Student Services: A Handbook for the Profession, 4th Edition.
by Susan R. Komives, Dudley B. Woodard, Jr., and Associates
(Jossey-Bass, 2003).

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of this course students should be able to demonstrate:

1. An understanding of general management theory.

2. An understanding of the external factors that influence administrative practice in Student Affairs.

3. An understanding of how administrative theory is put into practice within Student Affairs.

4. An understanding of how policy is developed and implemented within Student Affairs, including human resource development, the role of student governance, and information processing implications.

5. An understanding of the legal environment in which Student Affairs operates, including the law and higher education in general, student, faculty and staff rights, relevant case law, contractual, regulatory and statutory relationships, and liability concerns.

6. An understanding of supervisory concerns in Student Affairs, including the professional preparation of staff, staff selection, supervision and evaluation, and various paraprofessional staff considerations.

7. An understanding of physical facilities administration in Student Affairs, including facilities utilization issues, maintenance/equipment issues, capital improvement issues, and staffing issues.

8. An understanding of fiscal considerations as they relate to Student Affairs, including how priorities are established, budgeting and resource allocation, and basic financial management.

9. An understanding of employee relations in Student Affairs, including collective bargaining as well as current trends and problem areas.

10. An appreciation of the importance of effective administration within the Student Affairs profession.

11. An appreciation of the integrated nature of higher education in general and Student Affairs in particular.

12. An appreciation of the fiscal stresses that inherently impede upon Student Affairs and how those conditions affect the potential for success in fostering and maintaining coherent and focused programs and services.

(1) Simulation. Each member of the class will be placed on a team which will investigate, in depth, the administrative aspects of a particular Student Affairs unit. Teams will then be responsible for devising an organizational structure for their unit along with administrative policies and procedures applicable for that specific unit. Teams will also be required to complete a number of tasks relevant to the efficient operation of their particular department. At each phase of the simulation, integration with other "departments" will be emphasized.

(2) Class Discussion. Each student is required to lead a discussion over material assigned by the instructor. Discussions should cover the primary points made by the author(s) of the selection and include a critique of the efficacy/application of the information to Student Affairs practice.

(3) Attendance/Participation. Each student is expected to attend all class meetings and be prepared to contribute meaningfully to any discussions of the particular topics under consideration. As such, each student is expected to read all assignments prior to the class period in which they will be discussed. Two points will be automatically deducted from this portion of the course grade for each class session missed.

(4) Final Exam. At the conclusion of the course, students will complete a final exam which will give them an opportunity to demonstrate what has been learned throughout the semester. The final exam will be essay and cover the full content of the course. We will review prior to administration of the final; everyone who participates in the class throughout the semester should have no difficulty with the final.

Grading:

Simulation ................ 40%
Class Discussion ...... 15%
Final Exam ............... 30%
Participation ............. 15%
Total ..................... 100%