The authors offer a compilation of maxims, advice, and anecdotes that convey some essential truths they have learned about professional leadership in student affairs. (Author)

Practical wisdom is the ability to draw upon knowledge in a selective manner and to apply it in fitting ways in the practical situations that arise in the course of professional work. The authors offer concluding observations and recommendations on using practical wisdom in professional practice. (GCP)

Views time management as a pyramid with six distinct phases, offering these phases as steps to successful time management: (1) set goals; (2) rank goals; (3) schedule; (4) implement; (5) coordinate; and (6) manage daily events. Examines several areas for improvement in personal productivity, including desk arrangement, the telephone, interruptions…

Examined attitudes among leaders in the field about student affairs preparation programs and their accreditation. Findings from 257 administrators revealed significant differences among chief student affairs officers (CSAOs), deans of education, and program chairs in their attitudes toward preparation programs at their institutions. CSAOs were…

Interviews with 12 student affairs administrators revealed that respondents were applied theorists and reflective practitioners; action phase of reflective process was integral to decision making; respondents believed their thinking patterns remained constant throughout life; formal education played minimal role in helping administrators become…

Examined extent to which university system offices centrally coordinate and administer student affairs functions. Findings from 50 university system heads revealed that responsibility for coordinating selected student affairs functions was becoming commonplace for most university system offices. Findings also provided descriptive profile of U.S.…

Adapted existing management model of organizational growth to student affairs professional associations. Assessed adequacy of that model, the Maturation Model for Professional Associations (MMPA), by using expert panel. Experts believed the MMPA maturation variables seemed to be logical and accurate boundaries for measuring areas of organizational…

Provides a framework for student personnel workers to use in evaluating how their various needs, values, personality characteristics, and lifestyles might fit with administrative positions. Compares administrative and line positions. Recommends line professionals consider the issues before shifting to administration. (Author/ABL)

In this qualitative study, heterosexual professionals with an interest in lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) issues were surveyed about their ally work with LGB people. Data were analyzed to describe participants' experiences. Results are discussed in terms of implications for counseling and student affairs professionals who engage in…

Focus of article is to develop a framework for understanding the change process related to collaboration between academic and student affairs. Findings of a national survey indicate that combined models are best able to guide student and academic affairs collaboration. Study results suggest that universities and comprehensive institutions need to…

This paper explores the ways in which school leaders are turning to student services staff as local experts in data analysis and use to meet the demands of high-stakes accountability. The authors have been collecting data, as part of a 5-year National Science Foundation-funded study, on how school leaders create data-driven systems to improve…

The dynamics of resistance articulated by the Privileged Identity Exploration model highlight the need to acknowledge the role of socialization in the formation of attitudes and behaviors that can support identities of privilege. Exploring individual and group related socialization processes in the context of a difficult dialogue might facilitate…

Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, faculty members and student affairs educators often believe that the answers they seek about assessment are secrets kept by an all-knowing, powerful person. If they can just find the Wizard of Assessment and be granted the secret assessment formula, all will be well. The student affairs educators at California…

Student affairs professionals in the United States were surveyed to determine the predictive value of overall job satisfaction, organizational support, organizational politics, and work/nonwork interaction on affective organizational commitment. Results indicate that a supportive work environment leads to increased affective attachment to the…

Ten new student affairs professionals participated in this longitudinal study of their first year on the job. This qualitative study used online data collection. Participants submitted monthly responses to open-ended prompts inquiring about their experiences, challenges, and surprises. Over three time phases (Pre-Employment and Orientation,…