BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY

Institutional Task ForceCSA 501

Fall 2011

Shannon Beaver Caitlin Domagal

Micah Howe Vinika Porwal

Brendan Smith Jackie Wong

OVERVIEW

• Methods

• Institutional Characteristics

• Student Affairs Mission

• Findings & Synthesis

• Recommendations

• Conclusion

• Questions?

METHODS

• Different from Penn State

• Private, highly selective institution

• Small student body

Why Bucknell?

• Creating interview questions & choosing who to interview

• Conversations with functional areas and graduate students

• Touring campus

Researching & Visiting Campus • Conducted thematic content

analysis based on information gathered on campus

• Looked for functional area alignment with Student Affairs mission

• Studied salient Bucknell characteristics

Analysis

INSTITUTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY

Size & Location

Campus LifeStudents

STUDENT AFFAIRS STRUCTURE

Provost

Academic AffairsStudent Affairs

Dean of Students

Associate Dean of Housing Services

Associate Dean of Campus Activities

and Programs

Assistant Dean of Students and Judicial

Administration

Associate Dean of Residential Education and Fraternity and

Sorority Life

STUDENT AFFAIRS MISSION

The Division of Student Affairs prepares Bucknellians

for meaningful engagement in their campus community

and in the globalized world.

The educational programs, activities, services and

individual mentoring opportunities sponsored by the

Division intentionally challenge and support students'

development across five learning domains:

1. Personal and Community Development

2. Intercultural Competence

3. Values and Ethics

4. Health and Wellness

5. Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability

Student Affairs professionals partner with students,

faculty and others to create a vibrant residential

learning community that promotes academic excellence

and personal well-being.

FINDINGS

Campus Activities and Programs

Office of Civic Engagement

Multicultural Student Services

International Student Services

Office of LGBT Awareness

Fraternity & Sorority Affairs

New Student Orientation

Office of Residential Education &

Housing Services

Judicial Administration

Recurring Themes

• Emphasis on community

• Lack of diversity

•Socio-economic privilege

•Emphasis on geographic diversity

•Intercultural competence

• The struggle with values/ethics

•2011 Campus Climate Report

•Alcohol use and abuse

•Sexual assault

• Faculty/staff divide

•High staff turnover

• Environmental stewardship?

RECOMMENDATIONS

Increased racial diversity

Increased class diversity

Accommodate non-traditional students

Purposeful collaboration and communication between faculty and staff

Celebrate LGBT pride

Make concerted effort to include all students

Sustainability efforts

Define learning outcomes for each functional area

Intentionally assess programs at pre-determined intervals

Ensure follow-through on Campus Climate Report recommendations

Diversity Community Assessment

CONCLUSION

• Strengths

• Challenges

• For the future

QUESTIONS?

Not pictured: Shannon Beaver and Brendan Smith

References

Astin, A. W. (1984). Student involvement: A developmental theory for higher education.

Journal of College Student Personnel, 25, 297-308. Retrieved from:

http://www.middlesex.mass.edu/tutoringservices/downloads/astininv.pdf

Bucknell University. (2008a). About Bucknell. Retrieved from http://www.bucknell.edu/x51.xml

Bucknell University. (2008b). Office of civic engagement. Retrieved from

http://www.bucknell.edu/x64023.xml

Bucknell University. (2008c). Our vision and mission. Retrieved from http://www.bucknell.edu/x4909.xml

Bucknell University. (2008d). Student affairs goals. Retrieved from

http://www.bucknell.edu/x55722.xml

Bucknell University. (2008e). Tuition & financial aid. Retrieved from http://www.bucknell.edu/x44239.xml

Dean, L.A. (Ed.). (2009) CAS Professional Standards for Higher Education (7th ed.). Washington, DC:

Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education.

Keeling, R.P. (Ed.) (2006) Learning reconsidered 2: Implementing a campus-wide focus on the student

experience.

Kuh, G. D. (1993). In their own words: What students learn outside the classroom.

American Educational Research Journal, 30, 277-304.

doi: 10.3102/00028312030002277

Pascarella, E. T., & Terenzini, P. T. (1991). How college affects students: Findings and

insights from twenty years of research. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Retrieved from:

https://edocs.uis.edu/Departments/LIS/Course_Pages/LIS301/papers/How_

college_effects_students_534-545.pdf

Rankin, S., Weber, G., Blumenfeld, W., & Frazer, S. (2010). 2010 state of higher education for lesbian, gay,

bisexual & transgender people. Charlotte, NC: Campus Pride.

doi: 10.1037/a0014108

Schuh, J.H., Jones, S.R., Harper, S.R., & Associates. (2011). Student services: A handbook for the

profession (5th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Upcraft, M.L. & Schuh, J.H. (2002). Assessment vs. research: Why we should care about the difference.

About Campus, 16-20