Based on the responses I received, the following is a list of the ten most significant issues on the minds of Student Affairs professionals as we enter the 2019 academic year:

Campus Safety

With the horrors of Dayton and El Paso still weighing heavy on the minds of many Americans, students are coming to campus this fall feeling concerned and anxious about the dangers of gun violence in the United States. Mass shootings have become commonplace in the United States, resulting in everything from mandatory active shooter trainings to heightened armed police presence at colleges and universities across the country. As some of the primary managers of campus safety, Student Affairs professionals have begun playing a more prominent role in preparing colleges for a nightmare scenario that many believe could happen at any moment.

Student Mental Health

From anxiety and depression to other debilitating diagnoses, college student mental health concerns are on the rise. From 2007 to 2017, the treatment of college student mental health problems rose from 19% to 34% and students with lifetime diagnoses increased from 22% to 36%. As campus counseling centers struggle to keep up with the growing caseload, many Student Affairs professionals find themselves stepping in to support students through mental health crises. While some graduate programs cover basic counseling skills, Student Affairs professionals often lack the adequate training and preparation to manage the increasingly complex mental health concerns experienced by today’s college students.

White Supremacy

In 2018, a total of 313 cases of White Supremacist materials were documented at colleges across the country. The rise of White Supremacist propaganda on college campuses has led to increased concerns for the welfare and safety of marginalized student populations, including Undocumented Students and Students of Color, to name a few. Additionally, rising social acceptance of bigotry, hatred, and fear has fueled an unprecedented debate among students, faculty, and staff about the role of free speech in higher education. While many Student Affairs professionals have stood up to defend marginalized students from the threat of violence and injustice posed by White Supremacy, campus responses to incidents of hate have been heavily critiqued from all sides. Student Affairs professionals across the country struggle to balance university free speech policies with the growing concern that demonstrations of speech may lead to violence.

The Perceived Diminishing Value of a College Degree

Although the benefits of earning a college degree have been well documented, many Americans are beginning to believe that going to college is not worth the return on investment. Indeed, some high-achieving students have made headlines after dropping out, claiming that “college is a scam”. With nearly half of all employed graduates from four-year institutions working in jobs that do not require a college degree, it is understandable that people are beginning to question the value of a U.S. higher education. This perception is based on the idea that the ultimate goal of a college education is to get a job, as opposed to becoming a critical and engaged citizen. As a result, states have decreased funding to colleges and universities, student enrollment has gone down, and colleges and many universities have suffered financial hardship. Student Affairs professionals are caught trying to uphold the values of holistic education, while also catering to the increasing practical demands of students, parents, administrators, and businesses to foster skills that will help graduates be more competitive in the job market.

Shrinking Budgets

As of 2018, state funding for two and four-year public colleges was more than $7 billion less than what it was in 2008. These massive cuts have had a damaging effect on higher education, including increased tuition rates, decreased student enrollment, more student loan debt, less full-time and more adjunct faculty, fewer course offerings, and most importantly for Student Affairs professionals, student support services being eliminated at colleges and universities.

Declining Student Enrollment

As of spring 2019, college enrollment in the United States has decreased for the eighth consecutive year. Overall, enrollment is down 1.7%, or approximately 300,000 students. Although the impact of this trend varies by institution, colleges and universities experiencing significant decreases in student enrollment are bracing themselves for the inevitable financial impact that will result from fewer and fewer tuition dollars. Many Student Affairs professionals are being tasked with finding innovative strategies to increase revenue and reduce costs. When these efforts aren’t enough, college and university leadership often look to Student Affairs departments, budgets, and positions as among the first to be cut.

Rising Tuition Costs

Average annual tuition rates at four-year colleges in the U.S. has risen by 36 percent since 2008. Many universities rely on tuition dollars to operate, and as student enrollment and state budgets decrease, colleges have responded by increasing tuition prices. Rising tuition costs significantly impacts affordability and access to higher education, especially for low-income students and Students of Color. As a result, the gap between those who can afford a college degree and those who cannot is growing wider and wider. Many Student Affairs professionals are feeling pressure to advocate for those students most negatively impacted by the steady increase in tuition rates.

Crushing Student Loan Debt

A total of 44.2 million people in the United States owe a collective $1.52 Trillion in student loan debt. Student loans now classify as the second highest consumer debt category, falling just behind mortgages. Again, student loan debt burdens low-income and Students of Color more than any other demographic. Approximately 64 percent of all graduating students have borrowed, while more than 80 percent of Black students graduate with debt. All of this debt severely limits future employment opportunities and social mobility. As many students try to mitigate debt by working in addition to managing their class commitments, Student Affairs professionals struggle to engage students on campus.

Increasing Demands on SA Pros

With an eye on the shrinking bottom line, colleges and universities are continually asking Student Affairs professionals to do more with less. If positions or departments are not eliminated altogether, leadership within divisions of Student Affairs are called to be creative in generating revenue and cutting costs. For many, this either means providing fewer services to students or asking Student Affairs educators to take on more responsibilities in order to ensure retention rates and student success.

Unsustainable Staff Turnover Rates

Approximately 60% of Student Affairs professionals leave the field within their first five years in the job. These educators tend leave the field due to excessive work hours, stressful conditions, non-competitive salaries, a lack of effective supervision, work-life conflict, limited career advancement opportunities, a lack of professional challenge, a loss of passion, and attractive career alternatives. Moreover, declining budgets and calls for efficiency in higher education also contribute to high employee turnover. The culture of Student Affairs work tends to place extremely high expectations on Student Affairs professionals, which causes stress, anxiety, and for many, burnout.