In Putting Students First, the authors argue that colleges can and should invest in holistic student development by recognizing and building on the students' search for purpose in life, intellectually, spiritually, and morally. Based on a study conducted at ten religiously-affiliated schools, the book urges all colleges to rethink their approach to teaching and advising the increasingly diverse students of today; their critical mission should be to prepare students to become ethically responsible and active contributors to society, as well as critical thinkers and skilled professionals.

Putting Students First offers perspectives and recommendations in areas of holistic student development such as

• Understanding millennial college students
• The role of faculty in defining culture
• The design and implementation of curriculum
• The impact of cocurricular involvement
• Fostering relationships with on-campus and off-campus communities

By organizing the campus environment into "4Cs"-culture, curriculum, cocurriculum, and community-the authors create a conceptual framework for faculty, student affairs staff, and administrators to discuss, plan, and create college environments that effectively support the learning and development of students. Each chapter includes an introduction, evidence and analysis, a summary, and questions to help readers consider how to develop students holistically on their own campuses.

Putting Students First

Society is calling for higher education to take more responsibility for helping students find purpose and meaning in life. In this book, the authors argue that colleges should purposefully invest in students in ways that will foster their holistic development by recognizing and building on students' purpose in life, intellectually, spiritually, and morally. By using the "4C framework"-culture, curriculum, cocurriculum, and community-faculty, student affairs staff, and academic administrators will be able to discuss, plan, and create a college environment that effectively supports the learning and development of students. The book contains a set of themes and calls for consideration and action based on the findings of site visits at 10 colleges and a set of questions to help readers think about and plan how to develop students holistically on their own campuses.

Contents include:

• Putting Students First
• Conceptual Framework and Design of the Project
• Culture
• Curriculum
• Cocurriculum
• Community
• Creating Communities That Put Students First