This monograph uses illustrations from the student affairs field and other disciplines to describe for student affairs staff some of the profound changes underway in the field. It focuses on four core elements in the field of student personnel services: (1) delivery of services to students; (2) student development programming; (3) administration, research, evaluation and policy; and (4) preparation of student affairs staff. Chapter 1 defines the concept of "paradigm" and describes the changing nature of the world in which student affairs staff live and work. Chapter 2 describes a conceptual framework and uses that framework to identify patterns of change that distinguish the emergent paradigm from a more conventional paradigm. Chapter 3 tests several core assumptions of student affairs work against characteristics of the emergent paradigm. Some implications of the emergent paradigm for using human development theory and the student development concept in student affairs work are presented in chapter 4. In chapter 5, the conventional paradigm's emphasis on reason and logic is juxtaposed against intuition and action learning. In chapter 6, the potential for naturalistic inquiry to enrich student affairs research and writing is discussed. The final chapter offers recommendations for how faculty and others can incorporate emergent paradigm assumptions in curriculum and other aspects of graduate study. References are included; a glossary and annotated bibliography are appended. (NB)