My Apprenticeship with Graduate Student Life

Early on during my time at Baylor, I was introduced to Nevitt Sanford’s (1966) theory of challenge and support as it relates to undergraduate students. A simplistic description of this theory is as follows: in order to develop, a student must experience a proper balance of both challenge and support. If students are too challenged, they can become disheartened and are discouraged from growing. However, if students are too supported they may be comfortable, but they do not develop.

Now, you might be wondering, what does this theory have to do with a blog post about my apprenticeship with graduate student life?

I’m glad you asked!

In many ways, working with graduate student life is not the ‘typical’ student affairs job. Because graduate students are a different demographic than undergraduate students, the job requires different ways of thinking and different ways of doing than other student affairs jobs.

To use the language of Sanford’s theory, the types of challenges that graduate students face are often distinct from those that undergraduate students face. Graduate students deal with questions such as: how do I balance my graduate studies with having a spouse and children?; how do I go about selecting a dissertation committee?; what professional opportunities should I gain while in graduate school?; what does it take to get published?; how do I find a community of friends while balancing the demands of my program?. The challenges that graduate students face are often difficult and numerous.

Although Sanford’s theory is focused on undergraduate students, a basic understanding of the theory provides a foundation for grasping what it is that I try to do through my apprenticeship within the Graduate School. Because of the enormous pressures that graduate school places on students’ lives, it is important to have structures of support for these students in order for them to develop well. Therefore, I see my apprenticeship as providing such support structures.

Ultimately, one of my greatest hopes for my apprenticeship is that the work that I do will, somehow and in someway, uniquely support graduate students as they face the challenges with which graduate school presents them.

Now, you might be wondering, while it is nice to understand in theory that a job in graduate student affairs is different than a job in undergraduate student affairs, what does this mean in practice?

Again, I’m glad you asked!

Below you will find a selected list of things I do within my apprenticeship. Each of the bullet points are linked to web pages that provide fuller descriptions.

• Graduate Student Association (GSA): I serve as the Graduate School Liaison to the Graduate Student Association. This means that I get to be involved with the GSA executive council as they plan events for graduate students, promote policies that are graduate-student-friendly, and serve as a voice for the graduate student population at Baylor.
• Graduate Student Orientation: I had the opportunity to coordinate Graduate Student Orientation for the 2012-2013 academic year. This is a one-day event that introduces incoming students to life as a graduate student, life at Baylor, and life within Waco.
• Women in the Academy Conference: I coordinated the 2012 Women in the Academy Conference and am currently coordinating the 2013 conference. This is a one-day, regional conference hosted at Baylor that allows attendees to learn about and engage in activities that further their understandings about women in higher education.
• Student Intellectual Community Enhancement Money (SIC ‘EM): I chair the SIC ‘EM selection committee which reviews proposals for SIC ‘EM grants. These grants provide graduate students with a way to secure funding for student-initiated events that promote academic and intellectual development outside of the classroom.
• Associate Community Coordinator at Browning Square Graduate Student Housing: I serve as the associate community coordinator at Browning Square, which is one of two complexes within the Graduate Student Housing Community. I plan monthly events for our community that include things such as game nights, a pumpkin carving contest, a Christmas party, our annual Dialogue with Baylor Leaders, and movie nights.

Ultimately, I love my apprenticeship within the Graduate School because it allows me to think creatively about how to best support graduate students during their time at Baylor. It has been a challenging, interesting, and worthwhile job. In all sincerity, I could not think of a better, more rewarding apprenticeship than the one that I’ve had since starting the HESA program.

Kaitlyn Rothaus
Graduate Apprentice for Graduate Student Life
2^nd Year HESA Student