Slam the breaks… Before I keep going, I thought it might be important to ask the question, what is student affairs?

Student Affairs is a division, in higher education institutions, that is focused on student support services and student success; basically everything non-academic. According to NASPA, an international organization of student affairs administrators, “the work done by student affairs professionals helps students begin a lifetime journey of growth and self-exploration.” This profession is all about helping students get the most out of their college/university experience. This takes form in multiple ways within higher education, such as, counseling, advising, administration, programing, residence life, and more. Not only are the on campus, student-professional, interactions (like the ones listed) an important part of student affairs, but also the research side is crucial to profession and higher education as a whole. There are multiple academic journals of student affairs that publish work done to improve post-secondary education and unveil new information on student development. Furthermore, student affairs professionals also have a heavy hand in policy and advocacy. NAPSA’s Public Policy Division chair, Dr. Lawrence P. Ward, writes:

Given the current political environment and changing policy landscape, NASPA’s voice and ability to influence higher education policy and advocate for student interests at the federal, state, and local levels have never been more relevant or urgent.

This profession is comprised of many different areas but all work together and strive to enhance the student experience in higher education institutions.