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Achieving Equity in Higher Education: Developing Student Values in the New Generation

Student Success
July 21, 2015

In the latest issue of NASPA’s Journal of College and Character, leading higher education researchers Alexander and Helen Astin present a retrospective account of their scholarly work from the past 45 years. Their article, “Achieving Equity in Higher Education: The Unfinished Agenda,” shows how the struggle to achieve greater equity in American higher education is intimately connected to issues of character development, leadership, civic responsibility, and spirituality. The Astins advocate that colleges and universities focus greater attention on developing student values and other personal qualities that will produce a new generation of citizens who are committed to creating a more just and equitable society.

Fighting Social Injustice and the Role of Higher Education

“When Alexander and Helen Astin speak on higher education, people listen,” noted Journal of College and Character editors Jon Dalton and Pam Crosby. “This article is especially relevant today not only because it is a critical review of past research on moral education viewed through the lens and the work of the authors, but because it is also a critique of the current status of higher education and an argument for the need to focus more intentionally on equity and fairness. The stakes are high because the fate of our nation depends upon whether we succeed in cultivating worthy moral and civic leaders.”

The 5 Themes: A Focus on Students’ Spiritual and Moral Development

In “Achieving Equity in Higher Education,” the Astins provide an in-depth deconstruction of five themes:

  • Equity Issues in Higher Education
  • Values and Character Development
  • Student Leadership Development
  • Civic Responsibility and Community Service
  • Spirituality

These themes are critically considered through the lens of their scholarly work from the past 45 years. The Astins’ article is a call to all institutions of higher learning to focus on developing students’ spiritual development and moral growth. By doing so, the Astins argue, higher education professionals can help create a new generation of students who are more caring, more globally aware, and more committed to social justice than previous generations.

About the Authors

Alexander Astin is the Allan M. Cartter Distinguished Professor Emeritus and founding director of the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA. In previous studies in the Journal of Higher Education and The Chronicle of Higher Education, he was noted as the most frequently cited author in the field of higher education. Helen Astin, a psychologist, is a Distinguished Professor Emerita and former associate provost of the College of Letters and Science at UCLA. She is widely regarded for her research and scholarship on higher education issues concerning women and minority students.

Through their research conducted at the Higher Education Research Institute, the Astins have authored seminal pieces that have not only impacted the field of higher education but also provided integral policy changes. This includes their development of the Social Change Model of Student Leadership Development, which influenced student leadership development at numerous colleges and universities. Their 2011 book on spirituality, Cultivating the Spirit: How College Can Enhance Students’ Inner Lives, demonstrates the importance of spirituality in college students and has transformed the national conversation on higher education student development theory.

Additional Resources for Campus Administrators

NASPA offers a wealth of resources designed to help campus administrators and educators create socially just campuses, that foster students’ spiritual and moral development. We’ve listed a few below:

Conferences and Online Briefings:

On Demand Events:

As a part of NASPA’s Online Learning Community, we offer a host of professional development resources for student affairs administrators. These online courses and briefings are available on-demand, which means that registrants can view and revisit at any time. Many of the available options are highly relevant for campus administrators interested in promoting moral growth and civic responsibility, and we’ve highlighted a few in particular: