Student Affairs
Encyclopedia
Student affairs staff provide services and support for students at institutions of higher education to enhance student growth and development in the United States and abroad.
A Division of Student Affairs is often the Vice President or Vice Chancellor and reports directly to the president/chancellor of the institution. A typical Student Affairs hierarchy might look like this:
As early as 1992 , student affairs began to see a change in the reporting structure (Barr, Desler, & Associates, p. 125). Chief student affairs officers began to shift to the Provost
, the chief academic officer.
Student affairs professionals are charged with the tasks of developing programming, advising student organizations and student leaders and conducting research to meet the needs of the whole student – physical, emotional and mental. Challenges in meeting this goal include the budget, staffing and millennial parents, often called helicopter
or Black Hawk parents.
and ACPA
, identify typical departments within a division of Student Affairs. Departments may overlap or combined into one office, especially at smaller institutions:
Student Activities or Student Involvement provides co-curricular programming on campus, advises campus programming, student organizations and student governance. It may include Student Activity Board, student government and student activity fee disbursement.
Institutions may have specialized departments such as a Women’s Center, technology support as well as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Services.
The profession of student affairs "grew from the campus up, not from theory down" (p. 4). Early higher education in the United States was based on the Oxbridge model of education with most early institutions residential where the tutors lived in the halls with the students. These men were the precursor to student affairs professionals in the United States. Typically, they served as dean of disclipline and in loco parentis
(in place of the parent). These early student affairs practitioners focus was on control of the student as opposed to modern philosophy which focuses on the development of the student as a whole, but has always connected those interested in the welfare of students with students needing assistance (p. 4).
These first student affairs professionals were the dean of women, dean of men and personnel workers. Many of the early deans came from "teaching roles in the liberal arts" (p. 8). Cowley (1937) identified the came first Dean of Men, LeBaron Russell Briggs
, at Harvard University
in 1890 with Adelia Johnston in 1869 at the Oberlin College
as lady principal and later named Dean of Women in 1894. Alice Freeman Palmer
in 1892 at the University of Chicago
was the first to hold the title of Dean of Women. The position description might have read, "that officer in the administration who undertakes to assist the men students [to] achieve the utmost of which they are individually capable, through personal effort on their behalf, and through mobilizing in their behalf all the forces within the University which can be made to serve this end" (Secretarial Notes, 1928, p. 37).
The Dean of Men's position typically included discipline, but could vary depending on the institution's overall philosophy. The one thing that remained consistent was the responsibility to deal with men and help them develop to their potential (p. 9).
Deans of Women were trail blazers. Not only were women at colleges and universities a new development, but women as staff members even more new. The institutional leadership was dominated by men, but still they persevered including the founding of what is now the American Association of University Women
(AAUW) in 1903.
In the 1960s the student development
movement, the study of the student as a whole - physical, mental and emotional, was introduced.
In December 1918 Robert Rienow, the dean of men at the University of Iowa
, wrote a letter to Thomas Arkle Clark, dean of men at the University of Illinois, suggesting a meeting that is now recognized as the founding of the organization now known as NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education.
In 1924, May L. Cheney
, who organized a teacher placement office at the University of California, Berkeley
helped form the National Association of Appointment Secretaries (NAAS). That year, NAAS met for the first time and came as guests of the National Association of Deans of Women (NADW) to a convention sponsored by the Department Superintendence of the National Education Association. In 1929, forty-six NAAS members registered for the Sixth Annual Convention. NAAS became the National Association of Personnel and Placement Officers (NAPPO). The name American College Personnel Association (ACPA) was adopted in 1931. Association communication consisted of one mailed newsletter, the Personnel-O-Gram (P-O-G). In 1937, the Student Personnel Point of View statement was developed by leaders of the American Council on Education (ACE) and ACPA.
The Student Personnel Points of View, written in 1937 and 1949, further developed the area of student affairs.
In the 1970s the landscape of student affairs began to change when the voting age was lowered and 18 year olds were granted adult status in the eyes of the law.
, business
, law
, communication
, inter and intra-personal counseling, higher education
, and group dynamics
.
These help to form a foundation for creating relationships with students, faculty, staff and parents. CSP programs tend to be found in departments of leadership, counseling, psychology and education. Traditionally these programs have an emphasis in administration, student development theory or counseling.
Developmental theories
used in college student personnel programs include
Another debate has centered on the degree to which available postgraduate programs actually represent a distinct discipline. While the field bears a resemblance to psychology, counseling, and other general concentrations, debate and criticism of the field's major foundations are virtually nonexistent in theoretical discourse, calling into question the academic credibility of the field. As Bloland, Stamatakos, and Russell wrote, while student development theory “...has been widely distributed through the literature, in preparation programs, at workshops and conventions,” academics and professionals in the field have, “...failed to exercise their critical faculties to raise questions about student development, to slow down the head-long pace of its engulfment of the field of student affairs, and to examine alternatives and opinions as they presented themselves.”
position with compensation including tuition waiver, professional development and a stipend. A graduate program is usually two academic years of full-time study with opportunities for internship and abroad opportunities.
A doctorate of Education (Ed.D) or philosophy (Ph.D.) in a chosen field of study are recommended for practitioners with aspirations of administrator roles of Vice President or Director, but are not required.
For more information on selecting a graduate program, the professional associations ACPA and NASPA have suggestions.
A Division of Student Affairs is often the Vice President or Vice Chancellor and reports directly to the president/chancellor of the institution. A typical Student Affairs hierarchy might look like this:
- Vice Chancellor/President of Student Affairs
- Dean of Students
- Associate vice chancellor/president(s)
- Assistant vice chancellor/president(s)
- Director(s), departmental
- Associate Director(s)
- Assistant Director(s)
- Coordinator(s)
- Administrative support staff.
As early as 1992 , student affairs began to see a change in the reporting structure (Barr, Desler, & Associates, p. 125). Chief student affairs officers began to shift to the Provost
Provost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
, the chief academic officer.
Student affairs professionals are charged with the tasks of developing programming, advising student organizations and student leaders and conducting research to meet the needs of the whole student – physical, emotional and mental. Challenges in meeting this goal include the budget, staffing and millennial parents, often called helicopter
Helicopter parent
Helicopter parent is a colloquial, early 21st-century term for a parent who pays extremely close attention to his or her child's or children's experiences and problems, particularly at educational institutions. The term was originally coined by Foster W. Cline, M.D. and Jim Fay in their 1990 book...
or Black Hawk parents.
Student Affairs areas
The Handbook of Student Affairs Administration and professional associations, NASPANational Association of Student Personnel Administrators
NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education is the leading voice for student affairs administration, policy, and practice, and affirms the commitment of the student affairs profession to educating the whole student and integrating student life and learning...
and ACPA
American College Personnel Association
American College Personnel Association - College Student Educators International is a major student affairs association headquartered in Washington, D.C. at the National Center for Higher Education....
, identify typical departments within a division of Student Affairs. Departments may overlap or combined into one office, especially at smaller institutions:
- Academic AdvisingAcademic advisingAcademic advising, based in the teaching and learning mission of higher education, is a series of intentional interactions with a curriculum, a pedagogy, and a set of student learning outcomes...
may be full-time advisors or full-time faculty with part-time advising responsibilities, often graduate students fulfill this role. - Admissions including recruiters
- Assessment and Research
- Athletics usually in small institutions and/or NACAAA Division III institutions
- Campus Safety or Police Services, may be city law enforcement officers
- Career DevelopmentCareer developmentIn organizational development , the study of career development looks at:*how individuals manage their careers within and between organizations and,...
or Career Services including employer relations, interview placement, course of study guidance and internships - College/Student UnionStudent activity centerA student activity center is a type of building found on university campuses. In the United States, such a building is more often called a student union, student commons, or student center...
or Student Centers, College Centers or University Centers, responsible for day-to-day operation of facility and may include food services/catering or other auxiliary services - Community ServiceCommunity serviceCommunity service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....
and Service Learning engage students in community service and experiential learning opportunities - Commuter Services or Adult Students or Non-Traditional Students, services for students living off-campus including social programs and transition for non-traditional students
- Counseling ServicesMental Health CounselorMental health counselors practice mental health counseling which is a dynamic, holistic, strengths-based and psychoeducational discipline born in the late 1970s when several mental health professionals realized that the master’s degree level counselors working in community settings lacked a...
for students, faculty and staff, accredited counseling staff - Dining and Food Services may be auxiliary and/or part of the College/Student Union
- Disability Support ServicesAmericans with Disabilities Act of 1990The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a law that was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1990. It was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H. W. Bush, and later amended with changes effective January 1, 2009....
include note taking, accommodations and advocacy - Enrollment ManagementEnrollment managementEnrollment Management is a term coined by Dr. Jack Maguire that is used frequently in higher education to describe well-planned strategies and tactics to shape the enrollment of an institution and meet established goals...
may include Financial Aid, Bursar and RegistrarRegistrar (academic)In education outside the United Kingdom, a registrar or registrary is an official in an academic institution who handles student records. Typically, a registrar processes registration requests, schedules classes and maintains class lists, enforces the rules for entering or leaving classes, and... - Financial Aid assists students in financial matters including processing federal aid, payment plans and may include student employment
- Fund RaisingFundraisingFundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
and Fund Development or Development or Advancement - Greek AffairsFraternities and sororitiesFraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
or Fraternity and Sorority Life, including advisement of governing councils, recruitment and leadership programming for new and initiated members - Health Services provides individual medical and/or mental health care, usually includes public health education programs and counseling services
- International Student ServicesInternational studentAccording to Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development , international students are those who travel to a country different from their own for the purpose of tertiary study. Despite that, the definition of international students varies in each country in accordance to their own national...
assists and supports international students, may include StudyStudy abroadStudying abroad is the act of a student pursuing educational opportunities in a country other than one's own. This can include primary, secondary and post-secondary students...
or Education Abroad - Judicial Affairs enforces community standards and campus codes of conduct, may include ethical programs/education and mediation
- LeadershipLeadershipLeadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
Programs provides leadership opportunities, may include Student Government - Multicultural Affairs provides support and programming to create an environment of respect and education
- OrientationStudent orientationStudent orientation or new student orientation, is a period of time at the beginning of the academic year at a university or other tertiary institution during which a variety of events are held to orient and welcome new students. The name of the period varies by country...
and First-Year ExperienceThe First Year Experience ProgramFreshman Seminar Program or The First Year Experience is a program that is instituted at many American colleges and universities which is designed to help students prepare for the transition from high school to college. Depending on the school, the course could last anywhere from two weeks to one...
provides support and programming for first-year students, usually includes orientation and may include Parent and Family Relations - RecreationRecreationRecreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure and are considered to be "fun"...
and FitnessPhysical fitnessPhysical fitness comprises two related concepts: general fitness , and specific fitness...
Programs or Campus Recreation, provides recreational activities such as intramural sports, club sports and outdoor activities for promoting wellness - Residence LifeResidence LifeResidence Life is the terminology used to describe the comprehensive program that surrounds the experience of living "on-campus" in a residence hall at a college or university in Canada and the United States...
or Housing provides housing, programming and support for on-campus residents, may include food services - Spirituality, Faith or Religious Services usually at private institutions regardless of institution’s affiliation
Student Activities or Student Involvement provides co-curricular programming on campus, advises campus programming, student organizations and student governance. It may include Student Activity Board, student government and student activity fee disbursement.
Institutions may have specialized departments such as a Women’s Center, technology support as well as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Services.
History of student affairs
Student affairs beginnings have been traced back to Athenian education and universities in the Middle Ages, but is largely an American phenomenon. As the number of land-grant institutions increased, enrollment expanded, student populations began to include women, the idea of vocationalism began to influence academics and the institution's president began to be viewed as "the chief moral front" (p. 6). With these changes it became apparent that additional staff members were needed to allow the president to respond to the issues of finance and faculty recruitment.The profession of student affairs "grew from the campus up, not from theory down" (p. 4). Early higher education in the United States was based on the Oxbridge model of education with most early institutions residential where the tutors lived in the halls with the students. These men were the precursor to student affairs professionals in the United States. Typically, they served as dean of disclipline and in loco parentis
In loco parentis
The term in loco parentis, Latin for "in the place of a parent"" refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organization to take on some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent...
(in place of the parent). These early student affairs practitioners focus was on control of the student as opposed to modern philosophy which focuses on the development of the student as a whole, but has always connected those interested in the welfare of students with students needing assistance (p. 4).
These first student affairs professionals were the dean of women, dean of men and personnel workers. Many of the early deans came from "teaching roles in the liberal arts" (p. 8). Cowley (1937) identified the came first Dean of Men, LeBaron Russell Briggs
LeBaron Russell Briggs
LeBaron Russell Briggs was an American educator. He was appointed the first Dean of Men at Harvard University, where he also served as dean of the Faculty...
, at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1890 with Adelia Johnston in 1869 at the Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
as lady principal and later named Dean of Women in 1894. Alice Freeman Palmer
Alice Freeman Palmer
Alice Freeman Palmer was an American educator.She was born Alice Elvira Freeman in Colesville, New York and brought up in Windsor, New York. Her parents both came from well-to-do families with interests in lumber, dairy farming and land...
in 1892 at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
was the first to hold the title of Dean of Women. The position description might have read, "that officer in the administration who undertakes to assist the men students [to] achieve the utmost of which they are individually capable, through personal effort on their behalf, and through mobilizing in their behalf all the forces within the University which can be made to serve this end" (Secretarial Notes, 1928, p. 37).
The Dean of Men's position typically included discipline, but could vary depending on the institution's overall philosophy. The one thing that remained consistent was the responsibility to deal with men and help them develop to their potential (p. 9).
Deans of Women were trail blazers. Not only were women at colleges and universities a new development, but women as staff members even more new. The institutional leadership was dominated by men, but still they persevered including the founding of what is now the American Association of University Women
American Association of University Women
The American Association of University Women advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research. It was founded in 1882 by Ellen Swallow Richards and Marion Talbot...
(AAUW) in 1903.
In the 1960s the student development
Student development theories
Student development theory refers to the body of theories related to how students gain knowledge in post-secondary education environments.-History:The earliest student development theory — or tradition — in Europe was in loco parentis...
movement, the study of the student as a whole - physical, mental and emotional, was introduced.
In December 1918 Robert Rienow, the dean of men at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, wrote a letter to Thomas Arkle Clark, dean of men at the University of Illinois, suggesting a meeting that is now recognized as the founding of the organization now known as NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education.
In 1924, May L. Cheney
May L. Cheney
May L. Cheney organized a teacher placement office at the University of California, Berkeley and was the founder of the National Association of Appointment Secretaries in 1924. NAAS evolved through the years and is today known as the American College Personnel Association....
, who organized a teacher placement office at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
helped form the National Association of Appointment Secretaries (NAAS). That year, NAAS met for the first time and came as guests of the National Association of Deans of Women (NADW) to a convention sponsored by the Department Superintendence of the National Education Association. In 1929, forty-six NAAS members registered for the Sixth Annual Convention. NAAS became the National Association of Personnel and Placement Officers (NAPPO). The name American College Personnel Association (ACPA) was adopted in 1931. Association communication consisted of one mailed newsletter, the Personnel-O-Gram (P-O-G). In 1937, the Student Personnel Point of View statement was developed by leaders of the American Council on Education (ACE) and ACPA.
The Student Personnel Points of View, written in 1937 and 1949, further developed the area of student affairs.
In the 1970s the landscape of student affairs began to change when the voting age was lowered and 18 year olds were granted adult status in the eyes of the law.
Theoretical Foundations
Student Affairs Personnel or College Student Personnel (CSP) graduate programs may include classes in psychologyPsychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
, law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, communication
Communication
Communication is the activity of conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast...
, inter and intra-personal counseling, higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
, and group dynamics
Group dynamics
Group dynamics refers to a system of behaviors and psychological processes that occur within a social group , or between social groups...
.
These help to form a foundation for creating relationships with students, faculty, staff and parents. CSP programs tend to be found in departments of leadership, counseling, psychology and education. Traditionally these programs have an emphasis in administration, student development theory or counseling.
Developmental theories
Student development theories
Student development theory refers to the body of theories related to how students gain knowledge in post-secondary education environments.-History:The earliest student development theory — or tradition — in Europe was in loco parentis...
used in college student personnel programs include
- Chickering's Seven VectorsChickering's theory of identity developmentChickering's Theory of Identity Development, as articulated by Arthur W. Chickering explains the process of identity development. The theory was created specifically to examine the identity development process of students in higher education, but it has been used in other areas as...
- Astin's Theory of Involvement
- Komives, Owen, Longerbeam, Mainella and Osteen's Leadership Identity Development
- Gilligan's Theory of Moral Development
- Erikson's Developmental Theory of Gay Development
- Maslow's Hierarchy of NeedsMaslow's hierarchy of needsMaslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory in psychology, proposed by Abraham Maslow in his 1943 paper A Theory of Human Motivation. Maslow subsequently extended the idea to include his observations of humans' innate curiosity...
- Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development
- Erikson's Theory of Human Development
Criticism
The field of Student Affairs has been criticized for its emphasis on formal, professional training, calling into question whether the field is theoretical or practical. Complicating this criticism is the question of the role of student development theories in student affairs practice. It is claimed that student development theories are used to “proactively identify and address student needs, design programs, develop policies, and create healthy...environments that encourage positive growth in students.” Yet, often student affairs practices often bear little resemblance or connection to student development theories. As Paul Bloland (1979) wrote in an article in the NASPA Journal, “We have cultivated an expertise that was not requested, is not sought out, and for which there is little recognition or demand. Many entry-level and (many) seasoned professionals know little of student development theory and practice and, in fact, do not really need such expertise to meet the role expectations of their supervisors or, in too many instances, their institutions.”Another debate has centered on the degree to which available postgraduate programs actually represent a distinct discipline. While the field bears a resemblance to psychology, counseling, and other general concentrations, debate and criticism of the field's major foundations are virtually nonexistent in theoretical discourse, calling into question the academic credibility of the field. As Bloland, Stamatakos, and Russell wrote, while student development theory “...has been widely distributed through the literature, in preparation programs, at workshops and conventions,” academics and professionals in the field have, “...failed to exercise their critical faculties to raise questions about student development, to slow down the head-long pace of its engulfment of the field of student affairs, and to examine alternatives and opinions as they presented themselves.”
Preparation for Student Affairs
Traditionally Student Affairs practitioners and College Student Personnel have completed graduate work with a complementary assistantship. An assistantship can be an entry level position, but is usually a part-time paraprofessionalParaprofessional
Paraprofessional is a job title given to persons in various occupational fields, such as education, healthcare, engineering and law, who are trained to assist professionals but are not themselves licensed at a professional level...
position with compensation including tuition waiver, professional development and a stipend. A graduate program is usually two academic years of full-time study with opportunities for internship and abroad opportunities.
A doctorate of Education (Ed.D) or philosophy (Ph.D.) in a chosen field of study are recommended for practitioners with aspirations of administrator roles of Vice President or Director, but are not required.
For more information on selecting a graduate program, the professional associations ACPA and NASPA have suggestions.
- NASPA "What should I think about with applying to graduate school?"
- NASPA "What is graduate school like?"
- ACPA Graduate Program Directory
See also
- Journal of College Student DevelopmentJournal of College Student DevelopmentThe Journal of College Student Development is a bimonthly peer-reviewed academic journal established in 1959 and is the official publication of the American College Personnel Association. The journal publishes scholarly articles and book reviews from a wide variety of academic fields related to...
- College Student PersonnelCollege Student PersonnelCollege Student Personnel is an academic study area offered at the master’s and above level at several universities. A degree in this field often leads to a career in Student Affairs or Enrollment Management.-External links:...
- National Association of Student Personnel AdministratorsNational Association of Student Personnel AdministratorsNASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education is the leading voice for student affairs administration, policy, and practice, and affirms the commitment of the student affairs profession to educating the whole student and integrating student life and learning...
(NASPA) - American College Personnel AssociationAmerican College Personnel AssociationAmerican College Personnel Association - College Student Educators International is a major student affairs association headquartered in Washington, D.C. at the National Center for Higher Education....
(ACPA) - Academic AdvisingAcademic advisingAcademic advising, based in the teaching and learning mission of higher education, is a series of intentional interactions with a curriculum, a pedagogy, and a set of student learning outcomes...
- Admissions including recruiters
- Assessment and Research
- Athletics
- Career DevelopmentCareer developmentIn organizational development , the study of career development looks at:*how individuals manage their careers within and between organizations and,...
or Career Services - College/Student UnionStudent activity centerA student activity center is a type of building found on university campuses. In the United States, such a building is more often called a student union, student commons, or student center...
or Student Centers, College Centers or University Center - Community ServiceCommunity serviceCommunity service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....
- Service Learning
- Commuter Services or Adult Students or Non-Traditional Students
- Counseling ServicesMental Health CounselorMental health counselors practice mental health counseling which is a dynamic, holistic, strengths-based and psychoeducational discipline born in the late 1970s when several mental health professionals realized that the master’s degree level counselors working in community settings lacked a...
- Disability Support ServicesAmericans with Disabilities Act of 1990The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a law that was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1990. It was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H. W. Bush, and later amended with changes effective January 1, 2009....
- Enrollment ManagementEnrollment managementEnrollment Management is a term coined by Dr. Jack Maguire that is used frequently in higher education to describe well-planned strategies and tactics to shape the enrollment of an institution and meet established goals...
may include Financial Aid, Bursar and - RegistrarRegistrar (academic)In education outside the United Kingdom, a registrar or registrary is an official in an academic institution who handles student records. Typically, a registrar processes registration requests, schedules classes and maintains class lists, enforces the rules for entering or leaving classes, and...
- Financial Aid
- Fund RaisingFundraisingFundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
and Fund Development or Development or Advancement - Greek AffairsFraternities and sororitiesFraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
or Fraternity and Sorority Life - International Student ServicesInternational studentAccording to Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development , international students are those who travel to a country different from their own for the purpose of tertiary study. Despite that, the definition of international students varies in each country in accordance to their own national...
- Study AbroadStudy abroadStudying abroad is the act of a student pursuing educational opportunities in a country other than one's own. This can include primary, secondary and post-secondary students...
- LeadershipLeadershipLeadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
Programs - Multicultural Affairs
- OrientationStudent orientationStudent orientation or new student orientation, is a period of time at the beginning of the academic year at a university or other tertiary institution during which a variety of events are held to orient and welcome new students. The name of the period varies by country...
- First-Year ExperienceThe First Year Experience ProgramFreshman Seminar Program or The First Year Experience is a program that is instituted at many American colleges and universities which is designed to help students prepare for the transition from high school to college. Depending on the school, the course could last anywhere from two weeks to one...
- RecreationRecreationRecreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure and are considered to be "fun"...
, FitnessPhysical fitnessPhysical fitness comprises two related concepts: general fitness , and specific fitness...
, Intramurals and Club Sports - Residence LifeResidence LifeResidence Life is the terminology used to describe the comprehensive program that surrounds the experience of living "on-campus" in a residence hall at a college or university in Canada and the United States...