Introduction

There is limited research and guidance available for student affairs practitioners who work with graduate and professional (G&P) students. While there are some histories, resources, and promising practices, what already exists is neither curated for student affairs professionals nor is it easily accessible. This chapter describes how A Practitioner’s Guide to Supporting Graduate and Professional Students gathers resources in a way that is readily available to practitioners and other stakeholders in the higher education community who work to support post-baccalaureate student thriving. This chapter outlines how A Practitioner’s Guide, while based in research, is primarily a practical handbook for professionals—including student affairs professionals, as well as faculty who may serve in student services roles—that support G&P students. This introductory chapter provides a brief context for the current state of the field by presenting available research, responses thus far, and the gaps A Practitioner’s Guide aims to fill. It ends with a discussion of student affairs communities of practice within the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) for those who work with G&P students.