Professional Development for Student

Affairs Practioners
The Spirit Within: Promoting Spirituality on
Campus for Student Growth
Presented by Melissa Van Drimmelen

Sponsoring Organization

- One of the leading

organizations for
student affairs
- Founded in 1919
- Focus on advocacy
and professional
development in the
field

Target Audience
S Regional Conference Attendees
S Student Affairs Professionals
S Entry to Mid Level Professionals
S Graduate Students

Conference
S Regional Conference
S Sessions are self selected
S Learning Environment
S Positive Mindset

Presentation
S Gathered Best Practices
S Highlights for Staff, Faculty, and Students
S Collaboration with Other Professionals

Video

S Gather Interviews of Students on Campus

S Wide Variety of Experiences
S Show how Spirituality Contribute to Student Growth
S Makes it Personal for Professionals

Discussion
S What opportunities do you have to encourage students

spiritual development?
S What opportunities do you have to engage students in

conversations about meaning and purpose?

S How does exploring spirituality, meaning, purpose connect

to undergraduate student development?

S To what extent does your institution culture support the idea

of spiritual development?

Technology Component

S Make Available Online

S Spirituality and Religion in Higher Education

Focus Group
S Twitter Posts Throughout Session
S Discussion Would Continue after Session

In Practice
S Physical Space for Reflection
S Activities and Programs that Encourage

Students to Question and Reflect

S Recommendations for Higher Level

Administrators
S How to Put This to Practice

Reflection Time
S Participants Would be Asked to Reflect
S Feedback about Session
S Individual Experiences at Conference
S Tangible

Additional Resources
S

Astin, A. W., Astin, H. S., & Lindholm, J. A. (2011). Cultivating the spirit: How college can enhance students'
inner lives. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass

Trautvetter, L. C. (2007). Developing students search for meaning and purpose. In G.L. Kramer and
Associates (Eds.), Fostering student success in the campus community (pp. 236-261). San Francisco,
CA: Jossey-Bass

Howe, N. & Strauss, W. (2007). Millenials go to college: Strategies for a new generation on campus (2nd
Edition). Great Falls, VA: LifeCourse Associates.

King, P. M., & Kitchener, K. S. (1994). Developing reflective judgment: Understanding and promoting intellectual
growth and critical thinking in adolescents and adults. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers.

Lindholm, J. A, Millora, M. L., Schwartz, L. M., Spinosa, H. (2011). A guidebook of promises practices:
Facilitating college students spiritual development. Regents of the University of California.