Like most student affairs professionals in South Africa, I fell into this career as a default after not being admitted into my career of preference (which for me was psychology). I started out as a student development program coordinator, and suddenly the profession and the students just grew on me. I also became involved with the ACUHO-I Southern Africa Chapter (SAC) in 2013, which I think was a pivotal moment for me when I realized that the work I was doing fits in so much more with my identity than the career I was initially pursuing.
I have also been very privileged to be able to move around quite broadly within the profession and to be exposed to and develop an expertise in various areas of the profession. I see my career in this profession as a funnel; I started out very broadly with experiences in many areas and then finally found a very specific niche that I love and am good at. It is now almost a decade later, and I am loving this profession! This then is my message to young professionals who are starting their careers in student affairs and housing: Look for ways to carve out and expand the profession and to find your own pathway towards your area of interest and expertise. The opportunities are so endless and fascinating; there really is a spot for everyone.
Being part of the faculty for the Roelf Visser South Africa Housing Training Institute (RV-SHTI) is always such a reaffirming and emotional moment for me. It always gives me confirmation that I am on the right track and that there is so much more potential to the profession I am in. I also love to connect with colleagues (now known as friends) that I’ve known for years. Even when I move from one institution to another, I am still connected to this amazing group of people who truly do become family. The ACUHO-I SAC has really become this space for me where I can tap in when I feel drained or alone and receive this overwhelming amount of support and inspiration.
Working at a smaller university means that the area of student affairs is not always acknowledged or implemented as a profession. This means that we just need to put in the extra effort to market ourselves as experts in something that is not always seen as a science. I have also found that during the COVID-19 pandemic staff have become so overwhelmed and focused on reaching their own outcomes and do not always have the mental or emotional capacity to make connections with support initiatives that would develop students holistically. However, this is a great opportunity for co-creating new and exciting initiatives that blend the student support profession with teaching practices.
Do cats count?
Coffee! I have gotten used to having very good coffee at home. Now that I’m back at the office, I have a special coffee corner where I spend my morning coffee-making ritual. It sets my whole day off on the right track and makes me feel right at home. I also need an entire drawer that is stacked with healthy snacks, because I like to graze while I sit in long online meetings.
Meet all the people! Our institution is blessed with truly inspiring and talented staff who are busy with very interesting projects. I would love the opportunity to meet more of the experts and look for ways to connect what they are doing with creating learning opportunities for students.
As a university of technology, our institution is really focused on entrepreneurship, innovative technology, and generating a third stream income. The institution has multiple initiatives that develop students’ graduate attributes to make them more ready for the world of work and also provide opportunities for them to develop and launch their own businesses through the pre-incubator center. The Central University of Technology also generates a third stream income in very creative ways such as product development and manufacturing, developing smart cities, generating its own electricity through sun power, and having its own restaurant and five-star catering facilities. I also love being involved with the virtual learning part of the institution that is busy transitioning learning to the virtual and augmented reality space.
In the South African context, the ideas around traditions in residences do not have positive connotations. Traditions have historically been used to suppress the minority and advance discrimination. What I would celebrate instead is the student culture that has intentionally been created at institutions of higher education to replace the power hierarchy-driven student culture, rooted in traditions. This new student culture celebrates students in community and aims to foster belonging through conversations about shared values.
The importance of networking! The connections and relationships that I was able to build pre-COVID-19 became vital in allowing me to continue with innovative work during the pandemic. I have learned that you really need to be willing to take the emotional risk and put yourself out there to build the relationships and make the connections that will take the profession and your career forward.
I get very excited when I get to push the boundaries of the profession and pioneer new work. I love to be in a stimulating environment that allows me to graft together different areas of expertise at the institution.
What is the name for having more than one brain? Can I have that one, please? I would also love the ability to stop time, so I can finally have the time to think and to just get things done. I often find myself mentally shelving important occurrences or events so I can debrief and think about it later.
Zanete Malan is the teaching and learning coordinator for the faculty of engineering, built environment and information technology at the Central University of Technology, Free State, South Africa. Have a colleague you think others should get to know? Please share with us at talkingstick@acuho-i.org and you may see them in a future issue of the magazine.