Critical Issues in Student Affairs: Challenges and Opportunities

Critical Issues for Student Affairs tackles the most pressing issues facing the profession of student affairs today. Covering a wide range of topics from diversity to sources of revenue to staff retention and written by two of the most experienced and qualified leaders in the student services arena, this book is sure to have a lasting legacy among all whose job it is to care about students' educational experience at colleges and universities.

"It is hoped that the volume will be useful to current student affairs professionals engaged in program review, long-range planning, and unit evaluation. We believe that this volume will provide information and perspectives to sitting vice presidents and deans as they attempt to answer these questions on their own campuses and to communicate with other institutional leadership about these issues. The volume will be helpful to the leadership of the many professional organizations serving student affairs as they plan their programs, services, and agendas for the future. It also will be useful to students in graduate education programs at both the master's and doctoral levels as they learn about the profession they have chosen.

Finally, we believe that these issues have far-reaching implications for the future of student affairs and higher education. We urge that they not be ignored and that intentional efforts be made to resolve the issues presented here through discussion and debate on the individual campuses within the community of higher education, professional associations and by individual professionals."
—From the Preface

Student affairs is now part of the management and administrative structure of almost every college and university in the United States. Professional staff working under the banner of student affairs are engaged in a wide variety of educational, support, and service functions. Measured by almost any standard, today’s student affairs profession has never been stronger. There are still, however, a number of critical issues that must be debated and discussed if the student affairs profession is to move forward in the years ahead.

Critical Issues for Student Affairs identifies the most vital issues currently confronting the student affairs profession. Each chapter in this important volume focuses on a specific issue and presents a background, a summary of related research and writing, an examination of the issue, related references, and a list of suggestions for further discussion.

Arthur Sandeen is professor of higher education at the University of Florida. He was elected president of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) in 1977. Sandeen is the author of numerous articles and book chapters.

Margaret Barr is professor emerita in the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University. She is the author or editor of numerous books and monographs including The Handbook of Student Affairs Administration, Second Edition, with Mary K. Desler from Jossey-Bass.
Together Sandeen and Barr have over forty-five years combined experience as university vice-presidents prior to their retirement.