Student governance and activism: implications for higher education and student affairs

Abstract

Student governance is one of the most challenging domains of SAS because it is a politically involved and sensitive function that affects all students and is directed not only towards the student body but the institution as a whole as well as the broader political context within which a university is placed. And yet, student affairs literature related to student governance tends to be rather partial. Unlike other domains of SAS like student counselling, which is underpinned by a vast body of theoretical literature and disciplinary knowledge, literature on student governance tends to be very narrow and practitioner-focused, referring to distinct professional services and to related organizational units and activities only, without much attempt at a deeper understanding, conceptualisation, and theorisation.