Roles and Competencies of Student Affairs Faculty in Developing a Holistic Support System for Nursing Students

Abstract

Student affairs play an essential role in preparing nursing students for academic learning, well-being, responsibility, professional identity, and professional practice. However, student affairs may be viewed primarily as the organization of extracurricular activities, the provision of welfare, or the enforcement of disciplinary regulations. Such fragmented practices may limit the continuity and comprehensiveness of student support. This academic article aims to analyze the roles, responsibilities, and competencies of student affairs faculty and to propose an approach for developing a holistic support system for nursing students. The analysis integrates systematic thinking, the Three-Basket reflective technique, dialogue, institutional attachment, professional pride, and collaborative networking. Eight roles of student affairs faculty were identified: facilitating student potential and extracurricular learning; strengthening institutional attachment and professional pride; promoting equity, welfare, and educational opportunities; supporting student health and well-being; providing counseling and coordinating individualized support; implementing developmental discipline; protecting student rights, dignity, and diversity; and leading data use, networking, and quality improvement. Essential competencies include student-centered support, systematic thinking, active listening and counseling, needs and risk assessment, health promotion, ethical and confidential information management, professional identity development, and network-based leadership. A six-step conceptual process—access, assessment, stratification, support, connection, and follow-up—is proposed to facilitate continuous, safe, equitable, and dignity-respecting student support. Nursing education institutions should clearly define faculty roles and responsibilities, develop relevant competencies, establish referral and information-management systems, and evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of the proposed process before adopting it as a standard model.