In this article, the authors describe their personal experiences and offer student affairs professionals suggestions for balancing their personal and professional lives. They also share the lessons they have learned from their experiences.

Being from a typical African-American descent, the author's family struggled through a history tarnished by the legacy of slavery and racism in America. Many of these personal family stories of struggle she received through an oral tradition. She learned early in life the importance of discipline, hierarchy, and hard work. She was expected to…

The author's career path can best be described as "unconventional" or "non-traditional" for a senior student affairs administrator. Being a first-generation college graduate, the author's focus was on what he characterizes as a "clear cut career path" for a Myers Briggs Extraverted Sensing Thinking Judging (ESTJ): management and banking. In this…

After 18 years as a student affairs professional, the author is now headed in a different direction. The personal lessons that she has learned about work-life balance over the past two decades are very similar to others. Instead of focusing on personal lessons, the author offers some structural observations, and--with respect, as she leaves the…

The author started a conversation with friends that led to a conference program. They surveyed women faculty, department heads, and senior administrators and asked them how they would advise young professionals struggling with personal and professional balance. The author, along with Tony Cawthon, incorporated the work on balance into several…

Argues that universities' complexity challenges the knowledge of those in student affairs with both legal and ethical dilemmas. Claims that student affairs needs to move beyond discussion of ethical codes and apply them to daily work. Professional organizations and preparation programs must be combined to improve ethical training in student…

Describes aspects of the moral voice of the self and of the institution, and makes suggestions for assessing and reducing the dissonance between these two forces. Examines student services' ethic of care and argues for the desirability of "moral bilingualism": the need for an ethic of care and an ethic of justice. (RJM)

Argues for desirability of high ethical standards on college and university campuses. Concentrates on academic integrity policies and procedures. Claims that students learn from institutions' responses to academic dishonesty and from schools' expectations about students' response to the dishonesty of others, thus teaching courage, compassion,…

Examines how community has been defined and accomplished in American higher education. Explores the shared beliefs and values evident on college campuses, which are described as intentional communities. Discusses the role of student affairs as the "keeper of community" and outlines the needs of students as individuals and in groups. (RJM)

Argues that contract law and tort law are appropriate means for providing enforceable professional ethics in student affairs and that incorporating student affairs ethical codes into contracts with students creates enforceable ethical codes. Believes that providing such codes strengthens risk management programs, as well as encouraging…

Because many student affairs practitioners serve in counseling roles to students, this article examines Pedersen's 10 frequent assumptions of cultural bias in counseling. Also provides appropriate applications and recommendations for increasing the cultural sensitivity of student affairs professionals. Hopes to initiate an impetus for further…

Recognizing that the study and practice of student development may be significantly enhanced through the integration of resources beyond the traditional borders of the field, this article offers conceptualizations of developments from various academic and cultural perspectives. Suggests practical applications for professional preparation and…

Notes that divorce is stressful life transition and that colleges offer few services targeted specifically to students from divorced families. Discusses how parental divorce may inhibit psychological separation processes of college students with regard to perceptions of parents, adjustment and academic success, and identity formation. Concludes…

Attempts to bring insight to student affairs professionals concerning impact that institutional programs, beyond classroom environment, have on minority student leaders. Focuses especially on African American leaders at predominantly white institutions who may face identity crisis and/or lack of value and belief affirmations from their…

Identifies college and university students and delineates their needs and characteristics. Discusses areas of student needs that warrant special attention and areas that are predicted to persist in the 1990s. Presents suggested implications for student affairs staff and administrators to help them improve student conditions for the 1990s. (NB)