ERIC Number: EJ1317820
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0888-210X
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Professionalizing Student Affairs: Five Tensions
McGill, Craig M.; Rocco, Tonette S.; Delgado, Antonio; Lowery, John Wesley
College Student Affairs Journal, v39 n2 p123-135 2021
Scholars and practitioners have discussed the professionalization of student affairs almost since the birth of the field in 19th century. Professionalizing a field can improve its status and better serve members of an occupation and their clients (Pavalko, 1988). The purpose of this paper is to identify points of tension that illustrate efforts to professionalize and barriers to achieve professional status. As scholars and practitioners of student affairs, we offer five tensions: lack of specialized knowledge, lack of unified purpose and focus, divided professional community, diversity of student affairs credentialing, and lack of autonomy for student affairs practitioners at both the individual and organizational levels. We conclude with implications for practice and research.
Descriptors: Student Personnel Services, Student Personnel Workers, Professional Recognition, Barriers, Specialization, Professional Associations, Credentials, Professional Autonomy
Southern Association for College Student Affairs. 11935 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA 31419; e-mail: CSAJreviews@gmail.com; Web site: https://sacsa.site-ym.com/page/CSAJ
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A