The Personal and Ethical Foundations competency (PEF), identified by ACPA and NASPA (2015), refers to the ability to maintain one’s personal and professional integrity, stability, and success. PEF emphasizes the importance of critique and evaluation when reflecting on one’s professional and personal life (ACPA & NASPA, 2015). The competency rubric contains levels of proficiency from foundational to advanced. PEF is divided into three sections called wellness and healthy living; ethical codes and professional standards; and self-assessment and reflection. Thereby, motivating professionals to explore their beliefs, care for their personal wellness, and continuously evaluate the work in which they engage. This competency focuses on the idea that being thoughtful and true to oneself allows for the development of a capable professional and healthy individual (ACPA & NASPA, 2015).

     

    I consider myself at the intermediate level of the PEF competency given my lack of proficiency in the section of ethical codes and professional standards. I am still learning about the ethical standards pertaining to student affairs and higher education. However, given my previous and current experiences, I can identify my ability to comply with ethical standards as I represent my department and embody my institution’s mission. I feel that I can still improve in the wellness and healthy living section as I am still learning to balance my personal well-being in tandem with my educational and professional pursuits. I feel that there is still an opportunity to grow in the self-assessment and reflection section as I become more self-aware. Listed below are examples of my self-evaluation and experiences that attribute to the PEF competency. 

   

    The ethical codes and professional standards section identifies having a moral compass and knowing the standard practices of the workplace (ACPA & NASPA, 2015). The duty of the professional is to identify unethical behavior in the workplace pertaining to others or oneself. During my time as a MacVittie College Union Manager at SUNY Geneseo, I was able to comply and enforce ethical standards to the employees I managed and my fellow colleagues. At times my colleagues would not follow protocol when documenting paperwork or disciplining employees. Thus, I was held responsible for addressing the situations with my peers and demonstrating the correct way of dealing with procedures at our staff meetings. In this particular role, I was constantly working with or supervising individuals in my social circles. Moreover, as a professional, I made it a priority to hold these individuals accountable for their behavior when breaking ethical standards.  

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    The self-assessment and reflection section of this competency allows one to think about their experiences, values, perspectives, development, and professional work (ACPA & NASPA, 2015). Within the Access Opportunity Program role at SUNY Geneseo, I was vulnerable and personable with my students. This allowed me to self-reflect on my experiences as a minoritized college student and a member of the Geneseo community. In my current lead mentor position at the Academic Center for Excellence, the same closeness and vulnerability are encouraged when communicating with our students. These mentorship roles are an example of the self-assessment and reflection section of the competency. As a student mentor, I am able to connect with my students through my beliefs, experiences, and values, while mentoring them as a professional. Therefore, these professional opportunities allow me to analyze my experiences as an individual, express my values, and work towards being a holistic professional.

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    The PEF competency inspires student affairs and higher education professionals to become self-aware professionally and personally through wellness practices and ethical behavior (ACPA & NASPA, 2015). As an aspiring student affairs professional, I plan to use this competency as a guide towards my professional and personal growth. Transitioning into a graduate program while maintaining professional positions has been difficult. Thus, straining my ability to balance out my personal and professional life. I feel that improving my wellness practices will allow me to increase my overall efficiency and productivity. Increasing my wellness will increase my overall productivity inside the classroom, in my assistantships, and as I build meaningful connections. Moreover, I hope to improve in managing my professional and personal life. Finding a balance between the two will allow me to practice self-awareness as an aspiring professional and as an individual.

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