My Exploration of Legal and Ethical Issues for Student Affairs by https://padlet.com/ssimmons111/pmm4q5b4bu43 Made with wonder en-us 2018-06-06 17:52:58 UTC 2026-01-01 12:12:12 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Lightdecrease.png My Professional Perspective ssimmons111 https://padlet.com/ssimmons111/pmm4q5b4bu43/wish/265940506 After nearly 20 years teaching and advising in secondary public education, I have decided to embark on a Master's in Education.  It is my hope that upon graduation with a focus on Student Development and Leadership and with a certification in academic advising that I am able to secure a position as a college student affairs staff member. ]]> 2018-06-06 17:53:45 UTC https://padlet.com/ssimmons111/pmm4q5b4bu43/wish/265940506 Exploration Option 1 -Current Practicing Professional's Perspective ssimmons111 https://padlet.com/ssimmons111/pmm4q5b4bu43/wish/266486003 I was able to speak with the Dean of University College, Dr. Dann Brown, at Texas State University regarding certain leading issues his office is navigating.
  
Currently, one of the biggest topics of conversation centers around the impact of House Bill 5 on college matriculation.  More specifically, the differences in how k-12 defines college ready and how higher education defines college ready.  High schools have numerous ways they are able to count a graduating student as college ready.  However, higher educations definition is much more narrowly defined.  Students can be in the top 10% of their graduating class, have graduated with all of their required credits, have been accepted to an institution, have housing squared away, and not realize until their new student orientation that they did not make high enough scores on the SAT/ACT or TSI tests to take college degree credit earning courses.  This is making a lot of incoming freshmen struggle with starting college in developmental education courses.

Along with academic concerns, Dr. Brown expressed that the campus is having to navigate the current political climate surrounding immigrant students, especially undocumented students.  As Texas State University has earned Hispanic Serving Institution status (HSI), the campus must be informed and concerned with how the current presidential administration is interacting with this marginalized population.

(D. Brown, personal communication, June 8, 2018)      ]]> 2018-06-10 17:38:12 UTC https://padlet.com/ssimmons111/pmm4q5b4bu43/wish/266486003 Exploration Option 3, Slide 1 - Current News on Legal & Ethical Issues ssimmons111 https://padlet.com/ssimmons111/pmm4q5b4bu43/wish/266486086 As the United States becomes ever-more divided, certain terms are being manipulated and twisted from their original meaning. Diversity is one of the latest to come under attack. It seems that more and more conservative-leaning people are protesting that diversity is meant to include more conservative lines of thought and speech. This speech is often tied to racist thought and rhetoric. The question then arises, when is diversity of thought used to validate or justify racism? This same vein of questioning is examined when looking at the reasoning for affirmative action in college admissions. Originally, affirmative action was meant to justify diversifying college campus student populations and staffing. More recently, affirmative action is being used to support a twisted version of its original intention in an attempt to justify adversity rather than diversity.]]> 2018-06-10 17:39:27 UTC https://padlet.com/ssimmons111/pmm4q5b4bu43/wish/266486086 Exploration Option 3, Slide 2 - Current News on Legal & Ethical Issues ssimmons111 https://padlet.com/ssimmons111/pmm4q5b4bu43/wish/266486299 The stories of young college students, typically female, being manipulated by their male professors have become an American cliche.  The article, "Academic Ethics: What Should We Do With Sexual Harassers in Academe?" from the Chronicle of Higher Education questions how we should be addressing inappropriate behavior during the time of the Me Too movement.  The article suggests that offenders be penalized in ways appropriate, going as far as banning professors from ever teaching again to drastic cuts in pay for others. Ensuring that victims are protected is paramount, and also creating environments that reward good behavior are described as the best pathways forward.
 
]]> 2018-06-10 17:42:06 UTC https://padlet.com/ssimmons111/pmm4q5b4bu43/wish/266486299 After Investigative Research - Legal & Ethical Educational Issue of Interest to Me... ssimmons111 https://padlet.com/ssimmons111/pmm4q5b4bu43/wish/266486407 Having done some initial research, I am most interested in learning more about the rights and services available to undocumented immigrant students. This topic interests me because throughout my time as a college access counselor, I have worked with hundreds of undocumented students, and I have witnessed the struggles they encounter at the higher education level.  I would like to be a better support for those students.]]> 2018-06-10 17:43:18 UTC https://padlet.com/ssimmons111/pmm4q5b4bu43/wish/266486407 Summarizing the Legal & Ethical Implications for My Future Professional Work with Immigrant Students - ssimmons111 https://padlet.com/ssimmons111/pmm4q5b4bu43/wish/266486741 The United States is a country made of immigrants.  This is one of our greatest attributes.  The millions of young people who were brought here by their families in hopes for a better life, as well as those children who fled here in pursuit of a safer environment, are now part of the generation graduating high school and matriculating to college.  The reality is that immigrant students, both documented and undocumented, are part of the fabric of our society, and we should support them.  

These students have so many specific needs.  They are required to navigate much more complex processes for admissions and financial aid.  They are doing this in a current climate of intimidation by our federal government to deport them and their families.  Immigrant students have rights.  In the state of Texas, can they qualify for in-state tuition prices, and they can also qualify for state financial aid.  However, navigating the many requirements for these processes can be overwhelming for a student who is most likely to be navigating attempting college on their own.  Once a student arrives to college, the processes do not become simpler.  Many times, these students are still living at home, working a job to support their family, or caring for siblings that are younger than they.  Immigrant students need counselors, advisers, professors, and staff at the higher education level that understand their needs.  

As a future student affairs professional, there are many instances I can imagine needing to know the legal and ethical landscapes for immigrant students.  For example, how will DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) being repealed impact a student who is currently enrolled on my campus?  What are the laws surrounding confidentiality with paperwork for financial aid and other processes on our campus?  What student support services do we offer for our students who have family who has been deported?  What types of career counseling do we offer for students with DACA?  Do we have mentors for our immigrant students?  How do we go about pairing them without revealing citizenship status?

How we serve our most vulnerable says a lot about who we are as a people. In the future, I hope to work at an institution that wants to be a leader in supporting immigrant students. Being knowledgeable about their legal issues can only help me to serve them better.]]> 2018-06-10 17:46:19 UTC https://padlet.com/ssimmons111/pmm4q5b4bu43/wish/266486741 Internet Resource - ssimmons111 https://padlet.com/ssimmons111/pmm4q5b4bu43/wish/266744179 Website: Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC)]]> 2018-06-12 05:16:59 UTC https://padlet.com/ssimmons111/pmm4q5b4bu43/wish/266744179 Angelo State Library Resource - ssimmons111 https://padlet.com/ssimmons111/pmm4q5b4bu43/wish/266744283 Jefferies, J. (2014). Fear of deportation in high school: Implications for breaking the circle of silence surrounding migration status. Journal of Latinos and Education, 13(4), 278-295. doi:10.1080/15348431.2014.887469]]> 2018-06-12 05:18:29 UTC https://padlet.com/ssimmons111/pmm4q5b4bu43/wish/266744283 ramdam3904 https://padlet.com/ssimmons111/pmm4q5b4bu43/wish/266917564 2018-06-12 23:57:36 UTC https://padlet.com/ssimmons111/pmm4q5b4bu43/wish/266917564