Increasing Collaboration between Student and Academic Affairs: Application of the Intergroup Dialogue Model

Abstract

This paper describes a university initiative, cochaired by a faculty member and a student affairs administrator, to increase the collaboration between academic and student affairs. The initiative, called Claiming a Liberal Education, adapted a conflict resolution model, intergroup dialogues, to increase the interaction and communication between staff and faculty. Specific recommendations coming out of the intergroup dialogues are described and include strategies for greater emphasis on student learning,intercultural awareness that is integrated into the fabric of the institution, and clear messages about student and faculty expectations in the context of a liberal education.Findings from the study indicate that: participants learned about academic and student affairs’ respective areas of responsibility, participants expressed a desire to increase collaboration between academic and student affairs with a focus on student learning, and projects incorporating both academic and student affairs staff resulted from the initiative.