The purpose of this article is to articulate the means by which the professionalization process in the college student personnel program at a private, church-related institution is operationalized. Discussed are the religious mission, how it is translated into the program goal of professionalism, and what implications the process has for other…

Proposes that student affairs professionals have a critical role in helping their institutions to transform themselves in response to outside challenges. This article examines the dynamics of change in today's world, why traditional rules of change no longer apply, and identifies new realities of change. Finally it suggests some strategies that…

Study assesses multicultural experiences and competency levels of graduate students in college student personnel preparation programs, student affairs staff serving as internship supervisors, and diversity educators. Respondents in all three groups rated themselves highest for multicultural awareness and lowest on multicultural knowledge.…

Examines professional status of student affairs and offers recommendations to enhance status. Notes that Council for Advancement of Standards (CAS) Standards and Guidelines for Student Services/Development Programs is step toward student affairs becoming a profession. Concludes that, if student affairs does not determine its destiny, others in…

Offers plan of action readily adaptable to almost any realm of student affairs and derived from an analysis of faculty perspectives. Recommends understanding values, rewards, and perspectives held by professoriat; assessing environment; and planning strategy to facilitate formation of student affairs-faculty alliances. (ABL)

Describes training program for student services personnel, and formulation of trauma response team--a group of professionals who respond to unexpected student deaths. Describes a staff training workshop, outlines a strategy for coping mechanisms college administrators might use, explains the trauma response team and its procedures, and offers…

Examined knowledge level of 495 chief student affairs officers, 252 directors of campus health centers, and 294 directors of campus security concerning courtship violence on their campuses. Results indicated that the majority of student affairs professionals were aware of incidents of courtship violence on their campuses; however, the number of…

Examines the role of chief student personnel officers (CSAOs) in fostering cultural diversity. Presents results of survey which assessed the approaches CSAOs (n=146) have employed. Approaches included cultural diversity programing, awareness of community outreach programs, and advocacy. (Author/ABL)

Reviews reasons why the student affairs profession has changed so dramatically in recent years, including projected decline in numbers of traditional students, student deficiencies, student discipline and emotional problems, student diversity, etc. Offers five recommendations for responding to the changes. (Author/ABL)

This study provides a model for institution-specific assessment of gender role preferences and perceptions, based on the responses of 321 university administrators to the "Sex Role Trait Inventory." Despite somewhat greater sex-typing by male respondents, gender role attitudes of women and men, and particularly female and male senior…

Surveys women student affairs professionals to determine their satisfaction with the student affairs profession, their perceptions of sex discrimination, and the relationship between perceptions of sex discrimination and career satisfaction. Results indicate that satisfaction with the student affairs profession appears to be related to perceptions…

Individuals who are supportive of social justice efforts are not always effective in their anti-oppression efforts. Some who genuinely aspire to act as social justice allies are harmful, ultimately, despite their best intentions, perpetuating the system of oppression they seek to change. Different underlying motivations of those who aspire to be…

This study identifies selected skills and competencies attained by entry-level student affairs professionals through master's-level graduate education and the degree to which these skills and competencies were perceived as necessary for entry-level student affairs work. Given a list of 28 skills drawn from preservice preparation and student…

This paper describes a university initiative, cochaired by a faculty member and a student affairs administrator, to increase the collaboration between academic and student affairs. The initiative, called Claiming a Liberal Education, adapted a conflict resolution model, intergroup dialogues, to increase the interaction and communication between…

Issues surrounding student cheating and plagiarism are ubiquitous in higher education. Research has consistently found gaps between policies and practices on our campuses, a struggle for those student affairs professionals charged with institutionalizing the value of academic integrity. While the motivations and roles of students have been…