Collaboration and perceptions of merging academic affairs and student affairs divisions and the impact on student success
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Case Study Analysis: Collaboration and Perceptions of Merging Academic Affairs and Student Affairs Divisions and the Impact on Student Success
Raymond B. Lee Jr.
Co-Chairs: Dr. Richard Phillips and Dr. Patricia Carlson
ABSTRACT
Student success remains one of the most compelling and worrisome issues in higher education today. Although many students have access to higher education and an opportunity for a better future, graduation rates have only increased slightly over the past few decades. There is a great disparity in the percentage of students who graduate college ready to move forward in a positive way versus those that graduate unable to apply knowledge in a professional setting. The purpose of the study is to explore the perceptions held by academic and student affairs professionals that hinder or advance the merger of Student Affairs and Academic Affairs. This case study analysis utilized a qualitative case study comparative design to explore the collaboration and perceptions of merging academic affairs and student affairs divisions and the impact on student success. The data collection methods included analyzing, recording and evaluating three case studies of other higher education institutions. The intent was to seek out underlying themes of the phenomena that hinder or advance the merging of student and academic affairs in higher education. The results of this study showed that when institutions of higher education collaborate to bring a more holistic experience for students in the 21st century, student success is impacted in a positive way. These results also revealed that there are many obstacles such as lack of leadership, lack of respect, lack of trust, lack of mutual understanding of one’s role, silos issues, organizational structure and institutional culture.