The Law, Policy, and Governance (LPG) competency area is related to one’s understanding of laws and legal systems, college or university governance structures, ethical and inclusive design and application of policy, and civic engagement (ACPA & NASPA, 2016). It is important for student affairs educators to be well-informed about laws and policies that impact various institutional types and the rights and responsibilities of campus constituents. Competence in LPG is notably interconnected with PEF, as both areas provide a foundation for ethical decision making and guidelines that inform practice.  Additionally, one’s competence in PEF can help ensure the effects and implications of governance and policy are socially just and equitable for different campus populations.

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I am currently working toward a foundational level of knowledge in LPG.  In HEA 618: Student Affairs Administration and HEA 620: Planning and Finance in Higher Education, we discussed different systems of governance in four-year and two-year, public and private institutions. Staying informed about national news in higher education and regularly reading Inside Higher Ed and discussing articles related to course topics helped expose me to different policies and regulations across states. We also discussed ways in which boards of directors, local politicians, and campus presidents and administrators interact to advocate for agendas and influence policy decisions. In HEA 616: American Higher Education, we reviewed the evolution of laws and judicial rulings throughout the history of higher education in the United States and the impact on students, faculty, and professional staff. In my role as an Onboarding Consultant, I have learned more about individual campus policies, systems of accountability, and governance models through working with individuals in Institutional Effectiveness offices. The information that campuses are required to track, assess, and report on are often determined by LPG factors.

 

Through my internship in Student Conduct and Community Standards, I have gained more knowledge about the student conduct process at Buffalo State College. I am learning about the enforcement of campus policy, conduct hearing process, and trends in student conduct violations. In conducting research and assessment for the office’s future restorative justice program, I have researched learning outcomes for restorative justice activities as part of the conduct process and the ethical implications within the campus community.

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Artifacts

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From August 2018 - May 2019 I provided monthly KPI reporting on the number and type of conduct violations and sanctions at Buffalo State College. The reports provided a big-picture view of conduct incidents per case manager and other important data points about the location and frequency of conduct incidents for a particular time period.

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