Profiling the Leaders: Student Affairs Officers at Community Colleges Marilyn Amey, Kim VanDerLinden, and Wei-ni Wang Michigan State University NASPA 2002

Demographics of Senior Student Affairs Officers 55% of respondents were women Mean age was 52 11% identified as African American, 2% as Asian American, 2% Hispanic, 2% Native American 27% had Ed.D., 19% Ph.D., 50% Master’s 68% were in partnerships; 23% divorced; 8% single 87% have at least one child, 52% w/child at home

Career Path Summary Have a fairly traditional advancement path within student affairs Strong internal labor market and promotion from within the same institution 70% have been at the same institution more than 10 years 62% in position less than 5 years

Mission Serving Students  Including quality instruction for student success  Understanding of connections with larger institution  Academic transfer, workforce development, lifelong learning Quality Education and Programs Addressing Community Needs Providing accessible education Technology and on-line/distance education

Mission Changes Last Five Years –Workforce/ economic dev’t –Distance education –Stronger focus on students and student learning Next Ten Years –New delivery systems: learning service Administration –Community and business needs

External Issues Meeting community needs Links to business/industry Federal support for students State support for students State support for programs & teaching Data sharing Fund raising

Internal Issues  Fiscal management  Designing new delivery systems  Retention  Recruitment & marketing  Creation of new programs

Gender Differences with Internal Issues  Women  Retention  New delivery systems  Fiscal management  Creating new programs  Recruitment  Reform of current programs  Institutional research   Men  Strategic planning  New delivery systems  Retention  Institutional decision making  Recruitment  Fiscal management  Institutional research

Technology Issues Technology support for instruction/administration Student access to computers Use of technology in current programs Technology support for students On-line student services

Gender Differences on Technology Issues  Women  Tech support for instruction/admin  Use of tech in current programs  Computer access for students  Tech competence for students  On-line student services   Men  Computer access for students  Tech support for instruction/admin  Tech competence for students  Use of tech in current programs

Implications for Graduate Programs  Broadening perspectives beyond Student Affairs  Solid administrative preparation, including development, strategic planning, budgeting, program planning & development  Research methods and data awareness  Competence in addressing technology issues