An analysis of the position of dean of students in selected institutions of higher education

Most institutions of higher education in the United States have a dean of students who is traditionally recognized as the chief administrator of student services. The title of "dean of students" brings forth a variety of images such as "father figure" and "disciplinarian." Students may simply view the dean as another one of "them," the administration. From another perspective the dean of students can be viewed as a major manager responsible for a wide variety of programs and services often underwritten by large budgets. This is the professional student personnel point of view.; The intent of the study was to investigate recent developments pertaining to the position of dean of students to determine what impact, if any, the recent tumultuous history and dramatic growth of higher education has had. The research was carried out in three large, urban, state supported universities: California State University, Long Beach; California State University, Los Angeles; and, California State University, Northridge. These institutions were chosen mainly for pragmatic reasons but also because their type is increasingly common in the higher education scene, having large enrollments and oriented to urban communities with a commuting student body often from non-traditional student populations