We examine the meaning and salience of social justice and solidarity building in higher education for Indigenous peoples through the lens of Indigenous resurgence. Indigenous resurgence centers Indigenous worldviews to guide our understanding and behavior while also prioritizing relationality to determine where and how to build solidarities with…

Student affairs was founded on student needs surrounding advocacy and inclusion. Due to a general lack of knowledge surrounding the field's formation, NASPA worked to create the book "Reflecting Back, Looking Forward: Civil Rights and Student Affairs." This article highlights the role of student affairs officers during challenging times,…

Some student affairs professionals who are employed at public colleges and universities feel conflicted about the degree to which they should or should not discuss their religious and/or spiritual beliefs at work. The purpose of this article is to present an overview of legal, developmental, and ethical considerations that should be factored into…

This narrative study examines how student affairs administrators in eight institutions in the southern United States became change agents in higher education for LGBTQ students. Participants shared stories of their identity development, turning points about needs of LGBTQ students, and their choice to advocate in higher education. Implications for…

The majority of voters in South Africa still do not take democratic elections for granted, but the decline in voting participation is a cause for concern in South Africa, as in other parts of the world. In addition, widespread student protests at higher education institutions during 2015 and 2016, including those at African and South African…

The author provides a personal and professional reflection on her 40-plus-year career in higher education and student affairs within the perspective of current national events. She outlines the new challenges and responsibilities that the 2016 election and the ongoing aftermath create for the profession and proposes three guideposts for scholars…

Many scholars argue that America is becoming a dangerously divided nation because of increasing inequality, especially in income distribution. This article examines the problem of widening income inequality with particular focus on the role that colleges and universities and their student affairs organizations play in serving low income students…

Student affairs, as an integral part of universities, has taken on a key position in contributing to social justice as one of the central imperatives of higher education in South Africa. This article sketches the development of this role and outlines some important tasks for contemporary student affairs. Three conceptual models within the social…

This article examines the field of international higher education (IHE) and its application to the practice of student affairs. The author proposes that IHE is a crossroads between international comparative education and higher education, exploring their shared historical roots. She gives an overview of the current state of the IHE field, looking…

What does student coaching involve and what considerations make sense in deciding to engage an outside contractor to provide personal coaching? The author explores coaching in light of his own professional experience and uses this reflection as a platform from which to consider the pros and cons of student coaching when deciding whether to choose…

Student affairs is a relatively new profession in higher education, and only recently has its history begun to be systematically examined. This article describes one of the earliest venues in which student affairs leaders gathered to discuss current issues and to reflect with colleagues about the emerging student affairs profession. This article…

Faculty, student affairs professionals, and most importantly, students, are paying the price as institutions of higher education increasingly operate in a top-down manner with an over-emphasis on the bottom line. The corporatization of higher education creates lopsided reward (and punishment) systems for faculty, unreasonably stressful…

In a recent volume of the "Journal of College and Character", Peter Magolda (2010) suggested that student administration professionals and campus religious groups should strive to overcome the separation that has been observed between the groups. In the present article, the author contends that good historical, moral, and legal reasons remain for…

As a result of environmental turbulence created by economic turmoil and shifting social policies, the world of higher education is experiencing widespread change. Student affairs professionals are well-positioned to influence the future direction of higher education and the impact education has for students and society. The NASPA 2012 conference…

Student affairs is a relatively new profession and has changed in significant ways in response to new developments in higher education, innovations in practice, new conceptual paradigms, and changing economic and political conditions. As a result there is much debate about the core mission and purpose of student affairs and whether it is possible…