12 Lessons Learned in 12 Months of Qualitative Staff Climate Research
The presenter will reflect on innovative, collaborative methodologies and lessons learned in a year of qualitative research on staff climate at the University of Michigan Student Life. The presenter will engage qualitative researchers as well as student affairs leadership who are interested in ways they might learn more about their own staff. Topics include creating a cohesive but adaptable study framework when working with a large and diverse employee population, using collaborative, person-centered (non-survey!) methodologies, and other lessons learned along the way.
Learning Outcomes
1. Examine innovative, collaborative qualitative methodologies that center staff voice, such as demographic-based conversations and job shadowing
2. Express how to mix theory and logistics to build a thoughtful and engaging study of student affairs staff
3. Recall the connection between research and leadership and understand how participant-centered qualitative research can co-create the future of student affairs by highlighting staff voice
Wendy Lawrence
Assistant Director of Student Life Research
University of Michigan
Dr. Wendy Lawrence is a researcher and educator currently serving as the Assistant Director of Student Life Research at the University of Michigan, where she leads innovative and collaborative qualitative studies on staff, students, and programming. Lawrence also lectures at the University of Michigan Marsal School of Education as well as Eastern Michigan University’s Department of Leadership and Counseling, designing and teaching courses on educational reform and leadership. Active in academic circles, Lawrence contributes as a journal peer reviewer, conference presenter, and workshop leader. With a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan University and past experience as a K12 teacher, curriculum designer, and Middle School Head, Lawrence’s work has consistently focused on creative qualitative research, critical discourse, interdisciplinary connection, and leadership and social justice in education.
Continuing Education Credits
CSAED
This session counts for 1.0 CSAEd-CORE credit
NASPA has been approved by the Higher Education Consortium for Student Affairs Certification to provide CE credit for Certified Student Affairs Educators (CSAEd). NASPA is solely responsible for all aspects of this program.
Guidelines for earning CE credit:
No partial credit will be rewarded.
Participants must also complete the feedback survey in the Online Learning Community.
1 Credit is available for attending the live session or viewing the on-demand recording.
To receive CSAEd credit, attendees must complete the feedback survey that offers the certification in each session. Once you have attended all the live sessions or watched the on-demand sessions for which you would like to request credit, visit the Continuing Education (CE) website to fill out the Student Affairs Education Certification Request Form for all the sessions. All certificants must fill out one for the live session and a separate one for the on-demand sessions. Visit the Continued Education (CE) website to learn more regarding deadlines and receive your certificate of completion for the Virtual Conference.
NBCC
This session counts for 1 NBCC credit
NASPA has been approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider for live events.
Participants can receive a maximum of 13 clock hours for attending live sessions at this event. All eligible sessions are identified in the “Credit Information” tab at the top of the individual sessions. To receive credit, please complete the “Feedback Survey” found within each individual session under the “Continuing Education” section. Once the feedback surveys for all attended sessions are complete, complete this request form; a certificate documenting the number of hours of live sessions you attended will be emailed to you within two weeks of you submitting the form.
The deadline to request NBCC continuing education certificates for this event is May 12, 2025. For questions regarding continuing education, please email continuingeducation@naspa.org
