Student Affairs - Student Affairs Areas

Student Affairs Areas

The Handbook of Student Affairs Administration and professional associations, NASPA and ACPA, identify typical departments within a division of Student Affairs. Departments may overlap or combined into one office, especially at smaller institutions. Some departments can include:

  • Academic and research services
  • Academic Advising the office or department aimed to provide student academic guidance relating to courses
  • Career Development or Career Services including employer relations, interview placement, course of study guidance and internships
  • Assessment and Research focused on assessment and research implementation
  • Judicial Affairs sometimes called student conduct enforces community standards and campus codes of conduct, may include ethical programs/education and mediation for academic or behavioral concerns
  • Alumni and fundraising
  • Alumni Services a department focused on graduated students and fundraising
  • Fund Raising and Fund Development or Development or Advancement
  • Campus life
  • Campus Safety or Police Services, may be city law enforcement officers
  • College/Student Union or Student Centers, College Centers or University Centers, responsible for day-to-day operation of facility and may include food services/catering or other auxiliary services. Sometimes this building might be associated with student activities.
  • Student Activities or Student Involvement provides co-curricular programming on campus, advises campus programming, student organizations and student governance. It may include Student Activity Board, student government and student activity fee disbursement.
  • Leadership Programs provides leadership opportunities, may include Student Government
  • Community Service engage students in community service and experiential learning opportunities and Service Learning
  • Greek Affairs or Fraternity and Sorority Life, including advisement of governing councils, recruitment and leadership programming for new and initiated members
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • Multicultural Affairs provides support and programming to create an environment of respect and education. This area or depart might have specific areas to serve students of various backgrounds. Institutions may have specialized departments such as a Women’s Center, technology support as well as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Services.
  • Commuter Services or Adult Students or Non-Traditional Students, services for students living off-campus including social programs and transition for non-traditional students
  • International Student Services assists and supports international students, may include Study or Education Abroad
  • Disability Support Services include note taking, accommodations and advocacy. This office many times advocates for policies and services relating to compliance of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
  • Spirituality, Faith or Religious Services usually at private institutions regardless of institution’s affiliation
  • Health and wellness
  • Health Services provides individual medical and/or mental health care, usually includes public health education programs and counseling services
  • Counseling Services for students, faculty and staff, accredited counseling staff
  • Wellness education focused on providing services and information on alcohol, person wellness and financial wellness.
  • Housing or accommodations
  • Residence Life or Housing provides housing, programming and support for on-campus residents, may include food services Outside the United States this might be called accommodations or housing services.
  • Dining and Food Services may be auxiliary and/or part of the College/Student Union
  • Of campus student services might focus on providing resources for student who live off campus and off campus housing options.
  • New student enrollment and enrollment services
  • Enrollment Management may include Financial Aid, Bursar and Registrar As well, it can relate to all aspects of incoming students and services provided to them
  • Admissions including recruiters aimed to recruit students
  • Student orientation and First-Year Experience provides support and programming for first-year students, usually includes orientation and may include Parent and Family Relations
  • Student Financial Aid assists students in financial matters including processing federal aid, payment plans and may include student employment
  • Sports and recreation
  • Athletics usually in small institutions and/or NCAA Division III institutions
  • Recreation and Fitness Programs or Campus Recreation, provides recreational activities such as intramural sports, club sports and outdoor activities for promoting wellness

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