Review of Trends in student personnel work

Abstract

Reviews the book, "Trends in student personnel work," edited by E. G. Williamson (see record 1949-06435-000 ). Too often the papers presented at a conference commemorating some individual or institution sound like the minutes of a mutual admiration society when later published. This volume of forty-three papers by forty authors, although originally given in November, 1947 at the University of Minnesota to celebrate 25 years of personnel work there, is a notable exception for several reasons: (1) as the title indicates, the authors were as much concerned with the future steps to be taken as with the accomplishments of the past; (2) the breadth of the Minnesota program as reviewed insured a comprehensive treatment of the total field; and (3) the long period of leadership in the field made the event of general as well as local interest. This publication should have a wide readership. Administrators will find it a powerful stimulus to the development of student personnel programs and faculty will be given an understanding of the rationale and functions of student personnel work. Personnel workers will find many suggestions for improving their own programs and personal effectiveness and students training for personnel work will find it a useful reference book and source of ideas for significant research. Although not designed as a textbook in the ordinary sense, it can readily serve as the basic source-book for a graduate seminar in student personnel administration. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)