Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Student Affairs in Higher Education (Online)

PADM 6550-70I

Course: PADM 6550-70I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCJ
CRN: 32443

Course Description

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the Student Affairs profession. Historical, ethical, philosophical, and theoretical foundations are explored. Core competencies and functional areas within the profession, diversity of institutional type, student populations, characteristics of today’s college students, and contemporary issues are examined. 

Required Texts

The Handbook of Student Affairs Administration. Authors: McClellan, Miyama, and Associates. 5th Edition. Jossey-Bass

Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

Students who engage fully in this course will:

  • Examine the historical, ethical, and philosophical foundations of student affairs and analyze how higher education contexts have shaped the profession's evolution and future directions.

  • Critically evaluate major issues and trends in student affairs practice and develop a personal philosophy of student affairs administration grounded in reflective analysis.

  • Identify the purpose and scope of student affairs by exploring functional areas, administrative roles, and the profession's relationship to the broader academic community.

  • Analyze diverse student populations and their varied experiences, needs, and contributions within higher education environments.

  • Connect with practicing professionals through guest speaker interactions to understand career pathways and roles across the higher education landscape.

  • Assess core professional competencies by identifying essential skills in communication, research, synthesis, and analysis while evaluating personal strengths and development areas.

  • Evaluate the role of professional associations in advancing student affairs practice, scholarship, and field-wide initiatives.

  • Cultivate professional identity as a reflective practitioner by integrating theory with practice and developing skills for lifelong professional growth.

Course Requirements


Required Text

McClellan, Kiyama, & Associates. (2023). The Handbook of Student Affairs Administration (4th edition). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Course Structure and Approach

Delivery Format

This course is delivered entirely online through the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS). Students will work independently at their own pace within established module timeframes.

Pacing and Timeline

The course is organized into modules, with each module spanning approximately four weeks. All readings and assignments must be completed by the end of each respective module period. Students are encouraged to submit completed assignments promptly rather than waiting until module deadlines.

Interactive Components

Online discussions will be scheduled at regular intervals throughout the semester to facilitate student interaction, provide opportunities for questions, and enable collaborative exploration of course topics.

Final Paper Requirements

Students will complete a comprehensive final paper as a capstone assignment. Important: Final paper topics must be submitted for approval by October 31st. Early topic selection and approval are strongly recommended to allow adequate time for research and writing.



Course Outline

Course Assignments

Weekly Reading Responses (10 points each)

Due: Weekly throughout the semester

Students will complete all assigned readings and respond to weekly prompts designed to identify key themes and concepts. Responses should demonstrate personal insights and connections between course material and your developing understanding of student affairs practice.

Weekly Discussions (10 points each)

Due: Weekly throughout the semester

Students will participate in online discussions based on assigned readings and related materials. Participation includes responding to instructor prompts and engaging thoughtfully with classmates' contributions to foster collaborative learning.

Professional Association Analysis (10 points)

Format: Minimum 2 double-spaced pages plus title page

Professional associations serve as vital communities within student affairs, connecting practitioners across functional areas and providing guidelines, ethics, professional development, and research opportunities.

Assignment Requirements:

  • Select a professional association relevant to student affairs (examples: admissions, academic advising, housing, conduct, student leadership, student unions, Greek life)
  • Research and analyze the organization's history, mission, and structure
  • Identify which student affairs area(s) the organization serves
  • Explain why this association appeals to you for professional development

Final Paper Topic Approval (5 points)

Due: October 31st

Submit a concise proposal outlining your chosen topic for the final paper. Early submission is encouraged to allow adequate time for research and writing.

Effective Partnerships Assignment (10 points)

Format: Minimum 2 double-spaced pages plus title page

Since the early 2000s, higher education has witnessed increased collaboration between student affairs and academic affairs, resulting in innovative programs that recognize student affairs as vital to institutional academic mission.

Choose one approach:

  1. Research and analyze an existing effective partnership between student affairs and academic affairs
  2. Propose an original idea that demonstrates effective, equitable partnership between these two areas
Final Paper (50 points)

Format: 10 double-spaced pages plus title and reference pages (APA Formatted)
Research Requirement: Minimum of five scholarly sources
Topic Approval Deadline: October 31st

Student affairs administrators must stay informed about contemporary issues affecting students, student development, administration, and higher education broadly. This capstone assignment requires you to develop expertise on a significant topic within student affairs.

Assignment Requirements:

  • Select a salient issue affecting student affairs and higher education
  • Take a clear position on your chosen topic
  • Develop a well-reasoned argument supporting your viewpoint
  • Use scholarly research to substantiate your analysis
  • Topics may address student issues, administrative structures, budget concerns, campus challenges, or other relevant areas
This assignment provides an opportunity to become a knowledgeable advocate on an area of student affairs that interests you professionally.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Notify instructor of any late assignments.

Attendance Policy

This is a fully online course with no specific attendance policy.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.