1. Want to Do What I Do?
A Career in Student Affairs

2. What is Student Affairs?
 Definition of Student Affairs
◦ Student affairs staff provide services and support for
students at institutions of higher education to enhance
student growth and development in the United States
and abroad.
◦ Student affairs professionals are charged with the tasks
of developing programming, advising student
organizations and student leaders and conducting
research to meet the needs of the whole student –
physical, emotional and mental.
◦ Also referred to as College Student Personnel and Higher
Education Administration

3. Areas of Student Affairs
 Academic Advising
 Campus Activities/University
Program Board
 Admissions and Registrar
 Counseling and Testing
 Greek Affairs
 Recreational Services
 Housing/Residence Life
 Legal Affairs
 Judicial/Community Rights &
Responsibilities
 Minority/Multicultural Affairs
(Diversity Advocacy)
 Disabled Student Services
 Orientation (Preview &
Passages)
 Leadership & Service
 Student Union
 Student
Organizations/Student
Involvement Center
 Women's Services
 Financial Aid
 Foreign/International
Student Services
 GLBT Student Services
 Off-Campus Student
Services
 Athletics
 Career Development
 Fundraising
 Spirituality, Faith or Religious
Services

4. Benefits of Working in Student Affairs
 The Ability to Make a Difference
◦ You can change the lives of students!!
 A Wide Range of Choices
◦ You can consider a career in student affairs no matter what
your undergraduate major is or was.
 An Exciting Work Environment
◦ There is never a boring day in a student affairs office.
 Access to the Profession
◦ There are several entry-level positions and they are always
in demand on campuses.
 Potential for Advancement
◦ Once you enter the profession, the possibilities of career
growth are limitless.
 Fringe Benefits
◦ Colleges and universities offer an attractive benefits
package which can include tuition remission, medical
benefits, vacation time, and all the cultural, social, and
recreational opportunities that a college campus has to
offer.

5. Education and Salaries
 Education
◦ Lower- Bachelors-Masters, Most of the time Masters
◦ Middle: Masters- Doctorate
◦ Higher: Doctorate + experience
 Starting salary $33,500 ($16/hr)
 Mid-level/Median salary $60,500-$62,500 ($29/hr)
 Senior Level salary $90,000 ($43/hour)
 Senior Administration $100,000-$500,000
 Benefits are usually very good for college student personnel workers.
They may get 4 to 5 weeks vacation a year and have very generous
health and pension packages. Many colleges and universities offer free
tuition to employees and their families.

6. Panelists
If you are interested in discussing student affairs opportunities
in these particular areas, their emails are listed below their
names.
 Kera Tackett- Academic Advisor
◦ kltacke@ilstu.edu
 Emily Vigneri- Assistant Coordinator of Orientation and
Services
◦ ecvigne@ilstu.edu
 Steve Klay- Coordinator of Student Involvement Center
◦ scklay2@ilstu.edu
 Erin Thomas- Coordinator of Leadership and Service
◦ eethoma@ilstu.edu
 Ashley Taylor- Specialist in Diversity Advocacy
◦ amtayl5@ilstu.edu

7.  Suggested Links
 www.naspa.org
 www.myacpa.org
 For links to specific career areas, feel free
to email any member of the Career in
Student Affairs Committee (see next
slide)

8. Career in Student Affairs Committee
 Erin Thomas, eethoma@ilstu.edu
◦ Leadership and Service Coordinator
 Ashley Taylor, amtayl5@ilstu.edu
◦ Diversity Advocacy Specialist
 Bryan Bristol, bjbrist@ilstu.edu
◦ Programming Graduate Assistant, 1st year grad
student in the College Student Personnel
Administration program
 Katie Pratt, klpratt@ilstu.edu
◦ Leadership and Service Intern, Senior

9. More Info!!
 For More Information about a Career in
Student Affairs, please contact:
 Students: please fill out this interest form
Student Affairs Interest Form
 Staff who want to get involved with the
Career in Student Affairs committee
should contact Erin Thomas via email
(eethoma@ilstu.edu)