Student Personnel Administration in Higher Education: Implication for Repositioning Tertiary Education in Nigeria

Student personnel administration in Nigerian higher education has been a source of concern of late and the students forms an integral part of this activity. Effective administration of student personnel plays a vital role in repositioning Tertiary education in Nigeria. Based on that fact, this paper focuses on student personnel administration in higher education. This activity or service is an integral part of student’s life and it is provided by the educational institutions through specialized systems designed to develop and align student’s personality positively. Academic, social and emotional support given to students through these services boosts their awareness and enhances the quality of higher education. The paper was supported by the Chikering Theory of Seven Vectors which stipulates that college students experience seven vectors of development throughout their college experience and that these vectors of development must reach resolution for the students to achieve identity. The services to be administered to the student as outlined in the paper include: orientation exercise, students’ registration, guidance and counseling services, co-curricular activities, student records, school discipline, school medical services, hostel accommodation, academic library, student union government, security and safety services, communication services, transportation services, multi-faith services, Automated Teller Machines/banking services, lecture halls and laboratory services, electricity and water services, Information and Communication Technology, and student feeding services. The paper ended with recommendations among others that the federal and state government should ensure that adequate funds are allocated to the education sector as this will enable the tertiary institutions to provide most, if not all the essential services to students.

Keywords: Student, personnel, administration, higher education, repositioning, tertiary, institutions