Building On Strengths In A Time Of Retrenchment: Developing An M.Ed. In Higher Education—Student Affairs Emphasis To Train Christian Practitioners

To gain approval of a new master's degree in difficult financial times, the authors applied strategies that are applicable at other institutions. Using existing internal resources to build on the university's mission was key in developing a new M.Ed. in Higher Education—Student Affairs Emphasis at Abilene Christian University. Creativity and flexibility when it came to faculty and scholarships helped fashion a reasonable budget. Frequent communication among the developers and stakeholders as well as thorough market research made passage through the various committees smooth and successful. Developers now contemplate additions to the degree tracks even before the first students are admitted.