This chapter provides guiding principles for designing and implementing successful multicultural initiatives. A rationale for why these elements transcend both higher education and student affairs settings is presented. In addition to providing guiding principles, this chapter includes advice for socially and politically conscious-minded…

The perception that college students are coming to campus with more severe psychological concerns than in the past has been empirically supported on college campuses (Benton and others, 2003). Approximately 20 percent of all adolescents have a diagnosable mental health disorder (Kessler and others, 2005), many of which then continue on to college…

Historical context informs the work of student affairs professionals and others in higher education in striking the right balance in helping prepare students for life after college, but significant new pressures face students, their mentors, and educational institutions today. This chapter discusses the contexts that shape the work of student…

Building leadership capacity in college students is both an art and a science. Knowledge of college student development and specifically college leadership development, as well as research in leadership theory and practices, can help college leadership educators become more effective. International Leadership Association (ILA) Guiding Questions…

Education abroad is a rapidly expanding opportunity for undergraduate students in the United States. Concurrent with this growth in total numbers is a growth in the diversity of participants. Students with different ethnic backgrounds, academic majors, age, socioeconomic status, and disabilities are increasingly seeking opportunities overseas. In…

The increase of students with disabilities on college campuses requires institutions to reenvision how to serve this population. The partnership and collaboration of institutional departments will offer students with disabilities increased opportunities for academic and social integration. This increased integration has ripple effects that will…

Because bereavement is a common experience among college students, institutions of higher education must understand how students respond to death loss to take actions to assist them appropriately. How students cope with the death of someone close to them is tied to their unique developmental status, the climate of the campus, and their personal…

In the cycle of a student's college life, student affairs professionals have opportunities to engage parents and families. On these occasions, parents are searching for information about the institution and the experiences of their children. It is important that student affairs professionals be ready to provide this information and respond in a…

This chapter examines color-blind campuses that perpetuate White transparency and racially cognizant environments that reveal and challenge notions of color blindness. Recommendations are offered to help White students respond to the realities of Whiteness and move beyond color-blind racism.

With the significant increase in graduate students characterized as nontraditional, challenges associated with balance have become more prominent. The author explores issues of work-life balance, institutional ownership, and the chilly climate, each of which can contribute to negative academic outcomes. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)

This chapter reviews the current theoretical understanding of the development of social justice attitudes and related concepts.

Sexual minorities encounter unique challenges due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression that often prevents them from achieving their full academic potential or participating fully in the campus community. (Contains 3 tables and 2 notes.)

Colleges and universities are beginning to consider the needs of transgender students, but few understand how to offer support to this segment of the campus community. This chapter address issues and provides suggestions for student affairs professionals.

Due to the transitory nature of students at community colleges, it is often difficult for student affairs professionals to connect with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students and even more difficult for them to provide services for this invisible population.

There are many ways in which a campus lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) office or center can be established. This chapter tells the story of one institution's journey to creating such a center and the tools used to make that creation happen.