GSE Executive Committee Checklist
for New Graduate Course Proposals
Attachment C – Rationale
Due to the nature of their administrative roles, responsibilities and contact with students, student affairs
professionals are frequently the first to recognize and address a variety of personal and interpersonal issues that arise
among college students. Although administrators in most student affairs departments (with the exception of
counseling services) are neither equipped or expected to engage with students in ongoing or long-term counseling
relationships, all student affairs professionals need basic helping skills and knowledge in order to work effectively
with college students individually and in groups. Drawing from counseling texts and techniques, this course focuses
on general helping approaches that are appropriate for the types of interactions, relationships and contexts within
which student affairs professionals commonly engage college students; its content and activities emphasize a noncounselor perspective. Consequently, this course is intended for graduate students in student affairs administration
(for whom it is a required course), and higher education administration.