The immense challenges currently facing higher education may seem overwhelming to many. But to Student Affairs professionals, they represent an unparalleled opportunity to create a future with seemingly infinite potential. Since Student affairs professionals will no doubt play an increasingly important role within our colleges and universities throughout the next century, it is absolutely essential that our graduate programs provide qualified professionals who can meet the challenges that lie ahead in an enthusiastic and uncompromising manner.

The future demands that Student Affairs professionals possess a deep appreciation for the immense diversity present within today's college populations. They must have the knowledge and skills necessary to facilitate and enhance total student development. They must recognize that in addition to the administrative aspects of their work, Student Affairs professionals also play a vital role in educating students. They contribute significantly to the overall quality of the higher education experience through the programs and services that they provide.

The Big Question: How do we ensure that future Student Affairs professionals have what it takes to successfully respond to these heightened demands?

The Big Answer: Through our graduate preparatory programs. But it is equally important to recognize, however, that not all master's degree programs are created equal.

When considering where to go for graduate study, aspiring Student Affairs professionals need to know that the expanded curriculum of the new, innovative 48-hour master's degree program in Student Affairs is inherently superior to the out-of-date and marginally coherent 30- or 36-hour degree program in Student Personnel Services. The 48-hour program, with its emphasis on the practical application of knowledge and skills through intense practicum and internship experiences, serves to prepare Student Affairs professionals in a way that is simply not possible with most of the older programs.

Students who enroll in the more progressive 48-hour master's degree program in Student Affairs develop proficiency in a wide variety of areas. They become knowledgeable concerning the theoretical foundations of the field, the parameters of professional practice to which they will be expected to adhere, and the various strategies available for enhancing administrative effectiveness. Moreover, these programs strive to be as responsive as possible to the individual career and occupational needs of the students they serve.

The 48-hour master's degree program in Student Affairs, since it is based explicitly on the CAS standards, is specifically designed to be of maximum benefit for both current and aspiring Student Affairs professionals. Classes typically consist of full-time graduate students who are preparing for entry-level positions as well as seasoned professionals who are looking to enhance their skills, knowledge base, and/or marketability. This mix inherently serves to enhance the overall quality of the classroom experience for everyone.

Finally, it is of paramount importance that students always be placed at the center of the priority structure. The pragmatic aspects of a college education are absolutely essential to its continued existence. The only way any business survives is by being as responsive as possible to the individual needs of its consumers. College graduates must clearly see a connection between the college experience and their ability to gain and maintain occupational fulfillment throughout their lives. Student Affairs professionals, more than any other single entity on the college campus, help to provide this connection. And the 48-hour program, much more than the 30- or 36-hour program, instills within Student Affairs professionals the deep appreciation and sense of responsibility needed to facilitate these processes.

It is a mute point that Student Affairs professionals will be vital to the future of higher education. By providing the field with dedicated and conscientious professionals, the 48-hour master's degree program seeks to more efficiently and comprehensively create a profession which will contribute to, and not distract from, the creation of better human beings, better institutions, a better world and, ultimately, a better tomorrow.

As originally published in
ACPA Developments
(American College Personnel Association)

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