Li, "A study of student affairs administration professional preparation in Chinese higher education," 2009

Jing Li, Ph.D.

Abstract (Summary)

This dissertation examined the applicability of the Council for the Advancement of Standards in higher education (CAS) that guide the U.S. student affairs master's programs to a Chinese higher education context to prepare Chinese student affairs administrators. Fifty two Chinese faculty members, student affairs administrators and students from three Chinese universities participated in the interviews and focus groups. The findings illustrated the organizational structure for Chinese student affairs administration among the participating universities, the educational philosophies held by the Chinese faculty and administrators and the practical challenges facing Chinese faculty and administrators in their working with students. The research suggests the US CAS standards are culturally grounded, and China needs to study its own students to develop its own culturally relevant theories to guide Chinese student affairs practice. The study recommends that a joint student affairs master's program between a U.S. university and a Chinese university should not address the values of the Chinese political system, but instead to help Chinese universities think about the process by which they could develop their own standards for such programs.

Advisor: Sundt, Melora A.
Committee members: Venegas, Kristan,  Jun, Alexander