Involving Colleges: Successful Approaches to Fostering Student Learning and Development Outside the Classroom

Kuh, Schuh, Whitt, and Associates have really developed a a fantastic resource manual. I call it a resource manual in the fact that when I need something to back up my views, opinions, reasoning, etc., I can often turn to this book and find the justification that I need. Not only is it thoroughly research-based, but it provides the type of inspiring information that many of us in higher education look for from time to time.It might have a shortcoming in that the group only used fourteen institutions in their study, but they openly admit their procedures and appreciate the fact that their scope could be considered somewhat limited. However, their conclusions and recommendations are such that they need not be institution specific. They challenge colleges and universities to not only create a mission, but to strive to meet that mission on a continuum...for it to permeate the scope of the institution from the admissions process, through campus life, and on into alumni programming.For those truly intrigued with higher education (and especially its outcomes), this is an easy read. The picture that they paint for the "involved college" is somewhat utopian, but I argue that is what makes the book so inspiring. We should all hope to work for and/or attend an institution that can set such high goals not only for its academic curriculum, but for the community of learning that it fosters.Anyone involved with the lives of college students can't afford to miss out on this book.