In this chapter, the author offers some themes that emerged from a set of conversations that he had with six student affairs leaders. The leaders faced an array of challenges involving athletics, academic discipline, cultural identity, institutional image, personal attributes, policy, residence life, and state politics. Their challengers were…

Ritual plays a critical role in creating community and reinforcing values. This exploration of campus rituals suggests how college personnel might use rituals in their efforts to bring individuals together in a community of learners. (Author/MKA)

Student affairs professionals (n=244) rater utility of 10 professional developmental competencies, skills, and attributes. Their assessments differed significantly according to their current and projected work responsibilities. Cultural diversity and values/ethics/philosophy were rated very highly, suggesting that student affairs has…

Student personnel professionals (n=244) rated impact of nine situational, institutional, or dispositional barriers on their current participation in development activities. Findings suggest that situational barriers (cost of activities, time needed to participate, and home/job responsibilities) seem most important. Subjects had varying perceptions…

Examines the development of professional identity and commitment in young student affairs administrators. (Author)

Presents an ideology of student affairs in small colleges, based on a sociological model of community, which includes synergy, an educational role, the centrality of values, personalism, and organic change. Commentaries and response to the commentaries on the ideology are given. (Author/ABB)

Examined perceptions of student affairs professionals about the importance of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing essential values to student affairs work. Findings from 68 student affairs professionals revealed that respondents regarded aesthetics, altruism, community, equality, freedom, human dignity, justice, and truth as essential…

Explored the role of values in student affairs graduate education and professional practice by surveying nonteaching practitioners (n=34), teaching practitioners (n=19), and professors (n=14). Subjects supported values education as a major component of student affairs graduate programs. Most agreed it was important to define the essential values…

Academic and general admissions data are correlated with the final grade point average and professional leadership potential of 95 graduate students. Results indicated autobiographical statements and recommendations predicted academic performance while academic skills were related to leadership success. (Author/BL)

A review of historical documents revealed the primacy of three values in student affairs: individual human dignity (with freedom, altruism, and truth); equality; and community (with justice). Individual dignity seemed to be the most essential historical value, while equality underwent a transition from the individual to the group. (RJM)

Examines the historical role of aesthetics in higher education and student affairs. Argues that aesthetic perception provides an alternative way of thinking about student development, cultural diversity, and the assessment of programs. Such values can add passion and vision to student affairs leadership and enable individuals to develop emotional…