Now in its fifth edition, Student Services: A Handbook for the Profession has been hailed as a classic reference in the field. In this important resource, a new cast of student affairs scholars and practitioners examine the changing context of the student experience in higher education, the evolution of the role of student affairs professionals, and the philosophies, ethics, and theories that guide the practice of student affairs work. The fifth edition covers a broad range of relevant topics including historical roots and development of the profession, philosophies and ethical standards, legal issues, theoretical bases of the profession, organizing and managing student affairs programs, and essential competencies: leadership, multiculturalism, supervision, teaching, counseling and helping skills, advising and consultation, conflict resolution, community development, professionalism, and developing institutional partnerships. It also addresses the future of student affairs practice and how it is informed by student learning outcomes and technology. "The painstakingly thorough coverage of topics important to the profession of student affairs makes this handbook a valuable resource to the scholarly and practice communities of the profession." —John M. Braxton, professor, Higher Education Leadership and Policy Program, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University; editor, Journal of College Student Development "Continues three decades of excellence in providing a comprehensive set of resources that provides firm grounding for the higher education student affairs community in all aspects of our profession." —Michael J. Cuyjet, professor, Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, University of Louisville "Casts an impressively wide net, thoroughly capturing critical topics and offering a deeply nuanced and technical, yet readily accessible narrative trajectory and study of student affairs in higher education." —Theresa A. Powell, vice president for student affairs, Temple University
I read this for class and let me just say... it is written completely for student services and student affairs professionals. I found the historical sections to be interesting, but then it went into complaints that student affairs is not seen as a real profession by others in higher education. As someone who does not work in a student facing office and has not worked in a student facing office, I rolled my eyes at that complaint so hard they almost fell out of my head. The fact that there are handbooks, multiple large professional organizations, professional guidance, etc. on the student facing positions discussed proves that is untrue. I believe student affairs professionals are extremely important in the community and cultural development of our students, but some of the ideas stated in this handbook were inflated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book was fine, as textbooks go. Better than most! Some chapters were better than others, but I appreciated that. The variety of authors kept it interesting and prevented large chunks of reading from being too dry. Also, my academic crush on Shaun Harper still stands, so I may be biased. SPOT ON ALL THE TIME.