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Running head: Learning Outcome
Learning Outcome 1
Daron Brown
Northern Illinois University
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Learning Outcome
In this paper I will be summarizing learning outcome 1 and its importance in the world
of higher education. I will discuss my views prior to enrolling into the program and how my
experiences within class allowed me to learn and continue to learn my role in the future of
higher education. I will be detailing an assignment from HESA 500 Foundations of Higher
Education that allowed me to examine and compare two institutions in a unique way.
Learning Outcome 1
Learning outcome 1 examines different organizations, contexts, and/or leadership in
higher education and student affairs. Being cognizant of what roles we play and the importance
of learning outcome 1 is imperative to the development of institutions, students, and
professionals in higher education. There are so many different contexts to an institution that it
is important that we continue to acknowledge the differences amongst the institutions and the
people that make up the institutions.
HESA 50
When entering the first semester of graduate school I enrolled in HESA 500, which
taught us the history and foundations of higher education. We were given an assignment in
which we were to take two institutions and compare and contrast the institutions’ mission
statements. I chose two of the most prestigious universities in the country, Harvard and Yale. I
found it interesting to compare two prestigious, predominantly white institutions to see how
they summarized their core values and goals of the university. Then I compared the two
institutions' mission statements differences, and in what ways are they the same. Then I
continued to analyze the mission statement and determined what the institution's beliefs and
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Learning Outcome
values are, and who they serve. This allowed me to examine the different contexts of the two
universities. In the mission statements analysis, I critically analyzed the inclusion of diversity
and or lack there-of.
When referencing diversity inclusion it means an institution represents people of color,
the LBGTQ community, and what is the school geared towards academically. In doing so I
discovered that Howard did not have a mission statement, and its informal mission statement
focuses holistically on the college tradition in the liberal arts and science and the program being
transferable post-graduation. Yale did have a mission statement which focused on the diversity
of the institution through students, faculty, alumni and curriculum through outstanding
research and practice. I found it interesting to see if the institution actually carries out that
mission through their campus representation and resources for the diversity they do have. As
stated by Hirt (2006), “If new professionals are socialized and research and comprehensive
campuses but employed at liberal arts institutions, community colleges, religiously affiliated
schools, HBCUs, or HSIs, they might to expect to encounter a disconnect between the
expectations they bring to work setting and the realities they confront in that setting.” (p.10). It
is important to see the full spectrum of all students everywhere to best be an imperative fit in
making a difference in higher education.
Conclusion
Upon completing this assignment, I learned how to search for goals, how to look for
what institutions prioritize, and what they deem as important for future students and or future
staff members. This assignment also allowed me to analyze different contexts of an institution
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Learning Outcome
through its organizations, contexts, and or leadership in higher education and student affairs
through a critical lens. I understand that analyzing the mission statement is important but
analyzing different contexts of the institution can go much deeper than a mission statement.
Looking into the actual practices, resources for students, and numbers that account for
diversity can also provide a lens into an institution’s values.
In the future I believe that this is knowledge I can apply to my job search coming up as I
will be applying to many different types of institutions: 4-year universities, private institutions,
HBCUs, community colleges and HSIs. Also, as a future professional in higher education I believe
I will be cognizant of examining what an institution has to offer for me, and if/how I can fit into
such. It will help me go deeper than what I see on the exterior of an institution, and has
provided me with ways to make sure wherever I continue my career will best fit my morals and
values as well.
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References
Fenske, R.H. (1989). Historical foundations of student services. In U. Delworth, G Hanson &
Associates (Eds.), Student services: A handbook for the profession (2nd ed., p 5-24). San
Francisco: Jossey-Bass
Hirt, J. (2006). Where you work matters: Student affairs administration at different types of
institutions. University Press of America.
