Essay Details

As part of your application to the HESA Program, two essays will serve as your personal statement. Each of the essays addresses a core tenet of the HESA Program.

Essay 1 – Reflective Practitioners (350-500 words)

A key focus of the University of Connecticut (UConn) Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) master’s program is to develop reflective scholar-practitioners.  We focus on reflection because we believe it fosters self-awareness, exploration of multiple perspectives, and integration of theory with practice.  The purpose of this essay is for you to engage in reflection and show how your interests and goals align with the experiences the UConn HESA program is designed to offer.

Please be sure to specifically address each question in the prompt.

Essay Prompt 1: Reflect on your motivations to join the UConn HESA program:

  • What key experience(s) led you to apply to the UConn HESA program?
  • Considering our Core Competencies and Outcomes and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement, how do your interests and goals align with the experiences the UConn HESA program is designed to offer?
  • Grounded in your experiences, how do you anticipate that you will contribute to our community of learners during your time in the UConn HESA program?

 

Essay 2 – Inclusive Practitioners (350-500 words)

Another key focus of the UConn HESA master’s program is to develop inclusive practitioners who value diversity and enact a commitment to equity; our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement explains how we as a program work to achieve this aim.  The purpose of this essay is for you to describe how you foresee yourself engaging within our HESA community to advance goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Please be sure to specifically address each question in the prompt.

Essay Prompt 2: Discuss your professional goals related to diversity, equity, and inclusion:

  • What are your professional goals related to diversity, equity, and inclusion?
  • How do you envision the UConn HESA program helping you meet your goals?
  • How do you hope the attainment of these goals will inform your practice in higher education and student affairs?