A Web-Based Measurement of the Assessment Needs of Student Affairs Professionals and the Role of the Student Affairs Researcher. AIR 2001 Annual Forum Paper.

The student affairs researcher often assists student affairs directors and professionals to accomplish their program assessment goals. This study identifies the information, consultation, and training needs in research and assessment of student affairs professionals at a research institution. The paper also summarizes the problems and possibilities of using Web-based surveys, and describes how the results might impact the research office in advancing the program assessment goals of the division. Of 98 full-time student affairs personnel invited to participate, 26 mid-managers and 42 professional staff members responded to a Web survey instrument developed for the study. Results show that most student affairs professionals report a basic level of research and assessment expertise. Although mid-managers and staff members had common needs, each group had distinctive interests. Mid-managers were more interested in accountability measures and the design of assessment projects. Staff members favored more specific service-oriented measurement tools. Student affairs personnel used e-mail and were positioned to respond to activities presented on the Internet. Mid-managers were especially concerned about how to integrate technology into program services, but staff members were mainly concerned about adequate training in the use of new software and technology. The paper discusses the implications of survey findings for student affairs professionals and student affairs research offices, which are often one-person offices with minimal budgets and multiple responsibilities. (Contains 8 tables and 17 references.) (SLD)