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Dissertation
The influence of student affairs professionals' spirituality on the development of college students: a phenomenological study
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Drexel University
Jun 2014
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-6021
Abstract
Increasing attention on the topic of spirituality in higher education points to empirical research that highlights students' needs, desire, and expectations for engagement in spiritual matters in college. However, student affairs professionals struggle in their efforts to guide students in the spiritual aspect of their development. This qualitative study explores how the spirituality of student affairs professionals' at a California public research university influences their responses to students' spiritual development and exploration of life's big questions. The following research questions guided this study: 1) How do student affairs professionals define and describe spirituality 2) How do student affairs professionals describe the role of spiritual development within the larger mission of student affairs work? 3) In what ways does the spirituality of student affairs professionals influence their approach to the spiritual development of students? This phenomenological study consisted of thirteen student affairs professionals. The data was derived from semi-structured interviews, observations, and artifact analysis. The data analysis was conducted manually and with data software to obtain emergent themes. The five major findings were: 1. Nearly all of the participants define spirituality as an "inner" and "personal" journey. 2. All of the participants indicated that spirituality is an important aspect of life. 3. All of the participants indicated that they leverage personal sharing as an approach to engaging students in meaningful dialogue about spiritual matters. 4. Most of the participants indicated they had experienced students grappling with what they perceived to be spiritual matters. 5. Most of participants connected spirituality to the social justice commitment to student affairs work. The results were: (a) The spiritual development of students poses unique and difficult challenges for student affairs professionals seeking to practice whole student development, (b) Despite the lack of clarity about spirituality, student affairs professionals do engage in the spiritual development of students, (c) Spirituality is intricately connected to the work of student affairs professional through the student affairs social justice mission, and (d) Ambiguity regarding the spiritual development of students may hamper student affairs professionals' effectiveness in providing whole student development. Recommendations for student affairs professionals and further research were included.
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Details
- Title
- The influence of student affairs professionals' spirituality on the development of college students
- Creators
- Kawami Evans - DU
- Contributors
- Kathy Dee Geller (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Education (1997-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 6021; 991014632948304721