A Longitudinal Analysis of Funding for Student Affairs in Public Institutions

This study examines longitudinal funding for 513 public institutions over the time period 1995-1999 using the !PEDS database. A comparison across institutional types is presented, and student affairs funding also is compared with other major campus units

Using Undergraduate Learning Assistants to Aid in Course Redesign

Research has identified potential difficulties for students enrolled in large classes. Large classes reduce opportunities for faculty-student interaction, which may predict decreased learning, retention rates, and student performance. It is therefore important to increase opportunities for faculty-student interaction. One successful tactic for increasing this interaction in large classes involves the utilization of undergraduate peers as class assistants. This manuscript describes the implementation of Undergraduate Learning Assistants (ULAs) in large sections of Introductory Psychology at Missouri State University, utilizing data collected prior to this manuscript. Further, this manuscript is a review of the implementation of ULAs at Missouri State submitted by students who have served in the position. ULAs mentor students, act as facilitators between the instructor and students, and lead study sessions before each unit exam outside of the classroom. While multiple positive outcomes have been observed by means of data collection and student feedback pertinent to learning outcomes and academic success, students also rated the ULAs and their study sessions as effective. Additionally, higher levels of course staff-student interaction has also been observed. Although related work has been published regarding the specific target domains of course redesign, this manuscript provides readers with information on how to implement ULAs with respect to each of the delineated target areas

Standing At The Intersection: Reconsidering The Balance In Administration

Student life administrators everywhere recognize the scenario: sitting in conference with a student, expounding institutional policies, explaining a particular action because policy “requires” it. They can also recall pursuing action against a student who, while clearly violating the letter of a policy, seems more a confused adolescent than an intentional offender. Student development professionals “theoretically” deal with these issues by addressing the needs of students in the context of a developmentally appropriate educational environment. In that small, remote region that administrators identify as their “gut,” they also know that tomorrow morning their attempts at development may be featured in the local paper’s headline story about unregulated behavior on college campuses. They face media attention, government regulations, professional organization ethical standards, local policy, and their own, sometimes conflicting, values. They are constantly challenged by the questions What should we do?What will we do? How will we decide

"Academic service quality and instructional quality"

The text is published here with the permission of the "Journal of the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition." Pages in the published version are identified with the symbols, “[ ].” Additional information is at the end of this document. Keith Greiner is a Drake graduate and can be contacted at [email protected]. Tom Westbrook is a Professor of Education in the Leadership and Adult Development program at Drake University and can be contacted at [email protected] article reports a study of the relationship between academic service quality and instructional quality in higher education. The study included 360 students enrolled in first-year biology course. Eighty-two percent of the participants were in the first semester of their college. Academic service was an adaptation of five business dimensions; instructional quality was measured by nine dimensions. The use of business dimensions suggested that the instructor/student relationship may be seen in the marketing context of an exchange between two parties. The study found a high correlation between academic service and instructional quality. Academic service quality overlapped instructional quality in three dimensions: enthusiasm, organization, and rapport. The findings suggest relationships exist at both an overall level and at subscale levels across a variety of demographic variables. The factor constructs of instructional quality are clearly distinguished from academic service quality, but there is an overlap in constructs describing interpersonal relationships. The study has major significance for the blending of academic and student personnel concerns in the academy. The authors recommend longterm studies of [8] relationships between expected and observed quality, long-term relationships between instruction and service quality, and adaptation of the instruments to distance-learning

Conceptualizing the Campus Culture: The Significance of Cultural Artifacts

Cultural artifacts convey meanings and messages to members of a campus community that provide insights into the culture of a college. Artifacts may include physical, behavioral, or verbal phenomena that one identifies in the culture of an institution. While studies of culture on college campuses have been conducted through anthropological, organizational, and academic lenses, it is still unclear how cultural artifacts are categorized within higher education literature and why this may be important. Based on a review of literature from multiple disciplines and institutional examples, the authors present a categorization and conceptual framework of cultural artifacts found on college campuses. They consider the implications of artifacts conveying multiple meanings and how this may influence how students learn about the culture and their college choice

An Investigation of Extracurricular Activities in Relation to Sense of Identity of College Freshmen

Based on a sample of 330 freshman students enrolled in a First-Year Studies Program, 32 of 38 extracurricular activities of students were found to be significantly related to sense of identity, including those pertaining to socializing, religious/spiritual activities, leisure pursuits, study groups, volunteering, sports, traveling, and passive entertainment. Discussion of results includes an explanation for their findings as well as theoretical and practical implications

The Effects of Fraternity/Sorority Membership on College Experiences and Outcomes: A Portrait of Complexity

This study estimated the effects of fraternity/sorority membership on a wide range of college experiences and outcomes for first-year and senior college students at a large, public, Midwestern university. The findings suggest a complex portrait of the relationships between affiliation, engagement, and learning outcomes. Fraternity/sorority membership appeared to facilitate social involvement during college but may have limited the diversity of relationships. It was associated with higher levels of community service, but also increased the odds of excessive alcohol use. In the presence of controls for important, confounding influences, being a fraternity/sorority member had little consistent influence on grades or perceived impact of college. There was little support for gender differences in the impact of affiliation. Finally, implications for student affairs professionals in their work with undergraduate fraternity/sorority leaders and members were considered