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Emerging Opportunities: Emerging Opportunities: Making the Most of Current Making the Most of Current Trends in Student Affairs Trends in Student Affairs Brian Dusbiber, Ed.D. Brian Dusbiber, Ed.D. Feb. 12, 2008 Feb. 12, 2008

Trends In Student Affairs 2008

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Page 1: Trends In Student Affairs 2008

Emerging Opportunities: Emerging Opportunities: Making the Most of Current Making the Most of Current

Trends in Student AffairsTrends in Student Affairs

Brian Dusbiber, Ed.D.Brian Dusbiber, Ed.D.

Feb. 12, 2008Feb. 12, 2008

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Emerging Opportunities B. DusbiberEmerging Opportunities B. Dusbiber

The context The context

An era of increasing accountabilityAn era of increasing accountability > higher expectations> higher expectations > professionalism> professionalism

An era of rapid change in our societyAn era of rapid change in our society > families, demographics> families, demographics > student skill sets> student skill sets > technology> technology

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AccountabilityAccountability Both internal to higher education and certainly externally Both internal to higher education and certainly externally from families, governmental bodies, accrediting from families, governmental bodies, accrediting agencies, employers, civic leaders.agencies, employers, civic leaders.

Consider Johnson Foundation’s 1993 report: Consider Johnson Foundation’s 1993 report: An An American Imperative: Higher Expectations for Higher American Imperative: Higher Expectations for Higher Education.Education. We must educate more people to higher We must educate more people to higher standards: standards:

> Take values seriously> Take values seriously > Put student learning first> Put student learning first > Create an informed, involved citizenry> Create an informed, involved citizenry > Train a competent workforce> Train a competent workforce

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Accountability Accountability In 1996 ACPA had already begun addressing some of In 1996 ACPA had already begun addressing some of this via this via The Student Learning Imperative: Implications for The Student Learning Imperative: Implications for Student Affairs.Student Affairs.

> students build complex cognitive skills, apply > students build complex cognitive skills, apply knowledge to practical solutions, understand/appreciate knowledge to practical solutions, understand/appreciate human differences, develop personal competency skills, human differences, develop personal competency skills, awareness of a coherent and integrated self identity.awareness of a coherent and integrated self identity.

> became a call for Student Affairs to: > became a call for Student Affairs to: a) achieve integration with institutional mission,a) achieve integration with institutional mission, b) enhancement of student learning and personal b) enhancement of student learning and personal development as its primary role,development as its primary role, c) direct resources to these goals,c) direct resources to these goals, d) enhance collaboration with institutional agents,d) enhance collaboration with institutional agents, e) professionalize staff as the experts on students, and the teachinge) professionalize staff as the experts on students, and the teaching and learning process.and learning process.• Consider also the document Consider also the document Powerful Partnerships,Powerful Partnerships, ( (AAHE, et al., AAHE, et al.,

1997).1997).

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Accountability

Higher education in 2002 issues a report from the: Greater Expectations National Panel: Greater Expectations: Desired Student Outcomes. We are called to nurture: > the empowered learner to include intellectual and practical skills of analysis, communication, interpretation and judgment. > the informed learner to include deeper understand of civic responsibility, interrelationships of our many communities. > the responsible learner to build societal investment, ethical commitments to a just society.

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AccountabilityAccountability

Our own professional associations collaborate Our own professional associations collaborate in 2004 on in 2004 on Learning Reconsidered: A campus Learning Reconsidered: A campus wide focus on the student experience.wide focus on the student experience.

> Assumes that > Assumes that learning, development and learning, development and

identity formation are interconnected. identity formation are interconnected.

> The report advocated that the outcome > The report advocated that the outcome

should be an integration of the construction ofshould be an integration of the construction of

knowledge, meaning, and of self in society. knowledge, meaning, and of self in society.

> Assessment and evaluation will be crucial. > Assessment and evaluation will be crucial.

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AccountabilityAccountability

One of our own in Student Affairs, Greg Blimling One of our own in Student Affairs, Greg Blimling (1999), raises the some of the following issues: (1999), raises the some of the following issues:

> higher education will be increasingly > higher education will be increasingly questioned about graduation rates.questioned about graduation rates. > relevancy of degrees awarded.> relevancy of degrees awarded. > on going student behavior.> on going student behavior. > campus safety issues.> campus safety issues. > cost/efficiency of higher education.> cost/efficiency of higher education. > effectiveness of student affairs programs.> effectiveness of student affairs programs.

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AccountabilityAccountability

Finally, it wasn’t lost on us when the Finally, it wasn’t lost on us when the Measuring Measuring up 2006up 2006 report was issued by Secretary of report was issued by Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings and the Education Margaret Spellings and the Commission on the Future of Higher Education. Commission on the Future of Higher Education. This report called for:This report called for:

> addressing the trend of U.S. higher> addressing the trend of U.S. higher education as falling behind the world.education as falling behind the world. > More, and well-skilled graduates are needed.> More, and well-skilled graduates are needed. > there must be more outcomes focusing on the> there must be more outcomes focusing on the public good. public good.

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Accountability and trendsAccountability and trends Both internal and external factors create these Both internal and external factors create these relationships. (engaging as chicken/egg).relationships. (engaging as chicken/egg).

Some worth noting:Some worth noting: > campus safety> campus safety > workforce preparedness (Sec. of Labor report)> workforce preparedness (Sec. of Labor report) > rapid technology advancements> rapid technology advancements > higher education funding> higher education funding > building on institutional uniqueness> building on institutional uniqueness > highly educated as engaged citizen leaders> highly educated as engaged citizen leaders > building character, ethical behavior> building character, ethical behavior

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Trends (cont.)Trends (cont.)

Changes in demographics (race, economic means, etc.)Changes in demographics (race, economic means, etc.)

Emerging student needs (eg; returning vets, older Emerging student needs (eg; returning vets, older students, students in recovery)students, students in recovery)

GlobalizationGlobalization

Natural environment and human impactNatural environment and human impact

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Trends and making Trends and making the most of themthe most of them

A) Recommitting to Institutional Mission.A) Recommitting to Institutional Mission. Alignment of division and department, mission and Alignment of division and department, mission and

goals.goals. Builds clarity for resources, staffing, modeling Builds clarity for resources, staffing, modeling

programs, student contact.programs, student contact.

Make the most by:Make the most by:

* retreats, hiring/training, orientation, developmental * retreats, hiring/training, orientation, developmental

and social programs, recognition programs, and social programs, recognition programs,

marketing to stakeholders. marketing to stakeholders.

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Trends and makingTrends and makingthe most of themthe most of them

B) Use of integrated assessment practices.B) Use of integrated assessment practices.• Connected to mission, planning, priority setting.Connected to mission, planning, priority setting.• Comprehensive, using both quantitative and Comprehensive, using both quantitative and

qualitative.qualitative.• Bridging to student learning outcomes. Bridging to student learning outcomes. • Connected to effectiveness of delivery and impact.Connected to effectiveness of delivery and impact. Make the most by:Make the most by: * Department program reviews, using data from NSSE, * Department program reviews, using data from NSSE,

CIRP, CSEQ in planning, capstone reflections by CIRP, CSEQ in planning, capstone reflections by upper class students, leaders, student conduct cases.upper class students, leaders, student conduct cases.

* Use this data in telling your story and for feedback to * Use this data in telling your story and for feedback to improve.improve.

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Trends and making Trends and making the most of themthe most of them

C)C) Identifying and improving student learning Identifying and improving student learning outcomesoutcomes

• Understanding how students on campus are developing, making Understanding how students on campus are developing, making meaning and achieving desired outcomes.meaning and achieving desired outcomes.

• Clearly partnership opportunities with academic leadership, faculty.Clearly partnership opportunities with academic leadership, faculty.• Nice connect here to CLU’s Academic Program Review.Nice connect here to CLU’s Academic Program Review.• Setting goals and aligning resources of department, division.Setting goals and aligning resources of department, division.

Make the most by:Make the most by:

* embed in student leadership, orientation, student employees, * embed in student leadership, orientation, student employees, seniors, service trips/experiencesseniors, service trips/experiences

* great centerpiece for retreats, professional development series. * great centerpiece for retreats, professional development series.

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Trends and making Trends and making the most of themthe most of them

D) Students who grow in their leadership, citizen D) Students who grow in their leadership, citizen involvement, service and character.involvement, service and character.

• Expectations that we want students to grow in these areas, make Expectations that we want students to grow in these areas, make meaning of their experiences and contribute to the welfare of their meaning of their experiences and contribute to the welfare of their communities, their campus, and their fellow students. communities, their campus, and their fellow students.

• Society has told us this is a priority. Society has told us this is a priority. Make the most by:Make the most by: * new student matriculation period (much can be done online), * new student matriculation period (much can be done online),

freshman retreats, virtual and live case studies, prioritize funding,freshman retreats, virtual and live case studies, prioritize funding, * challenge students with “bumping up against” experiences. Get * challenge students with “bumping up against” experiences. Get

them out of their familiar elements. them out of their familiar elements. * Continue with criteria set forth by Templeton Foundation, and * Continue with criteria set forth by Templeton Foundation, and

character building opportunities for students. character building opportunities for students.

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Trends and making Trends and making the most of them the most of them

E) Paying attention to inclusiveness of campus E) Paying attention to inclusiveness of campus environment.environment.

• After being welcomed the first few weeks, what is the student After being welcomed the first few weeks, what is the student experience, particularly for those who have historically struggled?experience, particularly for those who have historically struggled?

• Monitor student sub populations; race, veteran status, responsibility Monitor student sub populations; race, veteran status, responsibility for dependents, in chemical substance recovery, out of state. for dependents, in chemical substance recovery, out of state.

Make the most by:Make the most by: * Anecdotal stories we all have must be connected to assessment * Anecdotal stories we all have must be connected to assessment efforts. efforts. * Utilize informal dinners, focus groups, blogging, to create and * Utilize informal dinners, focus groups, blogging, to create and sustain a voice.sustain a voice. * professional development with staff/faculty.* professional development with staff/faculty. * consider relationships with high school students, & what can be * consider relationships with high school students, & what can be learned about their college expectations. learned about their college expectations.

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Trends and makingTrends and makingthe most of themthe most of them

F) GlobalizationF) Globalization• Support process for institutional commitment to studying and acting Support process for institutional commitment to studying and acting

upon globalize issues related to economics, human rights policies upon globalize issues related to economics, human rights policies and practices, and practices, environmentenvironment, governmental relations, and future , governmental relations, and future creation. creation.

• Requires skill development in problems analysis and critical thinking Requires skill development in problems analysis and critical thinking skills. skills.

Make the most by:Make the most by: * S.A. staff should be present in nearly every campus conversation. * S.A. staff should be present in nearly every campus conversation. * Wrap into program model in residence halls, club and org. service * Wrap into program model in residence halls, club and org. service

projects. Students can build a theme for the year to rally the projects. Students can build a theme for the year to rally the university toward common goals. university toward common goals.

* Use case studies, outside speakers, partnered collaborations with* Use case studies, outside speakers, partnered collaborations with in-class discussions. in-class discussions.

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Trends and making Trends and making the most of themthe most of them

G) Static/reallocated/shrinking financial resources G) Static/reallocated/shrinking financial resources and funding alternatives.and funding alternatives.

• There are expectations around efficiency and accountability of these There are expectations around efficiency and accountability of these resources.resources.

• More collaboration with other funding sources will become More collaboration with other funding sources will become necessary.necessary.

• Outsourcing services will continue to be considered. Outsourcing services will continue to be considered. Make the most by:Make the most by:

* Spend some time identifying and pursuing grants.* Spend some time identifying and pursuing grants. * Seek donor support from friends of the university.* Seek donor support from friends of the university. * Play a role in the development of institutional budget, to retain the* Play a role in the development of institutional budget, to retain the funds already budgeted and build new programs. funds already budgeted and build new programs.

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Trends and makingTrends and makingthe most of themthe most of them

H) Increasing “student as consumer” expectationsH) Increasing “student as consumer” expectations• Rapidly changing environment. Just when we thought it was good Rapidly changing environment. Just when we thought it was good

enough to wire the campus for the internet with dedicated lines. . . .enough to wire the campus for the internet with dedicated lines. . . .• Response times from faculty/staff.Response times from faculty/staff.• Food, housing, athletic and recreation facilities.Food, housing, athletic and recreation facilities.• Has as much to do with comparable schools. Has as much to do with comparable schools. Make the most by:Make the most by: * Must be on planning radar every year. Build agreement across* Must be on planning radar every year. Build agreement across campus when possible.campus when possible. * Prioritize for student safety. Wellness must be considered also. * Prioritize for student safety. Wellness must be considered also. * Consider “one stop shop” service centers during off hours. * Consider “one stop shop” service centers during off hours. * Re-look at staff presence after hours. * Re-look at staff presence after hours. * Continue to improve online services. * Continue to improve online services. * Utilize the best and brightest students to advance technology for * Utilize the best and brightest students to advance technology for new student services. new student services.

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Trends and makingTrends and makingthe most of them the most of them

I) Increasingly complex and challenging I) Increasingly complex and challenging student health issuesstudent health issues

• Accommodations for ADA compliance are continuously opening up Accommodations for ADA compliance are continuously opening up new learning for staff and faculty.new learning for staff and faculty.

• Array of travel overseas and international student presence. Array of travel overseas and international student presence. • Drug use, both illegal and prescription drug abuse.Drug use, both illegal and prescription drug abuse.• Continued poor or uninformed choices by students. Continued poor or uninformed choices by students.

Make the most by:Make the most by:

* Provide professional development opportunities on campus.* Provide professional development opportunities on campus.

* Develop/identify “campus experts” on topical areas.* Develop/identify “campus experts” on topical areas.

* Write articles or blogs about what students might face. Use * Write articles or blogs about what students might face. Use

students as story tellers. students as story tellers.

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Trends Trends (the list goes on and on)(the list goes on and on)

Trends that could also be advanced as their own Trends that could also be advanced as their own “ “stand alone” trends:stand alone” trends: Working with parentsWorking with parents Millennial generationMillennial generation Technology Technology Diversity on campusDiversity on campus SpiritualitySpirituality Extreme student behavior Extreme student behavior Legal issuesLegal issues Emerging student interests (environment, political activism,Emerging student interests (environment, political activism, human rights, peace)human rights, peace)

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Adding it all up . . .Adding it all up . . . The issues at hand for Student Affairs are as messy as The issues at hand for Student Affairs are as messy as

ever.ever. We will find ourselves on new, non sequential paths thatWe will find ourselves on new, non sequential paths that

have us revisiting these issues over and over from newhave us revisiting these issues over and over from new perspectives.perspectives.

To effect change we will have to garner resources from To effect change we will have to garner resources from through the university, higher ed., and elsewhere.through the university, higher ed., and elsewhere.

Collaboration is key, as is the persistence and ability toCollaboration is key, as is the persistence and ability to wrestle with these difficult issues.wrestle with these difficult issues.

The good news is that we have more talent, and moreThe good news is that we have more talent, and more resources to address them. resources to address them.

Now, about finding the time in a calendar that won’t Now, about finding the time in a calendar that won’t increase from 24/7/365. . . . . increase from 24/7/365. . . . .

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Emerging opportunities: Emerging opportunities: Making the most of current trends Making the most of current trends

in student affairsin student affairs

““What, after all, has maintained the human What, after all, has maintained the human race on this old globe, despite all the race on this old globe, despite all the calamities of natures and all the tragic calamities of natures and all the tragic failings of mankind, if not for the faith of failings of mankind, if not for the faith of new possibilities, and the courage to new possibilities, and the courage to advocate them.”advocate them.”

- Jane Addams- Jane Addams

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ReferencesReferences

American Association of Higher Education, American American Association of Higher Education, American College Personnel Association, and National Association of College Personnel Association, and National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (1997) Student Personnel Administrators (1997) Powerful Powerful partnerships: A shared responsibility for learning.partnerships: A shared responsibility for learning. Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.American College Personnel Association. (1994). American College Personnel Association. (1994). The The student learning imperative: Implications for student affairs.student learning imperative: Implications for student affairs. Washington, DC.Washington, DC.Association of American Colleges and Universities. (2002) Association of American Colleges and Universities. (2002) Greater ExpectationsGreater Expectations. Washington, D.C. . Washington, D.C. Blimling, G.S. (1999). Accountability for student affairs. In Blimling, G.S. (1999). Accountability for student affairs. In C.S. Johnson and H.E. Cheatham (Eds.), C.S. Johnson and H.E. Cheatham (Eds.), Higher education Higher education trends for the next century: A research agenda for student trends for the next century: A research agenda for student successsuccess (pp. 51-57). ACPA: Washington, D.C. (pp. 51-57). ACPA: Washington, D.C.

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ReferencesReferences

Commission on the Future of Higher Education. (2006) Commission on the Future of Higher Education. (2006) Measuring Up 2006: The National Report Card on Higher Measuring Up 2006: The National Report Card on Higher EducationEducation. Washington D.C: The National Center for . Washington D.C: The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education Public Policy and Higher Education

National Association of Student Personnel National Association of Student Personnel Administrators and American College Personnel Administrators and American College Personnel Association. (2004) Association. (2004) Learning Reconsidered: A campus Learning Reconsidered: A campus wide focus on the student experience.wide focus on the student experience. Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C.

Wingspread Group on Higher Education. (1993). Wingspread Group on Higher Education. (1993). An An American imperative: Higher expectations for higher American imperative: Higher expectations for higher educationeducation. Racine, WI: The Johnson Foundation.. Racine, WI: The Johnson Foundation.