Student Affairs Practitioner

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The institutional type, mission, and governance can influence the work of a student affairs practitioner in different facets. It is also important to note that all areas are interrelated to each other. To know and understand the type of governance and mission an institution has, first you need to know what the institutional type is. According to Levin "institutional type may constitute one of the most influential variables in how colleges and universities operate, in their purposes, their student bodies, and their outcomes."(p.50) The institutional type can influence the work of a student affairs practitioner because institutions come in a variety of sizes, serve different student populations, and are required to follow public or private regulations. This is only a few of the criteria that make up an institutional type. This can have either a positive or negative effect on the work of the student affairs practitioner because this shape's the work environment that a person will be maneuvering through. For example, "Most liberal art's colleges are small, and this impact professional's life in a number of ways. First, there are limited numbers of staff, student affair administrators have both primary and ancillary job responsibilities (for example, residence hall director and assistant director of student activities). Staff numbers are small, practitioners at these colleges tend to work very collaboratively- they need to rely on one another if large-scale programs are to succeed. As a result, they operate much like a family and know each other personally and professionally."(p.30) This requires a supportive environment. It …show more content…

is important that student affairs professionals understand the different types of institutions because this is one way that an institution type can affect the work that is accomplished by the student affairs practitioner in a positive way or negative way depending on what you are looking for when

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