First Advisor

Karen Haley

Term of Graduation

Winter 2024

Date of Publication

2-28-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership: Postsecondary Education

Department

Educational Leadership and Policy

Language

English

Subjects

Attrition, Grit, Persistence, Seasoned Student Affairs Professionals, Senior Student Affairs Officers, Student Affairs

DOI

10.15760/etd.3717

Physical Description

1 online resource (x, 274 pages)

Abstract

The attrition of student affairs professionals has plagued higher education for decades and continues to negatively impact the profession. Over 40% of new student affairs professionals leave the field and leading contributors to this departure include unsustainable working norms, outdated and deficient job-related incentives, and burnout. Prior research focused primarily on why staff intend to leave and do leave student affairs, but little research has explored why professionals persist and successfully cultivate a long-term, sustainable career in student affairs. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of seasoned student affairs professionals who have persisted in the field and apply the construct of grit as a theoretical framework. Understanding why student affairs professionals persist better equips higher education to reduce attrition rates which in turn reduces disruptions to the academic mission, financial costs associated with staff turnover, and the perpetuation of operating under strained conditions leading to attrition. Through a basic qualitative study, 10 student affairs professionals representing various institution types from across the United States, were interviewed using a semi-structured protocol and surveyed to assess their level of grit and passion attainment. Participants of this study exhibited gritty behavior and were passionate about working in student affairs. External support structures like personal and professional relationships as well as work environments that encourage flexibility and autonomy combined with high levels of grit led to a sustainable career in student affairs.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/41489

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