According to higher education preparation standards, students who complete master’s preparation programs in student affairs should not only be acquiring skills and knowledge, they should be socialized into the field of student affairs Master’s level preparation programs in college student personnel or higher education leadership are often coupled with a graduate assistantship so that students are able to obtain valuable theory-to-practice experience This additional experience becomes complementary to the work the graduate student is doing in the classroom and thus becomes a practical learning opportunity After completing a preparation program, a former master’s student will most likely move into an entry-level position in student affairs, such as residence hall director, student activities coordinator, judicial affairs coordinator, or a fraternity/sorority coordinator However, despite this common career pathway, there has been limited research regarding the role a student affairs graduate assistantship plays in assisting students in their socialization and transition into the field and how this prepares these new student affairs professionals for their first position post-master’s degree Thirteen new professionals in student affairs who graduated from two preparation programs in the southeastern region of the United States participated in this basic interpretive qualitative study The purpose of this basic interpretive qualitative study was to examine and describe the experience of new student affairs professionals who held a graduate assistantship in student affairs during their graduate preparation program and the role, if any, the graduate assistantship played in their perceptions of preparedness Based on the findings of this study, the graduate assistantship in student affairs indeed plays a role in the perceptions of preparedness of these new professionals The overarching themes that emerged using Schlossberg’s (1984) transition theory as the analytical lens were mentorship, hands-on experience, peer interactions, and financial enticement The findings from this study align with and expand upon the existing student affairs literature, and provide awareness to student affairs practitioners and higher education leadership faculty on how to best support new professionals as they transition into the field of student affairs / Includes bibliography / Dissertation (PhD)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016 / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

The purpose of this study was to examine if there is an association between effective supervision and communication competence in divisions of student affairs at Christian higher education institutions. The investigation examined chief student affairs officers (CSAOs) and their direct reports at 45 institutions across the United States using the Synergistic Supervision Scale and the Communication Competence Questionnaire. A positive significant association was found between the direct report's evaluation of the CSAO's level of synergistic supervision and the direct report's evaluation of the CSAO's level of communication competence. The findings of this study will advance the supervision and communication competence literature while informing practice for student affairs professionals. This study provides a foundation of research in the context specific field of student affairs where there has been a dearth of literature regarding effective supervision. This study can be used as a platform for future research to further the understanding of characteristics that define effective supervision.

Existing research literature indicates a scarcity of African American males attaining senior administrative positions at predominantly White institutions (PWIs). The previous research often lacks an empirical focus, resulting in a substantial gap in the literature (Jackson, 2004; Lewis, 2007; Pickron, 1991). This qualitative study examines the career paths and leadership experiences of nineteen African American male senior administrators in student affairs at four-year predominantly White institutions across the United States. The rationale for this study emerges from the researcher's frustration with the paucity of male senior administrators of color in student affairs at PWIs as role models, and a lack of clarity as to the steps needed to attain such a position. An exploration into the attainment of senior administrative positions in student affairs would disclose the necessary leadership skills and training appropriate to lead a student affairs organization. Critical race theory (CRT) frames this study and provides a framework for analyzing the lived experiences of people of color whose voices are least heard in the academy. Through qualitative methods, African American males are allowed to reflect on their career trajectory, leadership experiences, and attainments in becoming senior administrators in student affairs at PWIs. The criterion sample selection (19 of 43, or 44%) was comprised of African American male vice presidents in student affairs at PWIs, and identified for this study as members of the Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA) organization. This study reveals the importance of having a doctoral degree, general skill sets, influential mentors, and membership in professional organizations that serve as a resource for the best practices in student affairs. Without the necessary credentials, it seems highly unlikely that many African American males will be able to attain senior leadership positions in student affairs. The study offers recommendations for further research, which could prove valuable for African American male and female aspirants pursuing senior administrative positions in student affairs at PWIs.

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The purpose of this study was to determine the level of burnout among student affairs professionals at the 52 U.S. member institutions of the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities. Packets containing the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the Moos Work Environment Scale (WES), and a demographic survey were mailed to 371 senior student affairs administrators at the member institutions, with a completed response rate of 58.22%. The senior student affairs administrators surveyed included the chief student affairs officers and the professional staff who reported to them. The research design employed t-tests, analyses of variance, and Pearson's Product Moment correlations. The scores obtained from the MBI and WES subscales were compared overall and along 9 independent variablestitle of position, size of institution, appointment, salary, years in current position, years in profession, age, gender, and highest degree attained. Average levels of burnout were found on each of the MBI subscores. Contrary to earlier studies, women did not suffer from statistically significant higher levels of burnout than men, and burnout levels decreased with age and years in the profession for both sexes. Lower scores on the MBI depersonalization subscale were found in employees in mid-career and in professionals from smaller schools. Emotional exhaustion was not a factor. Environmental factors relating to burnout and job satisfaction were also explored. Statistically significant differences on the WES were found on all of the independent variables except the years in the current position variable. The metropolitan environment may have been effective in reducing the amount of burnout felt by this group of student affairs professionals. The study underscored the need for continuing research in burnout for student affairs professionals and for continued professional development throughout the career span.

The purpose of this study was to examine the voices of Latino/a Senior Student Affairs Officers (SSAOs) in terms of described challenges in becoming a SSAO and how the intersection of race influences their lived experiences as SSAOs at selected public and private two- and four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. Latino/a SSAOs are dramatically underrepresented in American colleges and universities. The lived experiences of this unique group have been ignored in existing empirical literature. A particular focus of this research was to gain a better understanding of how Latino/a SSAOs experience and respond to what they perceive as racism, if any, and/or other forms of discrimination during this experience. The theoretical lens used in this research study was Critical Race Theory (CRT). / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Today’s college student body reflects, among many things, the outcome of policies geared towards increasing access and diversifying the academy, efforts to recruit international students, the vast social, political, and economic disparities among marginalized populations, and the extreme cultural polarization of our times. Students on campuses have broad and individualized perspective, approaches, and values, which are culturally rooted, embedded within our socialization and often times conflict with the experiences of other students or the student affairs professionals tasked with supporting students. Student affairs practitioners must enter the field possessing a degree of intercultural competence, defined as an appropriate skillset and mindset, to effectively work across difference and support today’s college student. While the development of intercultural competence is a life-long learning process, master’s-level preparatory programs serve as a critical space for aspiring student affairs practitioners to engage in intercultural learning and skill development. Utilizing pre and post data result from the Intercultural Development Inventory and information gathered from post-graduation interviews, this mixed-methods study examined the intercultural competence development of students in Higher Education within a student affairs master’s level preparatory and their intercultural learning experiences at the assistantship site. The study found that across assistantship sites and observed developmental change, intercultural learning was dictated by the three themes: influential relationships, impactful factors, and depth of engagement.

This mixed design study surveyed members of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) to determine the baseline for wellness among student affairs administrators and within the profession. In addition to describing the wellness levels of the administrators and comparing them to the wellness of the general population, the study explored how wellness is represented within the student affairs profession, as reflected in the literature and practice. Student affairs administrators' wellness was assessed utilizing the Five Factor Wel Wellness Inventory (Myers & Sweeney, 2004). Collectively, the administrators posted "well" scores on the six factors utilized in the study and scored higher than the norms reported for the 5F-Wel general population. However, there was a broad range of actual scores across individuals indicating that not everyone can be considered to be maintaining a well-balanced lifestyle. The administrators' wellness was not affected by their length of time in the student affairs profession but was negatively associated with the number of hours they worked per week. The administrators possessed a holistic view of wellness and could articulate the behaviors and conditions associated with achieving, and failing to achieve, balance. However, reported engagement in certain wellness behaviors (e.g., physical activity and healthy eating) was not always reflected in the 5F-Wel scores. Additionally, the administrators noted a lack of focus on wellness issues in the student affairs literature, professional organizations, and most pointedly, in graduate preparation programs. The study creates a context for individual exploration of balance given the "norms" of the profession and instigates dialog focused on building healthy workplaces that facilitate positive role modeling experiences for students and staff. Recommendations for practitioners, graduate program faculty, and the profession aim to maximize personal wellness, create balanced professionals, and facilitate congruence between the student affairs profession's espoused values and wellness philosophy and the enculturation of professionals into this ideology.

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