Changing Roles and Responsibilities in Student Affairs Research and Assessment

This chapter explores a brief history of research and assessment within higher education and illustrates how student affairs professionals have played a role in that history. It describes some current trends that are influencing the roles and responsibilities of all student affairs professionals as they engage in research and assessment. The role of student affairs professionals in the development of institutional research and outcomes-based assessment is significant. As the authors experience the generation and application of research and assessment today in the student affairs profession, they can't move very far without recognizing the importance of accountability for general learning. The roles and responsibilities of research and assessment in the student affairs profession belong to every single member of the profession.