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Higher Education Philosophy Statement

Danielle R. Blair

Department of Higher Education Administration, Louisiana State University

ELRC 7608: Practicum in Higher Education

Dr. Joy Blanchard

December 06, 2022

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To be a higher education professional is to invite scrutiny onto oneself. The golden age of

higher education is over and with it comes a new era of students who are unafraid to hold a

university accountable. It is with this in mind that I strive to be an honest professional who

upholds values such as communication, continuous learning, integrity, and self-reflection.

Communication, both verbal and non-verbal, is a dying art in a digital generation.

Effectively communicating my thoughts and actions is a critical skill when working with

multiple stakeholders such as students, faculty, and coworkers. The age-old proverb “honesty is

the best policy” remains true for higher education professionals in which communicating with

students can oftentimes be difficult. Indeed, communication is a core competency for those

working in higher education because “intentions are being imagined, motives are being

attributed, and a willingness to follow is being determined” (Ruben et al., 2017, p. 124) with

every conversation. The ability to adapt knowledge and convey information to a diverse audience

is no easy task but one I will strive to perform so long as a conversation is rooted in

transparency.

Continuous learning is a shared value among many higher education professionals and

can be achieved through broadening positional and horizontal competencies. One such

competency area within the positional theme is furthering one’s education. Currently, I am

furthering my education by completing my master’s program. Within the next five years, I will

enroll in the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s doctoral program to earn my Ph.D. in

Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis with a specialization in higher education. Through

continuous learning I am demonstrating firsthand to students that learning never stops. Leading

by example is not only a crucial quality for students to witness but colleagues as well. By
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pushing each other to learn new skills and broaden horizons, higher education professionals are

sure to experience higher job satisfaction rates and work more effectively.

Integrity is harder to define, a personal characteristic, and can only be honed throughout

one’s life experiences by staying true to oneself and committing to promises made. In her 2022

article “What Does Integrity Mean in the Workplace (and Why It's Important)”, Dr. Shonna

Waters lists seven common traits that a person with integrity has. One such trait is to take

responsibility for your actions, both good and bad, as well as hold yourself accountable (Waters,

2022). It has been my experience, both as a professional and student, that some in higher

education would seek to place blame on another department rather than apologize for an error

made regarding a student. Even if I cannot directly make reparations for a mistake, I must take

responsibility for my actions and learn from the experience to avoid causing similar damage in

the future.

Engaging in self-reflection is necessary for a higher education professional and a dual-

purpose skill. In their Harvard Business Review article (2022), authors Bailey and Rehman

believe that “reflection requires courage . . . [and] being at ‘the top of your game’ only comes

when you extract from your past how to engage the future” (para. 3). Self-reflection allows us to

contemplate our failures and celebrate our successes. One must be intentional with his or her

self-reflection and cannot shy away from what did not work. It can be personal like keeping a

journal, or we can share it with others by seeking feedback from a mentor or impart experiences

with a mentee.

My professional ethos includes values such as communication, continuous learning,

integrity, and self-reflection. As someone who works in higher education, I am surrounded by

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intelligent and hard-working individuals. By remaining true to myself and pursuing an ethical

career, I can only hope to inspire others to do the same.

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References

Bailey, J. R., & Rehman, S. (2022, March 4). Don't underestimate the power of self-reflection.

Ascend. Retrieved December 6, 2022, from https://hbr.org/2022/03/dont-underestimate-

the-power-of-self-reflection

Ruben, B. D., De Lisi, R., & Gigliotti, R. A. (2017). A Guide for Leaders in Higher Education:

Core Concepts, Competencies, and Tools. Sterling: Stylus Publishing.

Waters, S. (2022, June 30). What does integrity mean in the workplace (and why it's important).

What Does Integrity Mean in the Workplace (and Why It's Important). Retrieved

December 6, 2022, from https://www.betterup.com/blog/integrity-in-the-workplace