The Relationship Between the Internal Dynamics of Student Affairs Leadership Teams and Campus Leaders' Perceptions of the Effectiveness of Student Affairs Divisions

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to explore the relationship between the dynamics of leadership teams in student affairs divisions of universities and colleges and campus leaders' perceptions of the effectiveness of the student affairs division as a whole. Twenty-four student affairs leadership teams participated in the study. A total of 449 faculty and student leaders also participated. Members of the leadership teams completed the Group Development Questionnaire. Also, members of the leadership teams and faculty and student leaders completed the Survey of Student Personnel Objectives. The results of this study suggest that leadership teams in which members perceived higher levels of trust, structure, and work also perceived their team to be more productive. In addition, leadership teams in which members perceived higher levels of trust, structure, and work also perceived the division of student affairs that they led to be more effective in fulfilling the objectives of the division. Finally, student affairs leadership teams whose members perceived their team to be more trusting, structured, and work-oriented and to be functioning at higher stages of group development led student affairs divisions that were perceived by faculty and student leaders to be more effective and productive.