This comparative case study examined how graduate students in two student affairs preparation programs were socialized to constructions of professionalism. One program regularly conveyed that professionalism was reflected via formal communication and dress, and through demonstrating professional competency as defined by ACPA and NASPA. The second…

The Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) has conducted biennial surveys of postsecondary disability resource professionals since 2008. The day-to-day work of disability resource offices on college campuses has undergone significant changes in this time period, potentially requiring new technical skills, expanded content…

Just over ten years ago, John Schuh and Ann Gansemer-Topf authored NILOA Occasional Paper #7, "The Role of Student Affairs in Student Learning Assessment" (2010). The authors identified contributions and challenges for student affairs assessment and called on student affairs professionals not only to develop meaningful programs and…

Guided by critical perspectives on race and whiteness, this qualitative study explores how White campus activities professionals navigate diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in relation to their privileged racial identity. Using a phenomenological approach, the findings reveal a common thread of white comfort and solidarity within campus…

While outreach has long been considered an important component of counseling center efforts, the increasing demands for clinical services, along with increased severity and acuity of presenting concerns, pose a challenge for centers that also aim to incorporate a robust outreach effort into their overall services. Outreach has been defined and…

While many studies have examined work-life satisfaction within the field of student affairs, few have examined the dissonance between new professionals' expectations for professional practice and their experience in the first few years. Using a narrative inquiry method, this qualitative study investigated how professionalism is both practiced and…

The authors, coming from different generations, know that their colleagues have differing perspectives on how one responds to the demanding work in student affairs. Generational differences, however, create a diverse work environment that benefits students. Currently there are four generations gainfully employed in the US workforce. This includes…

Using Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems model (1979, 1993), we analyzed grounded theory data from 31 student affairs professionals about supporting students with and without disabilities in, and beyond, the university microsystem of housing. Participants described the challenge of simultaneously meeting the needs of students with and without…

Residence Life Training Programs have evolved over the past quarter century, yet few studies have explored how changes in training impact the preparation and retention of staff. Utilizing a mixed-method design of survey and interview data with housing professionals trained since 1993, this study explores trends in residence life training and…

This chapter explores the issues of transition from an administrator to faculty. This exploration includes considerations of various types of faculty positions available in higher education, institutional culture, and tenure and promotion expectations.

Supervision is considered an integral function of managing student affairs personnel, yet there is a dearth of literature on this issue. Winston and Creamer (1997) stated that the role of supervision in management is to not only support the institution but also support the staff by encouraging improvements in both their personal and professional…

According to Schaefer (2010), enrollment of adult students in college grew 285% from 1970 to 2005 and grew an additional 20% by 2016. Therefore, understanding how TRIO professionals which are professional staff members that serve students on a daily basis perceive adult students will be beneficial to the literature. There is currently a massive…

Emerging from a worldwide study of 29 U.S.-trained student affairs professionals with higher education work experience abroad, this study explored the perspectives and skills developed through working abroad. The findings of this study provide useful advocacy for this group of professionals to demonstrate their unique perspectives and critical…

Many African American women who work in higher education, in non-faculty roles, incorporate a historical and cultural tradition commonly referred to as "othermothering" with higher education best practices when working with African American students. The practice of othermothering was used by enslaved African American women to assist…

This study utilized a phenomenological qualitative research design to assess job satisfaction of women student affairs professionals in Louisiana at entry, mid, and senior levels positions. The purpose of this research was to examine perceptions of women student affairs professionals in Louisiana higher education institutions regarding: (1) job…