Introduction to the Student Development Field: Fundamentals of Theory and Practice
Instructor: Dr. Jason Laker
CLOSED
Course Overview:
This course is designed for newcomers to Student Affairs, those interested in entering Student Affairs work, and those who have been working within Student Affairs without a background in the subject. We will survey the foundational theory and literature associated with college student development in North America, as well as a brief review of the history and trends within the field. Students need not have any formal training in Student Development, and so online discussions and exercises will be collegial and supportive, without insecurities about one's current state of knowledge.
Course Outline:
This is a no-pressure three-week course encouraging approximately 3-5 hours of study each week. During the first week, students will become acquainted with each other and some of the major theories guiding the Student Affairs field, and the variety of roles within the field. History, terminology, and debates will be explored as well. Week two will focus on deeper understanding of specific issues and literature useful to designing and improving programs and services for college students. Week three will entail case studies to stimulate theory-to-practice analysis, and individual visioning and planning for students' current context and aspirations.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:
A basic understanding of the major foundational theories common in Student Affairs training and preparation programs.
A basic understanding of the history and evolution of the Student Affairs field, and its place in a higher education institution.
Experience with applying theory to practice with a view to facilitating college students' developmental growth.
A framework for planning programs and services in students' current environment.
Encouragement and ideas for students' career planning.
Instructor Bio: Dr. Jason Laker is the Chief Student Affairs Officer at Queen's University, a national research university of 20,000 students located in Kingston, Ontario Canada-having moved from the U.S.
to take up the post in 2006. He also teaches in Women's Studies and is an Affiliated Faculty member in Cultural Studies.
Previously, he was the Dean of Campus Life and Instructor in Gender and Women's Studies at St. John's University in Minnesota. He also taught undergraduate general and honors courses about community engagement, gender, race,
and ethnicity and graduate-level courses in the Student Development graduate program at Saint Cloud State University (SCSU) - and is a recipient of SCSU's Honors Teacher of the Year award by vote of students.
He holds a Ph.D. from the Center for the Study of Higher Education at the University of Arizona, an M.A. in Community Counseling from Adams State College (Colorado), and a B.S. in Organizational Communication from Central Michigan University. His dissertation, which received the ASJA Dissertation-of-the-Year award and the ACPA Standing Committee for Men Research Award, related to the socialization of Student Affairs professionals and their perceptions of male students. He has presented over 100 sessions and/or keynote talks at international, national, regional, and local professional conferences. In June 2007, Jason began service as the Scholar-Practitioner in Residence for NASPA's Men & Masculinities Knowledge Community. He has also held consulting engagements at several universities, providing training and presentations about various aspects of students' experiences and issues.
