61. Academic Affairs and Student Affairs partnership​ (Culture)

A healthy campus culture will have a strong partnership between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs. This is something that most campuses struggle with as sometimes there is a natural tension between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs. While Student Affairs professionals sometimes push too hard and too fast with initiatives, it is important for them to remember that Student Affairs exists to support the academic mission of the institution, not the other way around. The most effective institutions we have seen in creating a shared campus culture between these two divisions comes when Student Affairs includes their Academic Affairs colleagues from the very beginning of an initiative and invites feedback, brainstorming, thinking, and significant solution-seeking. When ideas around a retention initiative are co-created, there is much stronger participation by faculty and a willingness to be part of the solution.