Robert H. Shaffer

Robert H. Shaffer was a pioneer in the field of college student personnel and student affairs. His work spanned the course of four decades (approximately 1940-1981), which can be characterized as a period of "incredible growth and social and poilitical change in American Society." [Kirby, "op. cit." p. 168]

Believing that those who enter the field of student affairs must be “human development experts,” not simply administrators and bureaucrats, it was no doubt his own understanding of human development that enabled him to have so great an impact on both the students he served as dean and those entering his field. [http://www.indiana.edu/~soenews/news/news1116281790.html Robert H. Shaffer Named Distinguished Alumni] ]

Early life

Robert H. Shaffer was born in 1915 in Delphi, Indiana. As a member of the Boy Scouts of America, Shaffer earned the Eagle Scout and Silver Beaver Awards. He graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1932. Shaffer was awarded a Rector's scholarship in 1932 to attend Depauw University. Shaffer also was very involved in Greek life as a member and leader of the Depauw chapter of Sigma Chi. He was the president of both the Alpha Phi Omega national service organization and the Interfraternity Council. Eventually he would have the honor of becoming a Significant Sig. Shaffer graduated from Depauw with a degree in social science in 1936. After graduating, Shaffer moved to New York City and became the assistant to the director of personnel Boy Scouts of America. [Kirby, "op. cit." p. 166]

Shaffer Received his master's degree from Columbia University in 1939. He enrolled in a doctoral program at New York University in 1940. He received his Ph. D in 1945. Shaffer then worked at the International House in NYC, where he met his wife whom he married in 1940. In 1941 Shaffer took his first student affrairs related position as the assistant dean of the School of Business at Indiana University.

Shaffer left Indiana University for the Army in 1943, serving at Camp Lee, Petersburg, Virginia, Hawai'i and Boston. Shaffer worked with soldiers in a support capacity similar to what he experienced while at Indiana University. Shaffer returned to Bloomington in 1946 to a joint appointment as a faculty member in the Schools of Business and Education and as assistant dean of students. Shaffer also served as the director of the Veteran's Guidance Center at Indiana University.

Career highlights

Early on at Indiana, Shaffer had a wide variey of experiences. He worked with students in regards to health, housing, financial aid and academic issues.Kirby, "op. cit." p. 162] Shaffer worked with several associations of professional student affairs workers. In 1948, Shaffer was elected secretary of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA). Shaffer was elected the first president of the newly formed American Personnel and Guidance Association (APGA) in 1951.

Shaffer worked as dean of students at Indiana from 1955 until 1969. Shaffer proposed a successful student affairs research office as well as a faculty associate program at Indiana University. The faculty associate program is a way to get faculty involved with student affairs.

Shaffer spent much of his personal time working with international students. His commitment to issues related to international students lead him to work in Thailand, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. His numerous publications are landmarks in the field of student affairs, and throughout his career he has been a consultant to national educational and government organizations.

In 1956 Shaffer organized the student affairs division by function rather than by gender. This controversial approach allowed for the founding of various departments, such as residence life, orientation, financial aid, counseling, career placement and student health. [Kirby, "op. cit." p. 165] Through the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement, and the student protests surrounding these and many other issues, Shaffer engaged student concerns in ways that earned him the respect of both students and faculty.

Another innovation by Shaffer was his creation of an extern program for student affairs graduate students. Students gain practical experience and gave them access to an environment to apply what was being learned in the classroom.

Shaffer went on to serve as an editor of the NASPA Journal in the late 1960s. After leaving his academic post in 1969, Shaffer became chairman of the Department of College Student Personnel Administration. He would retire from that post in 1981.

References

*Kirby, A. F.,& Woodard, D. . "Career Perspectives in Student Affairs". Monograph Series, Volume 1. 1984-01-00

Footnotes