the role of student affairs and services in higher education
the role of student affairs and services in higher education
the role of student affairs and services in higher education
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Section (V) will beg<strong>in</strong> with <strong>the</strong> discussion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> concept <strong>of</strong> a separate but<br />
<strong>in</strong>tegrated division <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>stitution that is most <strong>of</strong>ten called <strong>student</strong> <strong>affairs</strong>,<br />
<strong>student</strong> life, <strong>student</strong> development, or <strong>student</strong> <strong>services</strong>, <strong>and</strong> referred to here as<br />
<strong>student</strong> <strong>affairs</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>services</strong>. Such a division <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> organization would focus<br />
primarily on <strong>student</strong>s <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir needs, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> division head usually is a top<br />
level/senior university <strong>of</strong>ficer. Under ideal circumstances, this <strong>of</strong>ficer would be<br />
responsible directly to <strong>the</strong> senior executive <strong>of</strong>ficer <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>stitution. Follow<strong>in</strong>g is<br />
a description <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> purposes, functions, <strong>and</strong> typical activities <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> senior<br />
<strong>student</strong> <strong>affairs</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>services</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficer:<br />
The Senior Student Affairs <strong>and</strong> Services Officer<br />
Purpose/functions –<br />
• To serve as a senior adm<strong>in</strong>istrator <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>stitutional leader <strong>in</strong> help<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
accomplish <strong>the</strong> mission <strong>and</strong> goals <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>stitution.<br />
• To provide leadership for <strong>the</strong> development <strong>and</strong> delivery <strong>of</strong> essential <strong>student</strong><br />
<strong>affairs</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>services</strong> programs.<br />
• To provide leadership <strong>in</strong> identify<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>in</strong>terpret<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> serv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>student</strong> needs.<br />
• To develop <strong>and</strong> articulate to <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>stitution a philosophical framework <strong>and</strong><br />
mission for <strong>student</strong> <strong>affairs</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>services</strong>.<br />
• To develop <strong>and</strong> ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> an appropriate organizational structure for <strong>the</strong><br />
delivery <strong>of</strong> <strong>student</strong> <strong>affairs</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>services</strong>.<br />
• To support, advocate for <strong>and</strong> promote <strong>the</strong> needs <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>terests <strong>of</strong> <strong>student</strong>s to<br />
appropriate <strong>in</strong>stitutional <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r constituencies.<br />
• To develop <strong>in</strong>stitutional policies that are congruent with cultural/social needs<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>student</strong>s <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>stitutional values.<br />
• To develop <strong>and</strong> allocate governmental, <strong>in</strong>stitutional, <strong>and</strong> extramural resources<br />
to carry out <strong>the</strong> mission <strong>of</strong> <strong>student</strong> <strong>affairs</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>services</strong>.<br />
• To develop a <strong>student</strong> <strong>affairs</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>services</strong> framework that supports <strong>the</strong><br />
enhancement <strong>of</strong> <strong>student</strong> learn<strong>in</strong>g outcomes <strong>and</strong> success.<br />
• To provide <strong>in</strong>stitutional leadership <strong>in</strong> provid<strong>in</strong>g access to <strong>student</strong>s from all<br />
economic levels <strong>of</strong> society.<br />
• To promote <strong>the</strong> values <strong>of</strong> pluralism, diversity, <strong>and</strong> multiculturalism.<br />
• To utilize all forms <strong>of</strong> technology as tools to enhance <strong>the</strong> delivery <strong>of</strong> <strong>student</strong><br />
<strong>affairs</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>services</strong> programs.<br />
• To serve as an <strong>in</strong>tegrator <strong>of</strong> functions across <strong>the</strong> university for <strong>the</strong> purpose <strong>of</strong><br />
enhanc<strong>in</strong>g <strong>student</strong> learn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> success.<br />
• To <strong>in</strong>tegrate <strong>the</strong> mission, programs, <strong>and</strong> <strong>services</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>student</strong> <strong>affairs</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>services</strong> with <strong>the</strong> academic <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r divisions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>stitution.<br />
• To serve as an effective steward <strong>of</strong> resources provided by <strong>student</strong>s,<br />
government, taxpayers, etc.<br />
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