Engagement with campus activities matters: Toward a new era of educationally purposeful activities

AMERICAN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HAVE BEEN CONCERNED WITH THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE since their founding when in loco parentis was a de facto model of the student-institutional relationship. The nature of that relationship has changed over time but consistently demonstrated a concern and responsibility that colleges and universities had for the holistic student experience. This article will situate student affairs practice and campus activities in the evolution of higher education with an emphasis on how purposefully designing campus activities advance desirable learning and developmental outcomes for students.