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A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF STUDENT AFFAIRS MID-LEVEL PROFESSIONALS: CHARACTERISTICS, PERCEIVED SKILL ATTAINMENT AND NEED FOR CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT

The primary purpose of this study was to compare perceived professional skills attainment and need for further skill development of selected men and women in mid-level student affairs positions. / Public and private institutions accredited in the southeast United States, granting at the minimum the baccalaureate degree, were chosen for inclusion in this study. Chief student affairs officers from 137 institutions identified 1,347 mid-level student affairs professionals. A survey instrument developed by the investigator was mailed to a sample of 811 professionals. Responses were received from 613 (76.5%) individuals. / More women than men respondents were employed in career planning and placement, and health services. More men respondents than women were employed in counseling and student activities/unions. / Skills were analyzed in seven categories: leadership, fiscal management, professional development, communication, personnel management, research and evaluation, and student contact. Respondents in all functional areas selected leadership skills and personnel skills as "very important." Research and evaluation skills were not cited as being "very important" by respondents in any functional area. Men and women respondents were similar in skills selected as important; however, significant differences were found with regard to fiscal management and professional development skills. Public institution respondents reported more importance placed on all skill categories, except research and evaluation, than did private institution respondents. Few significant differences were found between selected independent variables--degree attained, marital status, age, ethnic background, length of time in position--and the dependent variable, perceived skill importance. / Respondents cited a great need for further skill development. On the average, they reported a need to further develop 38 of the 64 skills. / The three most preferred skill development activities selected by men and women respondents were workshops, conferences and discussions with colleagues. Men also chose reading as a top preferred activity; women also chose mentor relationships. The top five professional development activities engaged in by men and women respondents were conferences, reading, student involvement, discussions with colleagues and workshops. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 43-09, Section: A, page: 2902. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1982.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_74925
ContributorsKANE, NANCY ELLEN., Florida State University
Source SetsFlorida State University
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeText
Format239 p.
RightsOn campus use only.
RelationDissertation Abstracts International

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