Purpose

A purpose of this Center is to implement applied research and provide leadership development opportunities for postsecondary leaders, particularly within student affairs/services, in the areas of research, planning, and application in order to contribute to institutional practice and policy for the improvement of integrated student learning and development.

The Center will accomplish this purpose by providing services and research in three areas.

• Curriculum - in the delivery of is Masters Degree in Postsecondary Educational Leadership and its Master's Degree in Postsecondary Educational Leadership with a Specialization in Student Affairs/Services, the Center will utilize the expertise of Administration, Rehabilitation, and Postsecondary Education faculty to educate future leaders who will demonstrate competencies in research, planning, and application in order to impact institutional policies for the improvement of integrated student learning and development.  More specifically, graduates of the program will be able to identify through outcomes-based assessment how student services areas contribute to student learning at their institutions and how those contributions can inform policy and practice.  See the program website for more information.
  
  
• Outreach – in the delivery of academic year workshops and summer institutes, the Center will educate postsecondary leaders, particularly student affairs/services professionals, about how they can utilize research and planning (e.g., outcomes-based assessment) to better understand how their programs are collaboratively contributing to student-learning.  Furthermore, workshop and institute participants will be able to use their outcomes-based assessment findings to inform policy and practice.  Refer to the Institute website to learn more about these exciting opportunities.
  
  
• Research – through collaborations with research and developmental partners and other appropriate professional and education organizations, the Center will focus on how student services contribute to enhancing student learning. In addition, research will be conducted to identify effective practices and other characteristics that lead to effective integrated student learning within higher education.