Redefining Student Affairs: Insights from Dr. Ainsley Carry

In the latest episode of NASPA's SA Voices From the Field podcast, Dr. Jill Creighton sits down with Dr. Ainsley Carry, Vice President for Students at the University of British Columbia (UBC), to discuss the current state and future directions of student affairs. Their conversation ranges from the importance of listening to students and adapting to cultural nuances, to the evolving role of AI and mental health support on campus. 

The Evolution of Student Affairs A Shift from Traditional Theories

Dr. Ainsley Carry highlights that student affairs have undergone significant changes over the years. Historically, the field focused on career placement and leadership development, often driven by traditional theories like those proposed by Tinto and Chickering. However, Dr. Carry critiques these models for being outdated and restrictive. He argues for the necessity of freeing student affairs from these old theoretical constraints to better align with the evolving needs and cultures of modern students.

From Leadership to Inclusivity

The emphasis has gradually shifted from leadership, with its positional nature, to inclusivity in participation. Today's student affairs professionals recognize the importance of engaging students inside and outside the classroom, acknowledging the challenges in measuring qualitative learning experiences. According to Dr. Carry, the current trends in student affairs reflect a return to career exploration and identity development, rather than mere placement, recognizing the global nature of modern careers and the importance of early engagement through internships.

Listening and Feedback Sessions

Dr. Carry has introduced listening sessions at UBC, conducting over 100 sessions with thousands of student participants. These sessions are crucial for gathering feedback, understanding what works well, and identifying areas needing improvement. The methodology is simple but effective: asking students what’s working, what isn’t, what should be maintained, what should be stopped, and what other questions they have. This process ensures that student voices are heard and integrated into strategic planning.

Enhancing Mental Health Support Reducing Wait Times and Expanding Access

Mental health support on campuses has seen substantial improvements, as Dr. Carry points out. Universities have reduced wait times for counseling and expanded access through both in-person and virtual formats. Regulatory changes now allow cross-state counseling, and a greater number of individuals are pursuing careers in counseling, contributing to a robust pool of professionals ready to support students.

Destigmatizing Mental Health Discussions

Efforts are ongoing to destigmatize mental health discussions. Dr. Carry emphasizes that addressing mental health proactively is central to supporting students’ overall well-being. Institutions are aiming to normalize these conversations, making it easier for students to seek help without fear of judgment.

The Promise of AI in Higher Education 24/7 Student Services

One of the most exciting topics Dr. Carry discusses is the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in student affairs. Just as calculators once transformed education, AI has the potential to offer 24/7 student services. This could address the common mismatch between student needs and the traditional service hours of university offices. AI can provide continuous support for academic, career, and mental health advising, particularly during after-hours when human staff are unavailable.

Supplementing Human Interactions

It’s crucial to note that Dr. Carry views AI as a supplement, not a replacement, for human interactions. While AI can enhance the availability and efficiency of student services, the human touch remains irreplaceable. AI can manage routine inquiries and provide timely responses, leaving more complex and sensitive issues for human professionals to handle.

Navigating Cultural Differences in Higher Education Adapting to the Canadian Context

Moving to Canada in 2019, Dr. Carry had to adapt to the Canadian higher education landscape, which differs significantly from the U.S. context. One prominent difference he observed was the less prominent role of Greek life and a lower incidence of binge drinking. Moreover, Canadian universities have a more balanced approach to college sports, and there’s a reduced concern about gun violence on campuses.

Emphasizing Health and Well-Being

In Canada, student health and well-being is a primary focus, especially considering the varying healthcare needs of international students. Dr. Carry underscores the importance of making career development resources accessible right from the first year and tackling affordability issues exacerbated by fluctuating international currencies.

A Future-Forward Approach to Student Affairs

Dr. Ainsley Carry's insights demonstrate a future-forward approach to student affairs, emphasizing the need to evolve with changing student demographics and cultural contexts. By integrating student feedback, enhancing mental health support, and leveraging AI, institutions can create more inclusive and supportive environments. As we look to the future, it’s clear that student affairs must continue to innovate and adapt, always keeping the well-being and success of students at its core.

As always, NASPA's SA Voices From the Field thanks its listeners for their support and encourages feedback, topic suggestions, and reviews to continue delivering content that matters.

TRANSCRIPT

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:00]: Welcome to Student Affairs Voices From the Field, the podcast where we share your student affairs stories from fresh perspectives to seasoned experts. Brought to you by NASPA, we curate free and accessible professional development for higher ed pros wherever you happen to be. This is season 11, the past, present, and future of student affairs, and I'm doctor Jill Creighton, she, her, hers, your essay voices from the field host. Today on Essay Voices, we continue our journey with International Student Affairs Professionals by welcoming doctor Ainsley Carry. Ainsley joined the University of British Columbia on April 1st, 2019 as the vice president, students. Ainsley has responsibility for a portfolio that includes student health and wellness, center for student involvement and careers, center for community engaged learning, student housing and community services, and athletics and recreation. He also oversees strategic priorities, such as the university's well-being framework, sexual violence prevention and response office, and anti racism initiatives. The vice president's student's portfolio is responsible for a $300,000,000 budget, including more than 25 100 full time employees and 1500 student employees.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:05]: Ainsley's responsibilities encompass undergraduate and graduate students on the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses. Ainsley joins UBC from the University of Southern California where he served as VPSA from 2013 to 2019, and before that, Auburn University where he served in the same position from 2009 through 2013. Ainsley held a faculty role in the Rossier School of Education at USC and Auburn University's College of Ed. His higher education career includes stints at Temple University, the University of Arkansas, and Southern Methodist University. He's a 3 time graduate of the University of Florida where he earned his bachelor's degree, master's in counseling, and doctorate in higher education administration. Ainsley also earned an MBA from Auburn in 2011 and a master of studies of law from the University of Southern California in 20 19. Ainsley brings over 30 years of experience in college administration. He led several institutional initiatives to combat sexual violence on campus, prevent hazing, and respond to campus protests.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:55]: Yet Ainsley is most proud of his work to enhance the student experience. Ainsley wrote, throughout my career, I've come to realize that our greatest responsibility as academic leaders includes the health, wellness, and safety of all students. Issues of sexual misconduct, mental health, overconsumption of alcohol, and equity are public health matters. When any of these experiences negatively impact any student, their their learning experience is severely compromised. We must tackle these challenges with the same rigor to approach public health issues. Evidence based and prevention focused, there's no reason why UBC cannot be the healthiest campus in Canada. Ainslie begins his journey at UBC with a mission to interact with students daily and build academic partnerships outside the classroom. Ainsley, welcome to SA Voices from the Field.

Dr. Ainsley Carry [00:02:35]: Jill. It's so good to be here today, and thank you for having me.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:38]: I always love getting the opportunity to talk to other student affairs professionals who are global. And you have been both domestically state side and are currently global. So I'm really looking forward to digging into your wealth of experience on the past, present, and future of student affairs, especially bringing in that Canadian perspective. You're currently sitting in the VPSA seat at UBC, University of British Columbia. And the first thing we always love to do on our show is get to know you by asking you, how did you land in your current seat?

Dr. Ainsley Carry [00:03:06]: So I'll go a little bit back. I went to school at the University of Florida in Gainesville, and then I went there to play football. So I was so much in love with the sport that that was my motivation for going