This study examined chief student affairs officer (CSAO) titles at 2,621 4-year public and private institutions and 2-year institutions included in the 2006 Higher Education Directory. This study replicated and extended Rickard's (1985a) study of CSAO titles, with regard to institutional autonomy and professional standardization and provides a…

The purpose of this study was to explore recreational prescription drug use among undergraduate students. Although anecdotal accounts on this subject abound, empirical research is extremely limited. Data from a survey of a random sample of 734 students at a large public research university in the Northeast were examined. Results indicate that a…

Student affairs organizations have become complex entities and serve as a critical link to student success and the quality of the overall educational experience in collegiate institutions. Over time, new programs and services have been added to the array of existing programs and services with little attention focused on how these organizations…

Drawing on Sanford's notions of challenge and support, coupled with Tinto's theory on retention, this quantitative investigation sought to measure the association between supportive relationships and success in college for a sample of Black men. Results suggest that supportive relationships are associated with higher levels of satisfaction but not…

This study revisited research on award-winning campus leaders who were effective change agents working on the behalf of first-year students (Anttonen & Chaskes, 2002). Participants were recipients of the "Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate Award" given annually by the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in…

Student affairs could potentially play a vital role in the internationalization of colleges and universities, but the extent to which international issues are included in the preparation of future student affairs administrators has remained relatively unknown. As such, a team of researchers sought to investigate the extent of internationalization…

Describes the process by which one university considered the development of a multicultural student union and the research project that was undertaken to gain information from all campus constituencies concerning the interest in such a union. Reports on student responses gathered in telephone interviews and discusses implications for other…

This article reports on the findings of a study of campus-based women's centers in the United States during academic year 1999-2000. The study's purpose was to create a benchmark of the current structure of women's centers as well as their administrative and programmatic practices. The research was based on a survey of 75 women's centers housed in…

As the student center movement--to upgrade, expand, or acquire a new facility--continues in the new millennium, metropolitan institutions, in particular, are finding that their unique circumstances often challenge their ability to keep pace with their nonmetropolitan counterparts. This research presents the results of a study of the role of…

The purpose of this study was to explore recreational prescription drug use among undergraduate students. Although anecdotal accounts on this subject abound, empirical research is extremely limited. Data from a survey of a random sample of 734 students at a large public research university in the Northeast were examined. Results indicate that a…

Resident Advisors (RAs) have a significant hand in helping students adjust and thrive in college life. Given the importance of selecting high-performing RAs, this study sought to examine how well various measures of intelligence (e.g., general, emotional) in addition to personality and additional "internal belief" characteristics predict…

Personal issues and career development processes of individuals working in student affairs who have recently completed a doctorate were explored in this study. Results indicated that almost 70% were employed at the completion of their doctorate either by accepting a new position or remaining in their current position. New doctoral graduates…

Continuing professional development is a foundation of the student affairs field. To stay current, practitioners use a variety of methods to learn about areas that they need to master to be successful in their careers. Results of this research indicate that staff use interactive methods such as consulting with colleagues and mentoring more so than…

For schools to communicate that student retention is valued, a program must be instituted that communicates this to students. D'Aprix's model of communication is a planned, systematically implemented communications program aimed at distributing messages of genuine value. This proactive stance can be used to develop programs increasing student…

This study of National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) institutional members (n=294) examines professional preferences for educationally and legally sound procedures to manage academic misconduct. Based on the results, a model policy is provided as a benchmark of current thought against which academic institutions may…