College Student Personnel Workers Fact Sheet

Description of Work Tasks, Settings, and Tools

COLLEGE STUDENT PERSONNEL WORKERS provide direction, leadership, and day-to-day management of educational activities in colleges and universities. They also develop and administer housing, cultural, social, and recreational needs for students.

College student personnel workers, sometimes called academic deans, deans of faculty, provosts, or university deans, assist college presidents, make faculty appointments, develop budgets, and establish academic policies and programs. Fundraising also is becoming an essential part of their job.

Department heads are in charge of departments such as English, biological science, or mathematics. As well as teaching, they coordinate the schedules of classes and teaching assignments, interview and hire applicants for teaching positions, evaluate faculty members, and perform other administrative duties.

Higher education administrators also direct and coordinate the provision of student services and student affairs offices. Vice presidents of student affairs or student life, deans of students, and directors of student life, student activities, counseling, residence life, intramurals, and athletics, may direct and coordinate admissions, foreign student services, health and counseling services, career services, financial aid, and housing and residential life, as well as social, recreational, and related programs. In small colleges, one person may be in charge of all of these duties. In larger colleges, separate administrators may handle each of these services.

Registrars register students, prepare student transcripts, evaluate academic records, assess and collect tuition and fees, plan and implement commencement, and analyze enrollment and demographic statistics. Directors of admissions manage the process of recruiting, evaluating, and admitting students. Financial aid directors oversee scholarship, fellowship, and loan programs.

COLLEGE STUDENT PERSONNEL WORKERS work with:

• Students and student clubs and organizations
• budgets
• policies and programs
• reports, forms, and documents
• transcripts
• applications, and various other papers
• computers

Related Civilian Occupations

Academic Counselors counsel individuals and provide group academic guidance services. They collect, organize, and analyze information about individuals for academic planning.

Career Placement Services Counselors counsel individuals and provide group career placement services. They compile and study educational and occupational information to help students in making and carrying out vocational objectives.

Other Related Occupations:

• Counselor
• Clinical Psychologist
• Psychologist, Counseling
• Psychologist, Industrial-Organizational
• Psychologist, School
• Residence Hall Counselor
• Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
• Counselor, Marriage and Family

Training, Related Majors and Advancement 

COLLEGE STUDENT PERSONNEL WORKERS begin their careers in related occupations, and prepare for a job in administration by completing a master's or doctoral degree. In some cases, administrators move up from related staff jobs such as recruiter, guidance counselor, residence hall director, or financial aid or admissions counselor. Academic deans usually have a doctorate in their specialty.

Admissions, student affairs, and financial aid directors and registrars sometimes start in related staff jobs with bachelor's degrees, any field is usually acceptable, and obtains advanced degrees in college student affairs, counseling, or higher education or administration. A doctoral degree is usually necessary for a top student affairs position. Computer literacy and a background in mathematics and statistics may be an asset in admissions, records, and financial work. No special licensing or certification is required for college student personnel workers.

The following majors could help you prepare for this occupation:

• Educational Administration
• Psychology, General
• Student Counseling & Personnel Services

COLLEGE STUDENT PERSONNEL WORKERS advance by moving up an administrative ladder or transferring to larger colleges and universities. Some may become presidents of educational institutions.

Desirable Personal Qualities and Physical Demands of the Job

Helpful qualities for COLLEGE STUDENT PERSONNEL WORKERS include:

• determination and confidence
• creativity, motivation, and leadership
• an ability to make sound decisions
• an ability to organize and coordinate work efficiently
• strong interpersonal skills
• an ability to be an effective communicator and motivator
• knowledge of management principles and practices
• familiarity with computer technology

Salary & Outlook

Estimated Salary:

Economic Research Institute (survey of salaries in 2005):

National average for all occupations included in this survey: $45,000/year or $21.75/hour

 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (survey of salaries in 2004):

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, average salaries offered COLLEGE STUDENT PERSONNEL WORKERS with a doctoral degree in education administration and supervision were $56,500 per year ($27.00/hour) in 2005-06. 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.

Estimated Outlook

(from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics):

Number of Workers (surveyed in 2004)*

*College Student Personnel Worker is included in the category: Personal Financial Advisors

Employment Outlook (economic projections made in 2004)*

This category is:

• Medium (20,000 to 149,999)
• Expected to Grow Rapidly (2.5% or higher growth)
• Employment will grow as enrollments increase in colleges and universities.

Where To Get More Information (Professional Associations)

For more information about College Student Personnel Worker/Student Affairs you may contact: