Exploring Complexities in College Student Development

Patricia M. King is professor emerita in the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education at the University of Michigan, USA.Rosemary J. Perez is associate professor in the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education at the University of Michigan, USA.James P. Barber is professor of education and senior associate dean for academic programs at William & Mary, USA.

“This comprehensive analysis of a rich, diverse dataset yields the most nuanced and integrative portrayal of college students’ development toward self-authorship to date. Authors emphasize the fluidity and variability of developmental pathways to guide scholars and practitioners in reimagining the college experience.”Marcia Baxter Magolda, Distinguished Professor Emerita, Miami University, USA“At once, a thoughtful examination, clarifying statement, and open invitation, the book Exploring Complexities in College Student Development takes seriously the long critiques of student development while simultaneously calling educators, administrators, and scholars' attention (back) to the rich possibilities of student developmental processes.”Wilson Kwamogi Okello, Pennsylvania State University, USA“Exploring Complexities in College Student Development offers the opportunity to learn from a landmark longitudinal study of students’ journeys. The authors handle the complexity of the study and theory with care for study participants and readers, yielding critical lessons for postsecondary educators.”Kristen A. Renn, Michigan State University, USA“This book brings together research that incorporates college student development, meaningful educational practices, and addresses past theoretical criticisms. The presentation of the Interactionist Model of College Student Learning and Development conceptualizes the multiple influences that students experience every day and with the practical recommendations at the end makes this book a must read for those interested in college student success.”Vasti Torres, Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Indiana University-Bloomington, USA

• 1. The Central Role of Student Development in Higher Education 2. A More Nuanced Portrayal of Self-Evolution: The Ten-Position Model of Self-Authorship Development 3. The Interactionist Model of College Student Learning and Development 4. Research Methods for the Interview Portion of the Wabash National Study: Procedures, Choices, and Lessons Learned 5. Where Do Experiences That Are Important to Students Happen?: Exploring Contexts of Experiences Reported in the Wabash National Study 6. Trends and Patterns in Self-Authorship Development During College 7. Stability and Variability in Self-Evolution During College 8 What Experiences Promote the Development of Self-Authorship?: Exploring Patterns in Developmentally Effective Experiences 9. Weaving the Threads of Learning: Examining Student Experiences With the WNS Liberal Arts Outcomes 10. Implications and Invitations: How Can Educators Help Students Learn to Author Their Lives?