Seven CSE staff members offer reflections on their experiences at the Virginia Student Services Conference, held in Wintergreen, VA on November 15-17, 2017.
Back to VSSC
by Tim Miller (millertm@gwu.edu)
The first time I went to Wintergreen for the Virginia Student Services Conference (VSSC) was in the fall of 1998. I was a full time staff member in the student union at James Madison University as well as a part-time graduate student and I was given the opportunity to go to the conference as part of my Master’s Program. I attended in ’98 and ’99 and really connected with the feel of the conference and being “On the Mountain” with colleagues from across VA. I remember the fun of staying in that environment and everything I was able to learn from people who had been in the field for a very long time.
Several years ago, I decided to bring a team from GW - or “the invaders from the North” as I called us. I was immediately reminded why I loved VSSC once I got off the main roads and was driving on Route 29 through central Virginia and then once we started up the mountain I knew it was a good idea to return to VSSC. We have brought a good mix of people every year since (aside from one year when we missed the conference).
VSSC gives people a chance to take a break, present to incredibly receptive and supportive colleagues, network with individuals from the area, and find ways to grow outside of our DC bubble. I hope we will continue to be a part of VSSC for years to come and more GW community members can find their home there as well.
Ideas through Service to Others
by Colette Coleman (colettec@gwu.edu)
Ghandi stated, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service to others.” I signed up to join the planning committee for the VSSC conference and in doing so gained exposure to local campuses that I had not experienced before. Our first planning meeting was held on the campus of Randolph-Macon College. Attending this meeting gave me many insights and ideas of ways to further expand the community that I serve at the Mount Vernon Campus. For example, the campus set-up was very similar to our community with a large fountain immediately in the center, though theirs is surrounded by adirondack chairs, providing space for students to organically gather. In the spring when you visit the beautiful Mount Vernon Campus and see the Adirondacks under the cherry blossom trees or surrounding the fountain on the quad, you too will remember it was an idea sparked by service to others.
When I signed up for the committee, I did so to use my talent and skills to further the conference mission. I was able to do that by chairing the keynote committee and connecting a colleague to chair the registration committee. The time spent working on this committee allowed me to connect and make stronger partnerships across the region. Allen Groves, Vice President and Dean of Students for the University of Virginia, agreed to be our keynote, speaking on “Freedom of Speech after Charlottesville.” It was a dynamic session filled with lessons learned and things to come that we should all be mindful of in the future. As individuals we sometimes think we don’t have time to serve, our plates are already too full, or that our time will not be valued. I encourage you to push past those thoughts and dive in. Serving on the planning committee and volunteering during registration has been a rewarding experience; I have acquired new skills and relationships that will strengthen my career.
A Committee of One
by Heidi Munkacsy (heidilynn@gwu.edu)
This was my first year attending the VSSC conference. One of my professional development goals was to join a conference planning committee so that I could see and be a part of the planning for a larger conference. Therefore, when I was asked earlier this year if I would like to attend a planning committee meeting for the VSSC conference, of course I said yes. That was the start of my journey with VSSC.
When I attended this meeting, it was not my intention to join a committee yet; however, before the end of the meeting I found myself volunteering to be a part of the registration committee. At first, we were a committee of three people. By the second month of planning, we were down to a committee of one person: me. I found myself struggling at times to manage a process for a conference that I knew nothing about. Thankfully, the other members of the planning committee were great about my many questions and were helpful at explaining certain processes. Once we arrived at the conference, my fellow team members really pulled through, assisting me with getting my materials where they needed to be. My supervisor supported me throughout the conference, getting the table set up and assisting with getting folks registered. Though stressful at times, being a part of this planning committee helped me to grow professionally by teaching me new skills and allowing me to use the skills I already had as a planner to ensure that registration was a smooth process for the attendees. Because of this positive experience, I have already signed up to be a part of it again next year for registration!
I’m new to the CSE and I am on this mountain
by Charlotte McLoud (cmcloud@gwu.edu) and Nick Kirkstadt (kirkstadt@gwu.edu)
Being the “new kid on the block” can be daunting. Whether it is a couple of months, or a couple of days; going to the three-day Virginia Student Services Conference (VSSC) in the Blue Ridge Mountains can be enough to give anyone anxiety and trepidation. However, this trip propelled us to make stronger connections and build relationships with grad students, peers, and even the upper administrators. During the conference, we were able to begin creating a network of colleagues across the state of Virginia as well as discuss current issues facing our students in the region.
The trip was highlighted by Allen Groves, the Vice President and Dean of Students for the University of Virginia, and his presentation on “Freedom of Speech after Charlottesville.” This session was one of the most insightful and impactful. It was followed by Tim’s presentation on “Advising through Controversy,” which put the concepts into a GW perspective that was invaluable for our understanding of the University and what we had just begun in our new positions.
What we loved most about VSSC is how warm and inviting everyone was. In fact, the conference often felt like more of a family reunion. Most importantly, we was able to get to know our GW colleagues outside of our office. All of the laughs, stories, games (looking at you Colette & Tim), memories, insights and advice shared during our trip really made us feel part of the Center for Student Engagement.
Wegmans, ski lift photo shoots, and avoiding the return of Christmas Music
by Colleen Kelty (ckelty@gwu.edu) and Dan Wright (wright10@gwu.edu)
While we cherish the opportunity to learn about the great work our fellow student affairs professionals are doing, strengthen existing relationships, and build new ones at conferences like the Virginia Student Services Conference, no trip is complete without a healthy dose of fun. Our VSSC adventures began with a stop at Wegmans, an annual tradition. Also an annual tradition is the inability for the multiple-degree-holding professionals of the Center for Student Engagement to grasp portion control. What began as an intention to buy two days worth of food devolved into an episode of Shop ‘til You Drop in which we covered the entire square footage of the store. Most popular food: Snacks!
And what would the picturesque mountain setting of VSSC be without a few Instagram opportunities? From discovering the marvels of portrait mode to chairlift photoshoots to early morning sunrises, the photo ops were plentiful.
The VSSC journey concluded with the drive home. Motivated, energized, but still a little bit tired, the trek home was one of reflection (and naps). Although we did not have the anticipation of another Wegmans trip, the radio countdown to Christmas music supplied all the excitement and suspense, for some. On this Friday each year, 97.1 WASH-FM (driver Tim Miller’s favorite station) begins its perpetually never-ending holiday music time at promptly 5:00 PM. Lo and behold, our arrival time to Foggy Bottom was pushing very close to that time. For almost all of the VSSC attendees, this would be a moment of rejoicing and a wonderful way to end of the week. For van navigator Dan Wright and his tenets of “no holiday music before Thanksgiving”, however, the trip home was a challenge. Convinced Tim was slowing down to near under-the-speed-limit proportions to fulfill his holiday music desires, Dan loudly proclaimed his misery every opportunity he could get. Crossing the bridge into D.C. at 4:55 pm, the van arrived on campus at 4:59 pm at which point Dan escaped, avoiding the music in jubilation. It marked the end of a wonderful trip and the start of this holiday season.
