Digital Commons Network^™

The Spirit At Work: Student Affairs Practitioners And Spiritual Identity, Margaret Sarnicki

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

While scholarly research has documented an increased interest in spirituality by college students and investigated the way spirituality influences faculty and students of various worldviews, research had yet to extensively examine the spirituality of student affairs practitioners. Accordingly, this study sought to understand the factors that influence how student affairs practitioners live out spiritual authenticity at work, including in their conversations with students.

The study was based on a qualitative research design, including semi-structured interviews with ten student affairs practitioners working in public higher education in a Midwestern state, and the spiritual development theories of James Fowler and Sharon Daloz …

Female Student Affairs Professionals And Work-Life Balance, Debra K. Deminck

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how mothers, working as mid-level student affairs professionals, perceive and navigate their dual roles at work and in the home. This study asked the following: how does the participant’s sense of identity, relational style, adaptive style, and drive and motivation shape her work-life balance decisions and practices? What personal strategies are these working mothers using as they respond to the demands of the dual roles of professional and parent? Using a basic qualitative research design, I explored the work-life experiences of eight female student affairs professionals through participant interviews. Data …

Lgbtq Mid-Level Administrators Of Color In Student Affairs: Experiences Of Support And Resilience, Saby Leimomi Labor

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

Existing literature provides an insufficient understanding of the lived experiences of LGBTQ Student Affairs Mid-Level Administrators and particularly from a strengths-based approach. This study applied a life story interview approach to the exploration of the support and resilience experiences of mid-level Student Affairs administrators who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two spirit and/or queer (LGTBTTQ) and a person of color or indigenous (POCI), using a theoretical framework comprised of the ecological systems approach (Bronfenbrenner, 1979), queer theory (Jagose, 1996; Plummer, 2005; Watson, 2005) and intersectionality (Collins, 1998; Crenshaw, 1991; McCall, 2005). Findings of this study include a wide range …

Criteria Used By University Administrators In Parental Notification For Students With Mental Health Concerns, Margaret L. Sarnicki

Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration

The purpose of this study was to examine the formal policies and informal criteria used by Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) administrators in making decisions regarding notification of parents for students with mental health concerns. The study also explored the expectations in making parental contact and if those expectations were realized. The role of the Virginia Tech tragedy on policy and procedures was also addressed.

The results of this study were obtained through semi-structured interviews of one administrator at each of the seven MnSCU universities. Participation was based on identification of the administrator making the majority of parental notification …