Theme 4: Faculty members do not naturally think of student affairs staff as
potential collaborators in achieving student-learning outcomes. Prior to his on campus
visit, the researcher had analyzed institutional documents, including McFeely College’s
Strategic Plan. This plan includes, as its first two goals, that McFeely seeks to:
1. Be recognized for excellence in integrative learning.
2. Create a student-centered culture built upon openness and collaboration
between faculty, staff, students and alumni. (McFeely College, n.d.a)
Seeking to assess faculty understanding of these goals and the degree to which such
collaboration was occurring, the researcher asked each faculty member about the role of
student affairs in accomplishing both their individual student learning outcomes as well
as those of the institution. Generally, faculty members tended to immediately think of
faculty colleagues