Every reader of this volume will determine which information is most relevant to his or her home campus. Like their readers, the authors, as editors of the book, have identified prominent overarching themes and have organized this chapter around three of them. Accordingly, the authors highlight the three macrolevel approaches--identifying and…

Undocumented students are a population defined by limitations. Their lack of legal residency and any supporting paperwork (e.g., Social Security number, government issued identification) renders them essentially invisible to the American and state governments. They cannot legally work. In many states, they cannot legally drive. After the age of…

The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of women who have children and work in mid-level student affairs positions. The study of this phenomenon was driven by four problems: (a) women face barriers in rising to upper-level leadership positions, (b) women are more likely than men to leave the field of student affairs, (c) there…

The use of technology in student affairs is not as advanced as depicted in the 1960s cartoon "The Jetsons," however, there has been a steady increase in the use of technology to enhance the education, programs, services, and support of the students on campuses. Technology changes rapidly, and the use of it differs with comfort, interest, access,…

Because some Christian colleges prohibit same-sex sexual behaviors, the development of authentic sexual identities on these campuses may be difficult for gay and lesbian students. This article introduces the idea of an identity conflict that may occur between sexual and spiritual identities for gay and lesbian students at Christian colleges and…

To understand the role and experience of a peer educator, it is imperative to examine the developmental issues and concerns associated with this stage of a student's life as well as the demands and challenges of a higher education community. For years, student affair professionals have used a breadth of theories to guide their efforts in…

The authors interviewed two dozen educators at several institutions who were responsible for administration of the survey on their campus to better understand how data from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) were (or were not) being used. The project managers they interviewed had successfully used strategies to make sense of NSSE…

The qualitative and quantitative study developed and validated a questionnaire to measure Student Affairs Officers' (SAO) perceptions of the work environment. A review of the literature identified five major categories and 25 elements having an impact on SAOs' perceptions of the work environment. The test instrument (questionnaire) was developed…

The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of men at the entry-level of the student affairs profession. Using the concepts found in the existing literature related to gender identity as a framework, the research was focused upon the meanings constructed by entry-level men within the field of student affairs and how those meanings…

Some significant differences exist in institutional budgeting and financing between large universities and small colleges. This chapter looks at these differences and describes some of the issues senior student affairs officers need to become familiar with in order to take on a leadership role in the stewardship of their institution.

Self-authorship, a theory developed by Robert Kegan (1982) and applied to college students by Marcia Baxter Magolda, is the ability to internally define one's own beliefs, identity, and relationships (Baxter Magolda, 2001). People who self-author have the ability to make career, academic, relationship, and life decisions that take into…

Historically, women's struggle with work-life balance has been founded upon societal expectations. Most notably is the dearth in the representation of women and women of color in top leadership positions. As a result, the internal and external challenges they navigate lead them to seek and cultivate alternative strategies and support networks to…

The purpose of this exploratory study was to analyze the perceptions (through survey data) of Disability Support Services (DSS) personnel regarding the transition process, documentation requirements to receive services, and services for students with invisible disabilities (Autism Spectrum Disorder [ASD], Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder…

The purpose of conducting this study is to explore how student affairs professionals in professional schools acquire the knowledge and skill set to be effective in such positions. The need for such research arose after a review of the literature revealed inattention to the practice of student affairs in professional schools. Qualitative…

The mission of the Student Access Center (SAC) in a postsecondary institution is to create a comprehensively accessible environment for students with disabilities through determination of eligibility, adherence to legal mandates, and offering a variety of accommodations. An estimated 400,000+ students who are hard of hearing or late-deafened…