Student Affairs Staff

The Student Affairs onboarding SharePoint site provides a centralized starting point for new staff, bringing together key resources, division-wide information, and guidance to support a smooth and informed transition into Student Affairs.

• Access the Student Affairs Onboarding Sharepoint

The Early Professionals Group creates space for newer staff to connect across units, build community, and engage in professional development opportunities that support growth, learning, and collaboration within Student Affairs. This group is designed for professionals with 7 or fewer years of Student Affairs experience.

• Complete the interest form to get involved

Student Affairs hosts professional development events throughout the year that bring staff together to learn, share ideas, and strengthen skills. These opportunities support growth across roles and career stages while encouraging collaboration, reflection, and connection across the division.

• Opportunities are sent to all staff via their Penn State email address and in the staff newsletter. Check often for upcoming events.

Penn State maintains institutional memberships with a range of national organizations and associations, expanding access to professional development across the University. These memberships allow staff to participate in trainings, conferences, and networking opportunities—often at a reduced cost—while engaging with peers in their field. Staff are encouraged to connect with their supervisor to explore opportunities that align with their role, interests, and professional goals.

• Find institution member organizations for Student Affairs professionals

Penn State’s Co-curricular Learning Outcomes define the essential skills, knowledge, and growth students gain through their experiences outside the classroom. These outcomes unite the work of Student Affairs under a shared purpose: helping students develop holistically — intellectually, socially, and personally — as part of their Penn State journey.

The Co-curricular Learning Outcomes highlight five key areas of student development:

• Personal Development – Building self-awareness, confidence, and resilience.
• Interpersonal and Ethical Responsibility – Developing respect, empathy, and integrity in relationships and decision-making.
• Civic and Community Engagement – Encouraging active citizenship and service that strengthens communities.
• Academic and Career Success – Connecting learning experiences to future goals and lifelong professional growth.
• Health and Well-Being – Fostering balance, wellness, and self-care as foundations for achievement.

These outcomes give structure and consistency to everything we do — from residence hall programs to student organization training. They allow us to measure not just participation, but learning and impact. By intentionally designing programs that align with one or more outcomes, staff ensure every experience contributes to a student’s growth and success beyond the classroom.

How They Shape Programming

When planning or assessing a program, staff should ask:

• Which Co-curricular Learning Outcome(s) does this program support?
• What will students learn or be able to do as a result?
• How can we capture evidence of that learning?

By embedding the Co-curricular Learning Outcomes into programming, Student Affairs creates experiences that are more than activities — they’re learning opportunities that help students lead, belong, and thrive.

The EPR is a key tool for Student Affairs staff across Penn State to document and assess the programs your unit offers. Beyond simply tracking events, entering accurate and detailed information in the EPR enables you to analyze attendance trends, evaluate program outcomes, and make data-informed decisions about what works, what doesn’t, and where to adjust.

• Enter data into the Educational Programming Record (EPR)
• Access the EPR Training Guide
• Review the EPR Reports dashboard

Getting Access

Please contact the EPR administrator for your area or, if none, the Research and Assessment staff at saraoffice@psu.edu to request access to enter data. If you need the level of access that will allow you to also add or remove users, your supervisor will need to contact us to request your access.