More About HESAL...
Program Description
The HESAL Ph.D. program prepares professionals for leadership positions in higher education and student affairs. Graduates are prepared to understand the complexities of student development, provide direct services to students, and to develop and lead programs that enhance student learning and development. They are prepared to understand organizational dynamics and to provide effective leadership in academic, student development, and policy arenas. The program provides a blended focus on student development, issues of diversity and change, and leadership in complex organizations. Excellence in professional practice and scholarly writing are themes emphasized throughout the program.
Program Approach to Doctoral Study
The Higher Education and Student Affairs Leadership Program embraces a community-of-scholars model of interaction among students and faculty. The students are viewed as colleagues with progressively higher levels of responsibility and expertise. Cooperative research and other scholarly projects are encouraged among students and faculty.
Commitment to Diversity
The HESAL Program is committed to social justice in an atmosphere of social care. Specifically, we are committed to creating an atmosphere which supports multiple perspectives and diverse students, both in the pursuit of individual research and as a community of scholars. In addition to specific courses dedicated to the topic, multicultural perspectives are woven throughout the curriculum. Space is created for multiple voices through the use of literature, activities, and dialogue that challenge traditional paradigms and explore more inclusive perspectives regarding research, practice, and leadership. Additionally students are encouraged to approach the dissertation in ways that both contribute to the scholarly literature and are culturally congruent with who students are and how they make meaning of the world.