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Quitting Quietly or Otherwise in the Field of Student Life

April 3rd, 2023 by Kenneth Abrahams

Experts disagree on whether quiet quitting is a new phenomenon or simply a new name for behavior that has been around for decades. This term quiet or silent quitting crept into our lexicon just about a year ago. For those that are unfamiliar with the term, it is used to describe a shift in the work ethic of many people, particularly younger people. Individuals who routinely go to their jobs and do the bare minimum to stay employed is the group these descriptions refer to. They don’t come in early, stay late, get additional training, take on projects, other than those that are necessary to keep working. In short, punch in, do only what they need to, and punch out. Whether it is occurring in your place of business or not, you know the behavior. We all deal with those individuals that just want to do the minimum to get by. Go to a restaurant, there are usually some staff that appear to be moving in slow motion, if at all, while others look like they are on roller skates jetting from table to table with a smile on their face. In some situations, it is easy to identify those that are simply mailing it in but it’s not always so clear in other occupations or environments.

Some blame the pandemic, claiming that with the number of deaths reported daily, individuals began to really look at work/life balance. What was the point of going the extra mile at work when it all could be gone in an instant? Others feel it is simply a changed work ethic among a younger generation(s). Some blame the work from home phenomenon. Workers got comfortable working remotely and resented when companies made them return to the office. Honestly, I have no idea the cause or if I believe it is real. One thing I firmly disagree with is that this is a generational issue. There are members of Gen X and Gen Z that I see working harder than many of us did at that age. They may be motivated differently to bust their tails then previous generations, but they work no less hard. There are also plenty of Baby Boomers that I know that are shuffling to the finish lines of their careers, simply marking the days until retirement, secure in the belief that they have made all the sacrifices they are willing to make and more than happy to pass the torch to younger generations.

Many of my clients fall into that younger demographic, but I don’t see a lot of quiet quitting in them. They go to work daily and do more than put in their time. People who enter the fields of Student Activities/Engagement/Involvement, and Residence life are a rare breed. They are integral in building and sustaining community on campuses nationwide. They put in long hours, often for minimal compensation. Their jobs aren’t just planning the programs or managing the residence halls, they become arbiters, counselors, academic advisors, life coaches, cheer leaders, nutritional guides, and so much more. They don’t have the luxury of quietly or silently quitting.

Since the pandemic, many of those offices are also being tasked with being an integral part of the recruitment and retention efforts on campus. Some have had that title added to their job or the name of the office that they work in. So much more is expected of them than ever before but there are two or three huge problems with the professions that work in those co-curricular and Residential life worlds right now. Problems that will no doubt have some long-term impact in the world of Higher Education.

Many in the profession are not quietly quitting, they are actively quitting. Looking for situations that provide better life/work balance or where the organizations acknowledge and compensate them for the work that they do. Yes, if you work long enough and hard enough on a college campus and become a Dean, Vice President, or Associate Vice President. You will get the occasional pat on the back, the reduced hours, and the appropriate compensation. For those that are in the trenches currently, that is a long way off and they may not be willing or able to hang on until they reach that level. Hours in these fields are long and getting longer. Internal and external pressures are pushing them to do more with less. Enrollments at many institutions are dropping, budgets are being slashed, and parents are demanding more and more services for their children/students. Many stay at their jobs longer than they should for one reason, they don’t want to leave their students high and dry. It is an exhausting mental push and pull for them. Do they stay in a situation where they are not being fairly compensated for the hours they are putting in, as well as the incredible amount of work they are expected to produce, or do they try to find employment in a different field or institution that may appreciate them? What makes the whole process daunting is that they know, in most cases, the people in charge at their current university will not understand, care, or change the things that forced them out and the group that will truly suffer is the students. For many of these professionals, the students are the reason they got into this field. Leaving those same students in the lurch for a number of them is something that they can’t bear to do.

There is a current shortage of professionals in the field right now. Over the last two years, I have lost many of the clients that I have dealt with for years. They are now working for Google, HubSpot, Salesforce, as wedding planners and event coordinators. Some that have stayed in Higher Education have moved into admissions, alumni relations, the provost’s office, the Registrar’s office, or academic advising. Many of them have expressed the sentiment that they miss their former students, but not the hours, the pressure, or the compensation. Along with the great exodus, there are fewer and fewer students going to graduate school to pursue careers in higher education. Many colleges and universities that offer assistantships tailored for those pursuing careers in higher education have needed to fill those positions with students pursuing degrees in business or other academic disciplines, just to fill vacancies they have.

Much has been written about the high cost of education. There is no question that a college education is once again trending to being something that only the very wealthy, academically or athletically gifted can avail themselves of. There are many parts of a university budget to look at and see where potential cuts could be made. Trust me when I tell you, it is not in those student engagement or residence life offices. Over time, a significant number of studies have been done on the high cost of colleges and the conclusion that they come to time and again is the number of administrators now employed on college campuses. There are an amazing number of Vice Presidents, Associate Vice Presidents, Deans, Associate Deans, and many of them have their own staffs that they work with. In order to free up money to pay those forward/student facing employees in student affairs, some of those administrators would need to vote themselves a pay cut or eliminate their positions and that is unlikely.

I have huge respect for all those individuals that work with students, it is not an easy task. There is no question that students and their needs are changing almost daily. Whether it is due to helicopter parents, environmental toxins, all the time spent on and in front of electronic devices, social media, or something else, the needs of students in 2023 is different than it was 5, 10, or 20 years ago. Yes, those professionals don’t quit quietly they have too much dedication and they understand those students need them as advocates. Perhaps those in charge at colleges and universities will begin to appreciate their worth. I certainly do.

About the author

Ken Abrahams was a dorky, uncomfortable high school student that found his voice when he got involved on campus at the end of his freshman year. Things would have turned out differently had he not gotten involved in the programming board, SGA, Orientation, and residence hall government. Thanks to all who helped mentor him.

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