Student Affairs Professionals of Color (SAPC) serve a critical role in the field of higher education. Using a phenomenological approach, this study gathered data from semi-structured interviews with eight SAPC from various backgrounds and institutions. Findings from this study illuminated how the participating SAPC experienced code-switching,…

The financial aid process extends beyond once a student submits the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application. Scholars have found that the financial aid process can be cumbersome, especially for minoritized students. What is unclear in the literature are the additional hurdles students encounter to obtain financial aid. I…

On May 4, 1970, four students were killed and nine were wounded when National Guardsmen opened fire on anti-war protestors at Kent State University. This case study explores the tragedy and the experiences of student affairs professionals at KSU leading up to and after the shootings. Although the field of crisis management did not exist in 1970,…

This program description provides an overview of the peer-to-peer student staff model used by the Women and Gender Studies Program and Center at George Mason University. The program description lays out the unique structure of the unit, the need for this type of model, and how its structure is feminist in nature while also catering to student…

This study investigated the transfer pathway between a rural university and a community college to understand what procedural barriers exist for student degree attainment within existing structures. Process mapping was used as the intervention to examine the influence of enrollment and student services processes and investigate the perceptions of…

The suffering racism creates is endless. For too long, the burden of speaking out and taking action against racism has fallen on Communities of Color. Higher education needs people inside the system to actively resist its racism by implementing antiracist policies and practices. White people, and white women in particular, comprise a majority of…

Student affairs professionals are at risk of leaving both their jobs and higher education in general. A survey of higher ed professionals was conducted in May of 2022 examining student affairs professionals' likelihood of leaving their jobs, why they are considering leaving, and what factors may contribute to their retention. Results revealed that…

Poor supervision has long been cited by new student affairs professionals, particularly practitioners of color, as a factor contributing to their early departures from the field. This, coupled with the hierarchical and often authoritative structures of higher education, has led to practitioners of color feeling burned out and often devalued in…

Student support is seen as a necessity to better students' progress. For students to succeed when studying at a distance, they need a great deal of support to adjust to the institution of higher learning. Independence theory was used as a lens to understand the role of student support staff in providing services to students. A qualitative case…

This dissertation examines the evolution of supervision among new student affairs professionals, exploring the transformative journey from graduate school to full-time roles. Drawing upon qualitative research methods, the study delves into the experiences and perceptions of new student affairs professionals as they navigate their supervisory…

This descriptive study aimed to answer two research questions: (a) what are the assessment, evaluation, and research (AER) competencies necessary for three educator types (teachers, K-12 administrators, and higher education student affairs professionals); and (b) what are the similarities and differences in competencies by educator type? Current…

Scholars and practitioners have discussed the professionalization of student affairs almost since the birth of the field in 19th century. Professionalizing a field can improve its status and better serve members of an occupation and their clients (Pavalko, 1988). The purpose of this paper is to identify points of tension that illustrate efforts to…

Student affairs is a field compromised of employees representing several generations, each of which has different experiences, preferences, and expectations for the workplace. With these differences comes the potential for misaligned expectations between colleagues and supervisors. Employers need to consider how to understand these differing…

The existing research about racism in higher education has focused on faculty and students of color. Currently, there is a lack of research on how racism impacts staff at colleges and universities. This study sought to fill the gap in the literature by exploring the phenomenon of racism in student affairs at public or independent Historically…

Despite the critical contributions that student affairs professionals make to college students' learning and development and campus operations, mid-level professionals are at risk of leaving the field altogether. The current study investigated the role of sense of belonging in mid-level student affairs professionals' experiences and their turnover…