Higher education provides a transformative experience for students, allowing the opportunity for continuous change and the development of skills needed to grow independently and interdependently with students around them. Similarly, higher education equips students with the tools to continue changing and flourishing after graduation. For many…

We explored the connotations and stigmas surrounding the term first-generation college student (FGCS) among FGCSs and their peers from continuing-generation backgrounds in higher education. We used a mixed-methods approach, conducting qualitative interviews to gain in-depth perspectives and a quantitative survey to gather comparative data. We…

Vice Presidents of Student Affairs (VPSAs) lead in a context nuanced around race that conflicts with their duty to enact the student affairs profession's espoused values of social justice and inclusion. This paper summarizes findings from a critical qualitative case study conducted with 10 VPSAs from a diverse group of institutions located in the…

This study is guided by theory and research that point to the importance of campus climate as a critical factor in college student achievement and belonging. Minoritized groups, however, are often found to have negative experiences on college campuses due to their marginalized racial and gender positions. For college women specifically, there is…

This study examines student activists' interactions with student affairs professionals. Guided by Schlossberg's (1989) marginality and mattering framework, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 student activists. Student activists experienced marginalization in three ways (1) misperceptions of student organizing, (2) not feeling heard,…

The purpose of this narrative inquiry was to understand how institutions of higher education implemented a gender-inclusive housing option for students from the perspective of student affairs administrators. Of particular interest was how housing administrators perceived a gender-inclusive housing option impacted students and the campus community.…

Based on Boyer's (1990) principles of community, the purpose of this study was to examine how students' perceived sense of campus community contributed to explaining their satisfaction with school life. Participants were randomly selected from a student email address list obtained by the Office of Assessment at a mid-size university in the Midwest…

Sense of belonging contributes to academic success, persistence, and self-efficacy among students, and is especially poignant for first-generation students who are less likely to engage socially, intellectually, and academically. Residential spaces provide the ideal environment to examine belongingness among first-generation students because of…

Campus sexual misconduct has been a growing concern in recent years. The researchers of this qualitative study analyzed the perceived adequacy of current sexual misconduct training and delivery practices from Title IX coordinators representing 11 higher education institutions across the United States. Results point to the importance of…

This article examines the psychological theoretical foundations of college student development theory and the theoretical assumptions of this framework. A complimentary, sociological perspective and the theoretical assumptions of this approach are offered. The potential limitations of the overuse of each perspective are considered. The conclusion…

This qualitative study employed focus group interviews to explore students' perceptions of three well established academically based living-learning communities at a large, land-grant university in the Midwest. Three themes merged that illustrated students' perceptions of a culture that promoted seamless learning, a scholarly environment, and an…

This article presents a case study at Oakmont University where a presidential debate will be held on campus. Oakmont University is a large public research institution located in the Southeastern United States. This Carnegie Doctoral/Research I institution enrolls more than 35,000, 75% undergraduate and 25% graduate students. Located in somewhat of…

Colleges often seek to promote a psychological sense of community (PSOC) among their students. However, there is limited research on factors promoting PSOC, and little empirical evidence on whether students of different ethnic backgrounds might experience PSOC differently. This study, which took place on a predominantly White campus, explored…

This study investigates the differences between levels of moral reasoning for traditional and nontraditional students. Results indicated that both groups of students enter college at similar levels. Implications of these findings would suggest that the college experience, not age is the most influential factor in the development of moral…

Higher education professionals continue to seek ways to improve campus community. It is imperative that individuals know their responsibilities as student affairs professionals and their roles within this process. This article provides examples of best practices in community development, ideas for practice, and a glimpse into the future of…