College student mental health and well-being is a priority across the United States because of the growing demand and increasing severity of mental health concerns (i.e., rising anxiety, depression, and suicidality) on campus. Many college and university counseling centers have waiting lists and struggle to meet the needs of all students. Additionally, many students are struggling but not reaching out for help. These challenges have led to innovation and re-imagining the most effective ways to meet the mental health needs of college students. Student affair professionals are well-positioned to play an important role in addressing this campus challenge because of their extensive contact and relationships with students.

The post Mental Health & College Students appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Case Studies as a tool for learning are ubiquitous in student affairs professional preparation programs. As faculty seek to provide theory-to-practice opportunities, case studies are often the tool.

The post Using Case Studies for Professional Preparation appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

ACPA and NASPA leaders discuss professional association involvement, ACPA and NASPA's similarities and differences, and benefits and ways to get engaged. These leaders also discuss the current and future challenges and ways forward for these associations, student affairs professionals, and for student affairs as a profession.

The post Conversation with ACPA & NASPA Leaders appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Dr. Heather Shea discusses how campuses and racial justice activists are grappling with issues of campus policing with four panelists who sit at various vantage points--scholars, activists, students--in the Black Lives Matter movement. Joining the conversation are Dr. Charles H.F. Davis, III, Dr. Erin S. Corbett, Jude Paul Dizon, and Jael Kerandi.

The post Campus Policing & Student Activism for Black Lives appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Dr. Heather Shea discusses college students in recovery from alcohol and substance use disorder with Drs, Becki Elkins, Penny Rosenthal, and Eran Hanke--three of the contributors to a New Directions for Student Services monograph. The conversation explores the complexities of the recovery movement, evolving definitions/language, and attends to issues of social justice and race. The episode ends with a discussion of recommendations for student affairs educators, faculty, and students in professional preparation programs.

The post Supporting College Students in Recovery appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Dr. Glenn DeGuzman examines town-gown relationships with Ruben Lizardo, Suchitra Webster, and Dr. Stephen Gavazzi. This conversation delves into the unique relationship and responsibilities colleges have with their local community and explores the challenges as well as strategies to building successful and essential relationships.

The post Inside Town-Gown Relationships appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Renn and Reason have once again brought us back to our roots by updating their vital text, College Students in the United States: Characteristics, Experiences, and Outcomes. In this episode, Dr. Raechele Pope discusses the ways we can study and better meet the needs of our students.

The post College Students in the United States appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

We are thrilled to welcome to Student Affairs NOW a scholar, an author, and a student affairs educator who truly needs no introduction, the newest member to join the host team, Dr. Raechele Pope! On today’s episode, Dr. Heather Shea chats and gets to know her, talk a bit about her pathway into and through various roles in student affairs, and look to the future about the various episodes she will bring to the podcast.

The post Student Affairs Now Introduces Our New Host: Raechele Pope appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

In higher education, we have been engaging in incomplete and short-sighted conversations about race and racism for decades. Many campuses have been discussing how to combat racism as if that is the final goal or destination. Never do we discuss what happens next or how to center racial healing or liberation in our work.

The post Racial Healing and Liberation on Campus appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Dr. Glenn DeGuzman discusses microaggressions in student affairs and higher education with an expert panel. Joined by staff from Western Washington University, they explore how microaggressions show up in our workplace and suggest strategies for moving forward.

The post Confronting Microaggressions appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.