In the last decade, there has been an increased understanding of the necessity for staff development and training for student affairs personnel. This chapter provides a historical and current overview of staff development program models in higher education. It also traces the establishment of the Ball State University Division of Student Affairs staff development program as a model in staff development design and functional program services.

Persistence and increased retention is a major focus in higher educational administration. The first-years of transition to college is a multi-dimensional new academic experience, noncognitive, and social challenges, often a disorienting period which can lead to academic difficulties. This review examines the literature for strategies, institutional policies and approaches for effective retention and first-year students' success programs supported by evidence that contributes to satisfactory student performance, persistence and retention in post-secondary education. This review aim to develop a knowledgeable perspective on higher educational integrated and collaborative guiding principles for refining student learning and success efforts for improvements in student performance, persistence, and retention. The implications for practice are discussed and recommendations for of institution-wide collaborative critical strategies supported by data proven effective for the promotion, retention and success of first-year students' success is provided.