Work World of Student Affairs Office (SAO) Heads in Handling Erring Students

Abstract

The study examines the experiences of Student Affairs Office (SAO) heads in addressing erring students in higher education institutions in the second district of Bohol. Through in-depth interviews, the study explores the experiences, challenges, and best practices employed by SAO Heads in managing student misconduct cases, fostering a positive campus culture, and promoting student well-being.
The phenomenological design was used in this study to gather a unique of the informants’ experiences in handling erring students. There were nine (9) SAO heads as the informants of the study purposely selected as they were pre-determined to meet the qualifications set in this study. Four informants took part for Individual Interview (IDI) and five more participated in the Focus Group Discusion (FGD). The study was conducted in the second district of Bohol province and covered nine (9) Local Universities and Colleges. An informed consent form, a transmittal letter, and an interview guide with validation served as the instrument. This study came up with five themes which described the positive and negative experiences of the informants, namely: Resilience through Experience, Sense of Accomplishment and Impact, Growth and Learning, Frustration and Dissatisfaction, and Pressure and Unease. On addressing the challenges encountered in handling erring students, two themes were generated, namely: Collaboration and Communication with Stakeholders and Navigating Complex Cases and Serious Penallties. Lastly, the aspirations to improve the handling of erring students, two themes emerged as follows: Strengthen the Prevention Strategies and Creating a Safer and Supportive Campus Environment.
The study reveals the importance of strong partnerships with other campus stakeholders, the implementation of evidence-based interventions, and the creation of a supportive and inclusive campus environment. The study underscores the need for a shift to a more restorative and preventive approach that emphasizes student growth, accountability, and access to resources. The findings provide valuable information for SAO Heads, administrators, students, and other stakeholders involved in creating a safe, suppoortiv, and effective learning environment for all students.