Jennifer, a new community residence director, has been invited by some of her student staff members to celebrate another staff member's 21st birthday at a local bar frequented by students. However, attending such an event could compromise Jennifer's professional responsibilities and boundaries. It is recommended that Jennifer respectfully decline the invitation while offering alternative options to socialize with staff. She should also discuss with her supervisor the lack of training and support for new professionals, to help prevent future issues and improve the work environment.

1. Birthday Party
Case Study
Mike Ahern, Martine François, and Barbara Pierre

2. Description of Case
● Jennifer has accepted her first professional student affairs role as a
Community Residence Director at Middle State University, a large public
institution in the MidWest.
● She is feeling homesick, lonely, and disconnected from her colleagues
who rarely socialize.
● Additionally, her supervisor, Greg, seems hurried and enforces a “that’s
learned on the job” mentality.
● A group of her student student staff members has invited Jennifer to a
celebration for Mike (who is on the RA staff), who is turning 21 at a known
hot-spot for local undergrads.
● Considering that her staff members will be partaking in alcoholic libations,
what should Jennifer do?

3. Setting
● Middle State University
● 14,000 Students
● 90 minutes from closest city
● Campus is located close to bars that
are frequented by MSU students

4. Main Characters
Jennifer
24
New Student Affairs Professional
Community Residence Director at Middle State
University
Having feelings of loneliness and difficulty finding friends to
connect with

5. Greg
Jennifer’s Supervisor
at Middle State
University
Fast- Paced and Work-
driven

6. Mike
Resident Assistant at
MSU
overseen by Jennifer
About to enjoy his 21st
birthday

7. Student Staff Members
12 Undergraduate
paraprofessionals at
MSU
overseen by Jennifer
Just completed student
staff training

8. “To go or not to go…”

9. Analyzing the Situation
Problematic Aspects
● First and foremost, one troubling aspect is the potential for Jennifer to
develop an inappropriate relationship with her staff members
● Additionally, Jennifer’s RA is turning 21 and there is a high likelihood that
under-aged students and staff will be at the celebration. Ignoring the
unethical implications of forming informal relationships with her staff,
Jennifer is potentially facing the concern of dealing with underaged
drinkers
● Overall Jennifer is facing a dilemma in which she will have values and
beliefs challenged. As a leader Jennifer needs to know when to draw the
line

10. Ethical Concerns
1. Current Ethical Issues 2. Potential Ethical Implications
● Lack of any training or
onboarding process for Jennifer,
a new student affairs professional
● Absence of social support from
MSU colleagues
● Greg as a supervisor is doing his
supervisee a disservice by being
“hurried” and unsupportive
● Jennifer could place not only
herself but her student staff
members in an unethical
situation if she accepts the offer
● If Jennifer doesn’t raise her
concerns in a thoughtful and
developmental way, then there
is potential that the unsupportive
culture at MSU could impact
future new hires

11. Ethical Concerns & SA
Standards: NASPA
Basic: “...identify ethical issues in the course of ones job…”
● Jennifer needs to realize that she currently stands at the onset of a potential ethical
dilemma. The ability to recognize such situations is paramount to success as a student
affairs practitioner
Intermediate: “... explain how one’s professional practice also aligns with one’s personal
code of ethics…”
● As a new professional, Jennifer is only just beginning to set the foundation of her own
personal code of ethics. Her trepidation at drinking with students is indicative of an
ability to connect professional dilemmas with personal ethics
Advanced: “ensure those working in the unit or division adhere to identified ethical
guidelines”
● Jennifer needs to work with her colleagues to ensure that a similar lack of support
won’t affect future staff members

12. Ethical Concerns & SA
Standards: ACPA
● Professional Responsibility and Competence, 1.1
o “... adopt a personal value system congruent with the basic tenets of the
profession.”
 Jennifer is at a crossroads where she has to reconcile her need for social
acceptance, and what would be considered an unethical act; drinking with
student staff members
● Student Learning and Development, 2.2
o “Avoid dual relationships with students…”
 Drinking with her student staff members will force Jennifer into an
unethical dual relationship, one as supervisor and confidant. Crossing a
professional boundary and adding that dynamic to a supervisor to
supervisee relationship would impact Jennifer’s ability to effectively
manage her staff

13. Ethical Concerns & SA
Standards: ACPA Continued
● Responsibility to the Institution, 3.6
o “Inform supervisors of conditions or practices that may restrict institutional or
professional effectiveness.”
 Jennifer, as a new professional, is caught between a rock and a hard
place. There has been a recognizable lack of support or training for her
role. To an extent, she has a responsibility to inform her supervisor that
such practices impair her ability to properly serve the institution and it’s
constituents
● Responsibility to Society, 4.1
o “Assist students in becoming productive, ethical and responsible citizens”
 As a supervisor who is responsible for the development of her students,
Jennifer can utilize this dilemma as a developmental opportunity. She can
inform the students of why she can’t cross professional boundaries and
go out drinking with them.

14. Ethical Concerns & SA
Standards: CAS
Autonomy - Jennifer has been provided an incredible amount of autonomy by her peers,
unfortunately so much autonomy has led to her disconnected feeling. By recognizing her
unique situation to act alone, she can take responsibility and avoid the party.
Non-Malfeasance - By attending the party, Jennifer would be acting in a way that would
negatively impact her student staff members. Crossing that professional boundary would
impact her ability to hold her staff accountable in any meaningful way
Beneficence - Through speaking with her colleagues at MSU, Jennifer can work towards
beneficial outcomes. Her experience, while unfortunate, could prove to be the wake up
call that MSU administration needs. By promoting change in orientation and new hire
training, she could beneficially impact any future additions.

15. Ethical Concerns & SA
Standards: CAS Continued
Justice - Jennifer can enact justice by serving as a role model to her students. She can
graciously thank them for their offer to partay and inform them that while she hopes they will
stay safe, that a true supervisor and role model wouldn’t cross those lines
Fidelity - By thankfully expressing her valid ethical reasoning for not attending the party,
Jennifer would be able to stay faithful to not only her personal code of ethics but that of her
profession as well
Veracity - To not sit down with Greg (Jennifer’s supervisor) and explain the failings of the
departments training, would be to work against Veracity. By being truthful and constructive
Jennifer will develop ethical competency as a burgeoning professional
Affiliation - This dilemma could turn into a fantastic springboard for creating social and
bonding opportunities with her staff in appropriate venues. There are innumerable ways to
foster community without the use of alcohol

16. Recommendations
What should Jennifer do? Rationale
● Set professional boundaries
● Respectfully decline, and offer
alternative staff bonding solutions
● Setting professional boundaries
will set up Jennifer for
supervisory legitimacy with her
staff and allow her to act
ethically in the future
● By graciously declining the offer
to attend the 21st birthday party,
Jennifer can hold true to ethical
principles. Above and beyond
that, she can now create new
social programmatic
opportunities to connect with her
staff.

17. Recommendations
What shouldn’t Jennifer do? Rationale
● Throw caution to the wind and
attend Mike’s 21st birthday party
● Avoid speaking to her supervisor
about the lack of training
● Interacting with her student staff
in such an informal and alcohol
laden environment will muddle
the lines between supervisor
and friend. And greatly affect
her ability to effectively mentor
her staff in this role, and future
jobs.
● Discussing her unease with the
lack of training will not only
benefit others but open an
honest line of communication
with her peers