Summary: | This research concerning the organisation of student-personnel services
in higher education brings to the reader a comprehensive -and contemporary
view of American, European and South-African conditions from which student-personnel
services have emerged. It acknowledges the factors which caused
guidance services to flourish as we 11 as the comprehensiveness of the
existing student-personnel services in the South-African context.
Student-personnel services evaluated in a scientific manner create the
possibility of determining the• effect of a particular personnel service
and allows decisions to be made as to changes in, or elimination of, the
service. The evaluation of existing services is necessary in order to
give some indication of the status of student-personnel work today. It
was intended that this empirical comparative study be restricted to consideration
of the organisational and administrative structures as well as
the services included in a student-personnel department. The methodology
of this study was to conduct a comprehensive literature survey. From
this information it was possible to compile a theoretical model for a
student-personnel department in South-Africa. This theoretical model
was evaluated empirically and it was for this purpose that a questionnaire
was drawn up and sent to the administrators of student-personnel departments.
Utilizing the information contained in their replies, a South-African
model for student-personnel services was constructed, which attempts to
provide guidance for the organisational and administrative structures,
services as well as an organisational development model. With the compilation of this model it was endeavoured to ensure that the student-personnel
service departments, will be of the greatest benefit to the student community
as well as to be flexible and adaptable with in the organisational structure
of higher educational institutions.
The most important finding of this study is that South-African literature
concerning student-personnel services is both limited and insignificant.
A clear indication by the respondents is that student-personnel services
contribute positively to the development of the student community. It
is important to acknowledge explicit1y that 70% of the respondents indicated
that the theoretical model satisfies the South-African requirement for
student-personnel services.
Owing to the deductions and limitations of this study it is recommended
that a follow-up study should be conducted. The objective should be a
theoretical implementation and evaluation of this model in South-African
higher educational institutions and to establish the validity of this
structure as a model for student-personnel services in South-Africa. === Skripsie (MBA)--PU vir CHO, 1987
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