April, 2007

Freshman Initiatives at Seton Hall University
By Laura A. Wankel and Agnes Hooper Gottlieb
Five years ago, Seton Hall University began a university-wide initiative called “Creating a Culture of Success” to address retention issues. Their work paid off: the retention rate of freshmen climbed from 78 percent in 2001 to 83 percent in 2005. We invited Laura Wankel and Agnes Hooper Gottlieb to tell us more about the steps they took to create a successful freshman retention program. – C.S.

Student Affairs Leader - April 1, 2007 - Full Issue PDF
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When a Student Requests Confidentiality, Should You Agree? Lessons Learned from “Failure to Report” Case
By Brett A. Sokolow
Student affairs professionals across the country breathed a collective sigh of relief when a not guilty verdict ended the case against the Notre Dame College (Ohio) dean of students, who faced criminal charges for failing to report the rapes of two students who had requested that she keep their conversation confidential. While this case raises many issues, perhaps the most important is how we can prevent this from happening on our campuses. Student Affairs Leader asked Brett A. Sokolow, J.D., president of the National Center for Higher Education Risk Management, Ltd., to provide guidance. – C.S.

On-Campus Report Capsules
Just as we are going to press, the U.S. surgeon general has issued a Call to Action against underage drinking (www.surgeongeneral.gov). It is an appeal to do more to stop American’s 11 million underage drinkers from using alcohol and to keep other young people from starting. The 107-page report identifies six goals, each suggesting strategies for parents, communities, colleges, and universities.

Finding a New Way to Think about the Intersection between Student and Academic Affairs
By Kathleen Manning
“You’ll never have to work again…” “You’re defecting to the other side…” “How does it feel to be retiring?” Eighteen years ago, when I switched roles from practitioner to faculty member, these were some comments I heard from student affairs colleagues. Before my change in position, I certainly knew of the divide between student affairs administrators and faculty, but I had underestimated the depth of acrimony that student affairs educators held toward faculty.