The job of the student personnel worker is to develop and administer programs and services that fulfill the housing, social, cultural, recreational, and personal needs of students on the campuses of colleges and universities. At a major university, a large staff performs these functions; at a small two-year college, one person may be responsible for all student personnel services. The services are organized in a wide variety of ways under tides that may include some or all of the following jobs.
The dean of students may be a college vice-president. The duties include advising the president on the changing needs of students, formulating new programs and policies for dealing with problems on the campus, dealing with student participation in decision making, and outlining course offerings. This job can involve the supervision of a large staff.
Admissions officers oversee the process of admitting new students. They process applications, travel as representatives of the college to recruit new students, and help in setting standards for admission. They work closely with financial aid officers and are sometimes connected with the registrar's office, where a registrar maintains the academic records of past and present students.
Financial aid officers must keep abreast of all sources of financial aid—grants, loans, scholarships, jobs, and teaching research fellowships. Working closely with the counseling and financial offices, these officers must determine who is eligible for aid and devise aid packages with the available funds.
Career planning and placement counselors assist students in making career decisions, work with representatives of employers who visit the campus for job recruiting, and assist students with the mechanics of job placement such as writing resumes and handling interviews.
Student activities personnel assist student-run organizations and handle the orientation of new students. College union personnel may be a separate staff dealing with the food service, maintenance, and finances of student-run facilities.
Student housing officers may live in dormitories and deal with personal counseling as well as dormitory management.
General counselors, usually psychologists, help students with personal problems and handle crisis situations. Some larger colleges also employ special foreign student counselors.
Places of Employment and Working Conditions
Work on college campuses usually involves a wide variety of settings. Workers may be found in offices where they counsel students or in larger facilities directing many workers. Employment is usually on a 12-month basis rather than an academic year. Work hours, at least 40 a week, may be irregular.
Qualifications, Education, and Training
Student personnel workers must be able to work well with a wide variety of people. They should have the emotional stability and patience to deal with sharply conflicting points of view and with unexpected and emergency situations.
Backgrounds vary widely in this field, but a college degree in one of the social sciences is good preparation. The potential student personnel worker should then take a master's degree in some area of student personnel work. For example, psychology provides a foundation for counseling and career planning and placement positions; data processing is an asset in admissions, records, and financial aid work; and a specialty in recreation would be helpful in student activities work.
A master's degree in clinical or counseling psychology is usually required for those engaged in counseling. A Ph.D. is necessary for the top student personnel positions and for most such positions at large universities.
Potential and Advancement
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for postsecondary education administrators will grow by 9% between 2014 and 2024, providing good opportunities for those entering the field or advancing through it.
Advancement in the student personnel field is usually through increased experience and education but is limited for those without a master's degree. Entry-level positions available to those with a master's degree include residence hall director, financial aid counselor, admissions counselor, and assistant to a dean.
Income
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for post secondary education administrators was $88,580 in 2015. Salaries vary greatly in this field depending on the size and location of the institution. In small colleges and two-year institutions, salaries for starting workers may be very low. In many schools, student personnel workers are entitled to insurance, sabbatical leaves, and other benefits on the same basis as the faculty.
Additional Sources of Information
American Association for Counseling and Development
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