Final Assessment

Sherman 1

Derrick Sherman
Final Assessment Paper
Georgia Southern University
COUN 7132: Contemporary College Student

Final Assessment

Sherman 2

Institutions across the country have their own unique characteristics. Similar to
snowflakes, there are no institutions that are completely the same. Each college and university
has their own make ups, which make them different from any other institution. Some
characteristics are more visible than others such as whether the institution is public or private.
This is an important characteristic because this ultimately determines where the institution gets
the majority of its funding that it uses to operate. Private institutions rely heavily on private
funding which usually comes from tuition paid by the students and private donations from
alumni and boosters. Public institutions rely more on public funds from state and federal
governments in order to operate, which usually comes with stipulations. While the government
provides funding for public universities, it also has strong suggestions as to how and where those
dollars are put to use. In many cases, government funds are given to specific projects of the
institution. Private institutions are able to be a bit more flexible with how and where their dollars
are spent, consequently changing the makeup of the institution.
The location of the institution also holds a lot of weight in terms of the overall operation.
The location usually has a lot of bearings as to how the institution is marketed; in many cases
this has a huge effect on the institution as a whole. For example, an institution in rural Kansas
may benefit more by marketing themselves as an agriculture school, appealing to future farmers,
while a university near our nations capital will benefit more by marketing their institution
toward criminal justice and law enforcement, appealing to those with the desire to work in the
federal government. These characteristics will alter what degrees and programs are available at
each institution as well as where the majority of their resources will go.

Final Assessment

Sherman 3

Another important characteristic of an institution is the size of their student population.

This is important because this determines everything from the number of faculty and staff that
needs to be employed, all the way to how many different student organizations must be present at
the institution. All three of these characteristics are important to the overall operation of the
institution, and play a substantial role in the organization of student affairs.
Student affairs on each collegiate campus are used to assist the students with their
transition and to help them develop the necessary tools and strengths in order to succeed during
their college years and beyond. In this essay we will examine two functional areas of student
affairs, both academic and campus life, and the different aspects that promote changes associated
with student matriculation.
There are several aspects of academics in which student affairs practitioners can promote
developments in college students. I believe that it all begins with the admissions process.
Thousands of students apply to higher education institutions every year; it is up to the admissions
professionals to decide which students will gain admittance into the university. In many cases,
admissions officers may be very selective as to keep the total enrollment at a manageable level or
have a quota in which institutions are more lenient in the students that are accepted. No matter
the circumstances, it is up to the professionals within the admissions office to screen prospective
students to assure that they are capable of fitting in and have a great chance at being successful at
their institution. This feat can be more easily accomplished at a larger state institution than at a
smaller private institution. Also, in terms of admissions, diversity should remain a priority to
assure that each culture, ethnicity, and gender are represented with good numbers throughout the
institution.

Final Assessment

Sherman 4

Diversity amongst socioeconomic status can also be achieved throughout the institution
as well; this usually falls in the hands of the financial aid office. These are the professionals that
help students with how they are able to pay for their initial year, and are almost certain to deal
with the same students on a yearly basis. By providing students with fast and friendly service,
many times walking them through a difficult application process, these practitioners are vital in
helping students not only begin but ultimately finish their degree programs. Their role extends
beyond helping fill out forms and questionnaires, often times financial aid must look ahead and
assure that each student is on pace to graduate before their maximum loans are exceeded and to
make sure that the students have a plan order to pay for college. It may be fair to say that the
financial aid professionals are most important because if the student does not have the funds to
pay for their schooling, the student may not be able to reach other student affairs practitioners to
assist in their development and changes.
The orientation process sets the foundation for newcomers to each university. Often
orientation is similar to admissions, it only happens at the beginning of the students college
career but it sets the standard for the following years. During the orientation process these
professionals are helping students by introducing them to every aspect of the institution and how
student affairs professionals are there to help them in the various situations. This is a great time
to have seminars and allow many different student affairs practitioners (such as different groups
and clubs throughout the university or even campus safety or judicial affairs) to speak and
introduce themselves. Some orientations last about a week in length to make sure every aspect of
the campus and institution is covered as it is the first and lasting impression on all of the
newcomers to the university.

Final Assessment

Sherman 5

When you think of attending college, many people think of students growing and
developing academically. It can be said that college students grow and change socially at a
higher rate than academically. This usually happens because these students are out on their own,
away from their parent supervision at all times. These students are exposed to more diverse
peoples and cultures than they were in their high schools and exploring the entire social
differences becomes of huge interest. This is where the professionals involved with campus life
are there to assist and often times promote changes amongst their students.
Community service and involvement is great for promoting necessary developments in
students. This gives students a chance to build networks and relationships throughout the
community and, in many cases, develop experience in their field of choice. These opportunities
are usually spearheaded by career service professionals and can also be carried out by a
particular group within the campus community. Location can be very important. For example, an
institution near an urban area can offer real world experiences working within the inner city to
college students who may have never been close to those areas, thus broadening their horizons
and promoting growth within each student.
Greek fraternities and sororities are great when it comes to developmental changes,
especially for those students who are more conservative. These groups often times receive
negative connotation but are known for increasing the extrinsic values students will attach to
education. They are very involved with the community and often require high standards in order
to be a member. Fraternities and sororities usually hold a "rush" period in which young students
are able to attend sessions from each group in order to learn more about them. This is great for
young students as it gives them a great chance to bond with fellow classmates. General standards

Final Assessment

Sherman 6

for membership into these groups may include having and maintaining above a 3.0 grade point
average, along with community service and/or other criteria in which students are judged upon to
gain admission. These groups generally give back to one another by paving the way for younger
members, mentoring them through their careers in college as well as providing opportunities for
graduates after college. Although these individual fraternities and sororities are run by senior
members, all are governed by the institutions office of student affairs and must adhere to rules
and regulations of the institution.
Student centers are important for providing college students the chance at proper
development. Nowadays, the student center is home to almost all of the student organizations on
the campus, and often times the home of the on campus cafeteria, thus being able to reach as
many students as possible. Student affairs practitioners involved usually use the center to
promote academic, social, and cultural growth throughout the university. These professionals
accomplish this by allowing job fairs to take place, offering movie and game nights, as well as
promoting cultural celebrations. On many campuses the student center is the most important
building for student affairs professionals because it can be the building that links academics with
social and cultural activities while promoting change and growth throughout the student
population.
Each institution uses their own methods to promote developmental changes within their
students. It depends on the makeup of their student body as well as the location of the institution
and its resources. Schools employ various amounts of student affairs professionals with different
responsibilities throughout the university. In order for institutions to be successful, their efforts

Final Assessment

Sherman 7

must be spread across the entire campus and must be very well promoted to assure students are
aware and energized to participate.

Final Assessment

Sherman 8

References
Pascarella, E., & Terenzini, P. (2005). Theories and Models of Student Change in College. In
How college affects students: A third decade of research. San Francisco, California:
Jossey-Bass.