Issue
28(2)
The
Small College Dean: New Directions for Student Services,
No. 116. (2007).
Sarah B. Westfall (Ed.), San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 86 pp., $28.00,
(paperback), ISBN 978-0-7879-9580-5
Review by: Jamie
Reynolds
First
Year Advising Center, Undergraduate Studies
Kent
State
University
The
Small College Dean: New Directions for Student Services provides
a basic understanding of the role of a senior student affairs
officer (dean of students) at a small college, which is defined
in the text as an institution with five thousand or fewer students.
The role of a small college dean is multifaceted and complex.
“Small college deans characteristically have comprehensive portfolios,
requiring expertise in multiple areas and a willingness to learn
about and stay abreast of others” (p. 12). The influence of the
unique attributes of small colleges, such as historical significance
and the varied organizational structures, on the evolution of
the role of deans is explored, which provides the reader with
a rich framework of the progression of the role of a small college
dean.
“A
primary goal for many small college deans is to return student
life to its historical position as an integral part at the core
of the institution” (p. 54). The small college dean aspires to
cultivate an atmosphere in which student life is perceived as
a central component of the collegiate experience in the holistic
development of a student. The hope is that student life will be
interconnected with the other pivotal student experiences, including
classroom learning, academic advising and support, personal and
character development, and career exploration during their collegiate
endeavors.
It
is evident that this book is written for a specific target audience
of student affairs practitioners outside of the scope of academic
advising. Due to the fact that faculty members tend to oversee
academic advising in many small colleges, the text encourages
the development of partnerships and collaborations between faculty
members, student affairs, and support services in an effort to
promote the involvement and persistence of students (p. 60). The
insubstantial presence of professional academic advisors within
the small college environment led to my inability to relate to
the text.
Westfall
acknowledges the significant lack of research and literature focused
on student affairs practitioners within the realm of small colleges.
She is optimistic that others will be motivated to further the
breadth of research conducted on student affairs practitioners
in small colleges after reading this text. I commend Westfall
for her initiative in stimulating conversations and research on
student affairs practitioners in the small college environment.
The
Small College Dean: New Directions for Student Services is
a quick and easy read. Readers are introduced to the characteristics
that represent a small college environment, which is valuable
for any higher education professional. However, I would recommend
this text for those persons with aspirations of assuming a role
of a senior student affairs officer (dean of students) at a small
college because it provides a framework of the purpose and the
responsibilities associated with this position. I also feel that
staff members of academic affairs and student affairs at a small
college would find value in exploring methods of partnerships
and collaborations between academic affairs and student affairs
that can foster a community of learning. The Small College
Dean: New Directions for Student Services would be more worthwhile
for faculty advisors within the small college environment. From
the perspective of a professional academic advisor, I do not feel
that this text added to my practice within my role of advising.
