Higher Education Graduate Preparation Programs: Characteristics and Trends

Student affairs is a transformative profession, with professionals offering support and assistance to students as they pursue higher education. An increasing number of these professionals have been guided by a foundation in knowledge, skills, and attitudes gained in higher education graduate degree programs. It is estimated that between 15% and 20% of the current workforce in student affairs are new professionals coming directly from graduate preparation programs (Cilente, Henning, Skinner Jackson, Kennedy, & Sloan, 2006; Renn & Hodges, 2007).