Compassion fatigue describes what may happen when those whose role it is to provide care for others experience a diminished capacity for empathy. This is a natural consequence of engaging with people who are suffering. Empathy is important for caregivers in working with people who need support, and these empathetic relationships expose caregivers to vicarious trauma. Health services workers such as nurses, social workers, or anyone who works in a clinical setting are most at risk of compassion fatigue. Stoves (2014) argued that student affairs professionals are another group prone to compassion fatigue because the care giving nature of their work is similar to other health services workers. This article examines compassion fatigue in higher education, and applies what the literature in other fields has identified as ways to deal with this problem. Compassion fatigue among higher education professionals is becoming more prevalent because the number of students who are experiencing some form of emotional distress. The author maintains that the mental health of students in higher education is becoming a public health concern, and calls for more research and critical dialogue on this topic. The author closes by saying that given the threat compassion fatigue poses to the field, researchers should focus on filling the gaps in the literature.