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October 2, 2020

“The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never score.” - Bill Copeland

The deadline for the Graduate Assistant Evaluations for Development & Performance has been pushed back. Please submit these evaluations to Samantha Eldridge no later than Friday, Oct. 9. Check out last week's newsletter for tips regarding these evaluations.

If you have any announcements that you would like to be included in next week's newsletter, reach out to olivia.griffin@utah.edu.

Growth, Feedback, & Goal Setting

The purpose of the GA evaluation is about measuring growth, so this week's focus is about just that.

Psychologist Carol Dweck developed a concept called growth mindset, which can be helpful in reframing intelligence and performance. According to Dweck, "In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment." She shares the power of the word "yet" and the importance of recognizing process, focus, and improvement in her TedTalk.

Crucial to a focus on process and growth is feedback. Giving beneficial feedback is not always as easy as it sounds, so we've included some helpful tips to consider below.

12 Research-based Tips for Effective Feedback:

Establish a respectful learning environment
Communicate goals and objectives for feedback
Base feedback on direct observation
Make feedback timely and a regular occurrence
Begin the feedback session with the learner’s self-assessment
Reinforce and correct observed behaviours
Use specific, neutral language to focus on performance
Confirm the learner’s understanding and facilitate acceptance
Conclude with an action plan
Reflect on your feedback skills
Create staff-development opportunities
Make feedback part of institutional culture.

You can read more about these tips and the sources that informed them below.

Giving Effective Feedback

After receiving and processing the feedback from evaluations, we suggest working with your supervisor to establish specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, & time-bound (SMART) goals to drive your work and your growth. In developing these goals, consider what's important to you, to your office, and to the students you work with.

Need more assistance with developing your goals? Check out the resource below, which includes prompting questions for each aspect of a SMART goal.

Setting SMART Goals

Supervisor Spotlight

Name: Ann House (she, her, hers)

Hometown: Silver Spring, Maryland

Undergraduate: Human Development, University of Utah

Graduate: Human Ecology, University of Utah

Position: Director of the Financial Wellness Center, FCS Adjunct Assistant Instructor

Hobbies: Astronomy, sailing, & hiking

Thoughts on Growth:

I believe that I am not “done” yet. This is an ongoing process of self-improvement for my intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. I enjoy learning and doing new things even when I can get frustrated, because ultimately when I succeed I have grown in confidence and abilities. For personal growth I rely on old friends who I can count on for authentic feedback and new friends who inspire me to grow outside of my comfort zone. As I financial counselor, I am a big goal setter. If one doesn’t plan on accomplishing something and work towards, it won’t happen.

GA Spotlight

Name: Rubi Coria (she, her, hers)

Hometown: Ogden, Utah

Undergraduate: B.S. in Sociology with a minor in Anthrolopology, Southern Utah University

SA Experience: peer mentor for first-year students, orientation leader, tour facilitator, & experience in programming for first-year students

Assistantship: Financial Wellness Center

Hobbies: spending quality time with friends & family, cooking, baking, painting, running, & anything related to art history.

Thoughts on Growth: As a Graduate Assistant it is important to have goals and feedback to facilitate growth. Hard work and persistence are important, but so is having the confidence that you are in control of your own destiny. Ann House has done a wonderful job at allowing me to set goals that will benefit me not only professionally, but personally as well. Along with goals, personal and professional feedback from your supervisor is important to be able to take a step back and see whether you’re on track with your personal and professional goals. Goals help you see the finish line, but feedback will make sure that you stay on the right track.

NUFP Pathway

Applications are now open for undergraduate students to join our NUFP Pathway, an organization that supports underrepresented individuals learn more about a potential career in student affairs.

Zoom info sessions will be on Oct. 6 from 1:30-2:00pm & Oct. 8 from 3:00-3:30pm. Contact nufp@utah.edu for the link.

Please share this opportunity with your networks. More information about the NUFP Pathway can be found on the website below.

NUFP Pathway

FORWARD TO A FRIEND

201 S Presidents Cir
Salt Lake City, UT | 84112 US

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