Building community on campus: Student affairs professionals as group workers

Abstract

This article describes the role of student affairs professionals in building campus community through work with natural groups such as residence halls, clubs and organizations, classes, and service-learning groups. Challenges to the creation of campus community are discussed. The Social Change Model of leadership development is highlighted as an example of a model for working with groups. In addition, other campus community-building approaches such as service learning, learning communities, and ceremonies, rituals, and traditions are described. The role of student affairs professionals as group workers and community builders—and the potential for their involvement in these approaches—is highlighted.