Doctoral Program Welcome

Taking a look at IU?

On behalf of the faculty and students of the graduate programs in Higher Education and Student Affairs we are pleased you are taking some time to investigate our doctoral program.  If you have more questions, please hesa@indiana.edu.  Our doctoral programs have long history of preparing student affairs administrators.  In addition to this area of excellence, current faculty specialize in assessment, economics and finance, enrollment management, history, institutional research, teaching and learning, and student development. 

The Faculty. Higher education is an applied field of study.  This is an important point because the faculty at Indiana University make no distinctions between theory and practice, between research and administration.  In addition to distinguished careers as researchers, many of our faculty members have also had successful careers as senior campus administrators.  Collectively they bring this unique combination of experience to their teaching, research, and service.

Research.  In addition, several faculty members also direct funded research projects in our Center for Postsecondary Research (CPR).   The National Survey of Student Engagement is the best known of the funded projects housed within the Center.   More than 1100 different colleges and universities have participated in the NSSE survey.  Other surveys that are connected with NSSE are also housed at CPR.  Over the years many projects funded by a variety of sources have also been housed at the CPR.   A few of these funding sources include: the federal Institute for Educational Studies, the Lumina Education Foundation, Pew Charitable Trust, the Teagle Foundation, and The College Board.  The total revenue from these funded activities is approximately $4,000,000 annually. 

Students and Student Support.  Approximately 50% of our students are full-time students; most of them are enrolled at the Bloomington campus.  The remaining 50% are working full-time at colleges and universities that are primarily located in the Indianapolis metropolitan area.  Our program strives to meet the needs of both full-time and part-time students.  Our full-time students secure assistantships in a wide array of administrative positions on the Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses and also research-oriented assistantships with the funded projects located in the CPR.

Good luck as you consider your future and the possibility of starting a doctoral program.

With Warm Regards,

Don Hossler
Chair, HESA Program