A substantial proportion of college students have always worked while pursuing their college degree. However, despite decades of research on working college students, very little consensus has emerged about the effect of work on college student development. This study analyzes Wabash National Study (WNS) data from 2,931 first-year students at 19…

Student affairs professionals seek innovative methods to enhance academic achievement for students. A recent study highlighted the need to bridge student development work with course curricula (Kilpatrick, Stant, Downes, & Gaither, 2008). This study also linked the importance of nonacademic cognitive variables, such as locus of control, to…

Although many college students enter leadership programs with the express goal of developing leadership skills, some specialized leadership programs draw students who seek to gain expertise in a disciplinary area, with leadership development as a secondary goal. In the latter case, program developers face the challenge of generating enthusiasm…

This qualitative study investigates how the Learning Partnerships Model (LPM; Baxter Magolda, 2001, 2004a) could be operationalized in the context of an academic advising retention program. The findings focus on what epistemological outcomes emerge for students who entered the program as formula followers. Findings suggest that although students…

Using the College Student Experiences Questionnaire (CSEQ), surveys 736 university students at the beginning of first, and at the end of third, year to identify the impact of the type of experiences measured in the CSEQ on skill levels. Results indicate that university experiences have a minimal impact on skills development. (Contains 14…

Using longitudinal data from 875 students, assesses whether student participation in leadership education and training programs has an impact on educational and personal development. Results indicate that leadership participants showed growth in civic responsibility, leadership skills, multicultural awareness, understanding of leadership theories,…

Researchers surveyed 151 chief student-affairs officers to determine their perceptions of the most important skills and competencies that should be possessed by new doctoral graduates aspiring to midmanagement student-affairs positions. Four skill areas were identified as most important, and two skills were identified as least essential.…

Involvement in various college activities and educational gains of black students (n=1,200) attending a historically white institution were compared. Involvement in academic activities had a greater impact on gains of students at the black institution, and social engagement was more important for black students at the white institution. (Author)