June 15, 2007

The Benefit of Hindsight: What Colleges and Universities Can Learn from the Tragedy at Virginia Tech
By Brett A. Sokolow
I know and deeply respect as colleagues and friends many of the staff and administrators at Virginia Tech. I’ve worked with them over the years as a consultant, and I can’t think of many campuses that have a more widespread, authentic, and effective commitment to antiviolence issues. They are caring, professional, and extremely competent.

Student Affairs Leader - June 15, 2007 - Full Issue PDF
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OnCampus Report Capsules
Student suicides: The Los Angeles Times (www.latimes.com) ran a long story on May 23 about the state of student mental health services in the University of California system. A high-level UC committee concluded that the university’s overtaxed mental health services fell “significantly short” and that the 10-campus system urgently needs to expand its counseling program.

When Should You Use a Survey in Student Affairs Assessment?
By Darby Roberts
Many people think first of “surveys” when discussing program assessment. While surveying is a very important assessment tool, it certainly isn’t the only one to consider. Selecting the right tool for the right task is a critical step in the process of getting the information you need when conducting an assessment.

How Can Student Affairs Attract and Retain a Diverse Staff?
By Arthur Sandeen and Margaret J. Barr
The work of student affairs is labor-intensive. Providing help, support, and learning opportunities for individual students and student groups requires a willingness to interact with students in a variety of settings. It is human work and requires an understanding of both organizational and human development theory.