the role of student affairs and services in higher education

Typical Activities –
• Explaining the overall purpose of higher education and how this general
purpose translates to the institution they are attending.
• Explaining faculty, staff, and student roles, responsibilities, and expectations.
• Describing the expectations of students in regard to scholarship, integrity,
conduct, financial obligations, and ethical use of technology.
• Providing information clarifying relevant administrative policies/procedures.
• Explaining class scheduling and registration processes and providing
assistance from qualified faculty, staff, or peer academic advisors for
developing educational plans.
• Assisting students in utilizing course placement exams, interest inventories,
and study skills assessments in selecting a major and appropriate courses.
• Identifying appropriate referral resources, such as counselors and advisors,
and providing information about relevant services and programs.
• Providing new students with personal health and safety information.
• Providing social and informational programs for parents of new students.
• Providing opportunities for new students to interact with faculty and staff.
• Providing information about the physical layout of the campus including the
location of key offices and functions.
• Providing opportunities for new students to interact with continuing students
to develop a sense of identification with and belonging to the institution.
• Attending to needs of sub-groups of students, e.g., students with disabilities,
athletes, adult, LGBT, multicultural, international, and honor students.
• Employing a diverse staff to reflect the diversity of the campus student
population, to ensure the existence of identifiable role models for students
that enrich the campus community.
Services for Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgendered Students
Purpose/functions –
• To provide referrals and other informational resources to students, faculty,
and staff on lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgendered (LGBT) students.
• To serve as an advocate for LGBT students.
• To raise consciousness among various constituencies regarding the special
issues facing LGBT students including safety on and off campus.
• To provide training for key campus personnel, e.g., counselors, faculty,
student services workers, resident assistants, etc., regarding LGBT issues.
• To develop LGBT related policies for both student and university entities.
• To provide campus space that enables a LGBT group to organize and meet.
Typical Activities –
• Counseling/advising LGBT students on sexual orientation matters.
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