groups of students on campus.

Organizational and Environmental Theory. Successful management and development of programs that align with a university's mission.

Assessment in Higher Ed. Students gain practical experience in evaluating program goals and outcomes.

Supervision Practices in HE. Skills and knowledge in hiring, supervision, onboarding, and evaluation of personnel.

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Flexible Class Schedules, Especially for Full-Time Employees

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Flexible Class Schedules, Especially for Full-Time Employees

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We recognize that it can be challenging to take on graduate studies while working full-time. The following are some options to help make the experience easier:

Evening Courses: Our courses are offered at times that are convenient to working students. Occasionally, we will schedule a course activity (field trip to local colleges & universities, meetings with higher education professionals) during the day. In those instances, employers have been supportive in allowing for time off for these professional development activities. PASSHE institutions offer specific accommodations for employees pursuing continuing education & professional development during work hours.

Transfer in Courses: SRU allows graduate students to transfer up to 12 credits into the program. If you are working at an institution that offers courses that can be substituted for courses we offer, we can work with you to identify those courses and assist with transfer paperwork. This can save students commuting time and may reduce overall tuition costs.

Internship Credit: Students employed full-time in higher education can apply most (if not all) of their work hours towards the required internship experience for our Practicum in Student Affairs course.

Blended and Online Courses Mean Fewer Trips to Campus: Our blended courses typically have a 50% online/50% in-person modality. This allows us to schedule courses simultaneously, which results in fewer nights students need to come to campus. Our part-time students can opt for a class schedule that only requires them to be on campus twice a month.

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The SAHE program is 42 credits. All courses are 3 credits.

Traditional Pathway: Students typically take classes during the Fall and Spring semesters. First-year students take 12 credits in the Fall and Spring. Second-year students take 9 credits in Fall and Spring.

Alternate Pathway: Students can opt to take courses in the summer to reduce their course load during the Fall and Spring semesters.

Full-time and Part-time Options: We can work with students to develop an individualized plan of study. This allows students to go through the program at their preferred pace.

Click on the image of the SAHE program Fact Sheet above for more information.

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Our coursework has an emphasis on helping emerging student affairs professionals develop practical work skills that enable them to be successful student affairs professionals. The program focuses on the knowledge and competencies needed for working with students. Our courses prepare students to excel in the areas of student support, student wellness, student engagement, and student success.

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Slippery Rock is conveniently located close to many institutions of higher education. This expands students' options for internship experiences. Faculty assist students in identifying internships in the area that provide robust opportunities for learning and skill building. Students have obtained internships in academic advising, fraternity/sorority life, diversity & inclusion, student activities/engagement, athletics, counseling, and residence life (to name a few!). We have long-standing partnerships with many local institutions of higher education, and are often contacted by professionals in the field hoping to partner with our students.

SAHE and CC students also have the option to participate in national paid summer internship programs, where our students are hired to provide needed administrative support for colleges and universities in housing, residence life, summer conferences, and orientation.

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Over the last 5 years, all of our graduating students landed jobs that aligned with their personal and professional goals. In fact, many of our students receive job offers prior to graduation.

We also have program alumni who have successfully transitioned into professional roles in other fields. The knowledge and skills acquired working in higher education settings are valued by many employers!

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You will be taught by faculty with extensive work experience in higher education settings. Faculty draw upon their own professional experiences as well as current issues in higher education to promote engaging learning activities and classroom discussions.

Prior to taking her faculty role, Dr. Mistretta worked as a student affairs professional at the following institutions:

Indiana University (Bloomington, IN)

Elon University (Burlington, NC)

Appalachian State University (Boone, NC)

Westminster College (New Wilmington, PA)

Her professional responsibilities included residence life, student conduct, advising student organizations, student leadership, outdoor adventure education, and student retention.

Dr. George has professional experience in student affairs at the following institutions:

University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA)

University of Puget Sound (Tacoma, WA)

Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA)

University of Georgia (Athens, GA)

His professional experiences include residence life, fraternity/sorority life, student conduct, campus engagement, student diversity & inclusion.

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The Aspiring Student Affairs Professionals (ASAP)  organization provides a platform for the exchange of ideas on current issues in Student Affairs and Higher Education with professional development activities, networking, and advocacy.

ASAP has 3 main purposes:

1. To recognize and promote the work of student affairs and higher education practitioners on college and university campuses.

2. To support and advocate for the growth and development of its members both personally and professionally.

3. To act as a support system and networking venue for those interested in student affairs and higher education careers.

Join us for socials and professional development sessions where we relax, have fun, and enhance our learning!

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Aaron George, Ph.D. is faculty in the Department of Counseling and Development at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania. He teaches courses in the Student Affairs and Higher Education program. Some of the courses he teaches include Intro. to Student Affairs and College Counseling, Practicum in Student Affairs, and Organizational Behavior in Higher Education. Dr. George obtained his PhD in College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia.

His research interests include contemporary diversity, equity, inclusion, multiculturalism concepts and issues, especially as they apply to climate and student experiences in higher education. He is author of the the publication, “This was a white people’s game…they were the gatekeepers: Experiences of fraternity/sorority professionals of color", in the Journal of Sorority and Fraternity Life Research and Practice (JSFLRP). He is also author of "Rethinking postsecondary education access

and success to advance racial equity for rural black students", in U. Anya, L. Garces, & R. M. Johnson (Eds.), Racial equity on college campuses: Connecting research to practice.

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Molly Mistretta, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor and Department Chair for the Department of Counseling and Development at SRU. She teaches courses across the curriculum in the Student Affairs and Higher Education master's program and in the Higher Education track of the Educational Leadership (EdD) program. Some of the classes she teaches are Conflict and Crisis in Higher Education, Law and Ethics in Student Affairs, and College Students in American Higher Education. Dr. Mistretta obtained her PhD in Administrative and Policy Studies in Higher Education from the University of Pittsburgh.

Her research interests include the effects of compassion fatigue and burnout among professionals in higher education and the scholarship of teaching and learning.  She is a co-author of the books Overcoming Burnout and Compassion Fatigue in Schools: A Guide for Counselors, Administrators, and Educators (2019) and Complex Cases in Student Affairs:  Preparing Early Career Professionals for Practice (2017).

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If you have any questions about the applying to the program or the Graduate Assistantship selection process, please don't hesitate to reach out and ask!

Dr. Molly Mistretta - molly.mistretta@sru.edu

Dr. Aaron George - aaron.george@sru.edu

Niccole Roethlein (current student and SAHE Admissions GA) - ner5785@sru.edu

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Want to learn more about the SAHE and CC programs? Visit us via the Department of Counseling and Development on the SRU website!

https://www.sru.edu/academics/colleges-and-departments/coe/departments/counseling-and-development

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Sigma Chi Alpha is an international honors society comprised of graduate students, alumni, faculty, and student affairs professionals to promote and recognize excellence in academics, research, and service to the profession of student affairs.

Sigma Chi Alpha provides professional development opportunities in support of SAHE and CC preparation for work in the field of higher education and student affairs.

Our graduate student members also receive cords to wear at graduation in celebration of their membership in this organizaton.

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CRH is home for all programs in the Department of Counseling and Development. Our state of the art clasroom and counseling lab spaces allow us to deliver an innovative curriculum and fosters the development of a strong academic community.

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The SRU SAHE program has been training professionals to work in student affairs and higher education settings for over 50 years! This translates to over 600 program alumni across the United States. Our alumni remain connected with our program, notifying us of job openings, internship opportunities, and visiting our classes to share their professional knowledge with our students. Our program alumni are willing to mentor current students and provide feedback to help our students succeed in the field of higher education.

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elise “e” michaux, aka the "encourager", is from Connellsville, PA--a small rural community outside of Pittsburgh.

She received her B.A. in English Literature and M.A. in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Slippery Rock University. She first discovered her calling to higher education during her sophomore year when she served as a FYRST year-leader, mentoring students through their initial transition to college.

After graduate school, elise began her higher education career at Robert Morris University as a Counselor for Special Student Populations in the Center for Student Success.  In this role, she specifically worked with student-athletes, assisting them in creating their academic schedules, connecting them to appropriate academic support services, and ensuring their overall wellbeing.

Currently, she serves as the Marketing and Communications Director at Erie County Community College of PA. She is charged with creating engaging content, both digital and print, that communicates all that is available at the newest community college in the country.

Passionate about diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, elise often presents and uses her social media platform to share on this important topic. As a proud alumna, she also serves on the Council of Trustees at Slippery Rock University.

As a believer in lifelong learning, elise is currently pursuing her PhD in organizational learning and leadership at Gannon University where her research focuses on inclusive leadership practices and policies. Her publications and presentations focus around these topics as well.

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JC Lopez serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs at Grinnell College in Iowa.

JC is from Pittsburgh, PA. He has spent time in Aguadilla and San Juan Puerto Rico as well as Boston, Mass., during his childhood. He earned his Bachelor's of Arts in Applied Media Arts/Graphic Design at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Arts in Student Affairs in Higher Education at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.

He worked as an Educational Leadership Consultant for Kappa Delta Rho National Fraternity and had experiences at Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and University of South Florida (Tampa, Fla.).

Before coming to Grinnell College, he oversaw and held a variety of roles at DePauw University. Over fourteen years, JC developed and worked with the following Student Affairs areas; Housing & Residence Life, Fraternity and Sorority life, Student Success, the Center for Diversity and Inclusion (Multicultural Student Affairs and International Student Affairs), student accessibility services, women’s center, LGBTQ+ Services, the Center for Spiritual Life, Posse Chicago mentor, and Sophomore and Senior Class Dean.

He continues to serve as a Board Member for his National Fraternity, Kappa Delta Rho, as the Vice President of Education and Leadership and has volunteered for twenty years on various mentoring roles and leadership committees.

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Lenny joined Carnegie Mellon in 2005 and has worked in a variety of Student Affairs roles at the University. Prior to leading the Office of Community Responsibility he worked with fraternity/sorority life and was a member of the leadership team in Residential Education. Lenny is one of the College Liaisons to the College of Engineering partnering directly with Mechanical Engineering and the Information Networking Institute (INI).

Lenny received a BS in Psychology and a MA in College Student Personnel from Slippery Rock University. His professional interests include alternative dispute resolution and he has completed training in mediation and restorative practices. In his spare time, Lenny serves on the board of a local nonprofit, reads nonfiction (with a preference for local history), spends time with family, and enjoys partaking in the many things that make Pittsburgh special, especially local restaurants.

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Welcome to the SAHE and College Counseling programs at Slippery Rock!

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Welcome to the SAHE and College Counseling programs at Slippery Rock!

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Welcome to the SAHE & College Counseling programs at SRU! We are one of the oldest student affairs master's programs in the state of Pennsylvania. We have an extensive network of alumni working in colleges and universities across the United States. We invite you to explore what makes our program so successful!