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Chapter 2
A Review of the Literature
A review of the literature produced articles related to the relationship between
academic affairs and student affairs, and collaborations between the two units, written
from both the academic affairs and student affairs perspectives. The literature is replete
with opinion pieces, summaries of successful and unsuccessful programs, discourse about
the perceived importance of improving the relationship between the two units, and
suggestions as to how to develop and improve the relationship between the two units.
There is much less, however, in the way of empirical research—either quantitative or
qualitative—that studies the relationship between academic affairs and student affairs in a
systematic manner using established research methodologies. This is particularly true in
the area of role identification and the perceptions that faculty have of student affairs
professionals. This review of the literature yielded two broad areas addressed by research
on this topic: student learning/development outcomes and the relationship between
academic affairs and student affairs.