As senior student affairs administrators (SSAAs) seek to lead effectively in higher education, some SSAAs consider spiritual resources to enhance leadership practice. Yet, empirical literature on the intersection of spirituality and leadership in higher education is relatively absent and needs to be deepened and broadened. The purpose of this…

Although we know that people experience the campus racial climate differently based on their racial/ethnic identity, less is known about how they perceive the climate based on the racial/ethnic diversity of their institution and specifically within their department. Instead, the campus racial climate has largely been studied at Predominantly White…

This reflection piece presents some of the lessons learned from an initiative at New York University (NYU) that could be used by other student affairs professionals in other parts of the world, including Africa. The vision and motivation to embark on such a path have been inspired, in part, by three major developments in higher education. The…

The study of competencies in student affairs began more than 4 decades ago, but no instrument currently exists to measure competencies broadly. This study builds upon previous research by developing an instrument to measure student affairs competencies. Results not only validate the competencies espoused by NASPA and ACPA, but also suggest adding…

Assessment to improve student learning and program effectiveness is an essential skill for student affairs practitioners. Empirical findings from a content analysis of the Professional Competency Areas for Student Affairs Practitioners (ACPA & NASPA, 2010) shed important light on reflexivity as a foundational aspect of assessment. Based on…

Online learning, an essential component of the higher education landscape on a global scale, has become a lucrative operation for colleges and universities. Enrollment in online programs continues to outpace enrollment in higher education overall, particularly in the North American market. Even so, there is little evidence that graduates of North…

Higher education is deploying a range of innovative strategies in response to rising costs and financial challenges. This report presents findings from a NASPA [National Association of Student Personnel Administrators] study on cost-saving initiatives at three institutions. Each institution aimed to creatively address different areas affecting…

The Student Affairs literature contains numerous approaches and strategies for bridging the gap between Student and Academic Affairs on college campuses. The use of student affairs professionals as instructors of credit-bearing courses is one example of such collaborative efforts. The student affairs literature identifies student affairs…

Universities and colleges of education all over the world are experiencing student populations who bring diverse values and experiences into the learning environment. Student affairs professionals are faced with the challenge of accommodating each student's unique needs. This paper intends to address the essentiality of multicultural competence in…

Transitions are a critical time for executives at all types of higher education institutions. Some vice presidents for student affairs sail through the transition period, while others stumble because they could not navigate the complexity of the new role. Vice presidents who appropriately match their leadership and management style to the new…

Understanding the law has become an integral part of the work of higher education professionals, especially residence life staff. For decades, courts have contributed an increasingly important role in shaping the litigious nature of society at large and within higher education (Greenleaf, 1982). Barr and Associates (1988) noted the increasingly…

The landscape of assessment in higher education in the United States is changing; stakeholders are calling for an increased level of accountability with evidence of the impact on student learning becoming a pervasive expectation. Student affairs professionals are not exempt from this responsibility; they must be prepared to assess and articulate…

In this phenomenological inquiry the author examined the experience of transitioning from student affairs work at not-for-profit colleges and universities to work in institutions of higher education that generate revenue or dividends for owners, investors, or shareholders, commonly called for-profit institutions. Multiple interviews with 11…

The landscape of higher education in the United States shifts and moves in response to environmental challenges often hard to predict or measure. A joint taskforce of the American College Personnel Association and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators taskforce expressed the concern that no other time in history has the…

Historically, those responsible for administration of student conduct resolution in U.S. higher education have sought some manner of moral development for students, whether labeled as such or not. It is clear that contemporary conduct officers are more deeply concerned with such student development as an extension of their practice. Many such…