The Dynamic Student Development Meta-Theory

The Dynamic Student Development Metatheodel (DSDM) is a meta-theory based on empirically based inferences drawn from a national survey entitled the University Learning Outcomes Assessment (UniLOA).

“The DSDM, as presented, is a very impressive and thorough framework that puts into words what many separate theories have articulated in a single easily applicable model. This metatheodel allows researchers and practitioners to draw conclusions on students’ experiences as it relates to behavior, cognition, and affect. These three domains affect students’ meaning making of their experience and with the DSDM and evidenced-based model, higher education is able to improve the growth, learning, and development of students.”—Matthew Varga, Assistant Professor of Counselor Education and College Student Affairs, West Georgia University

“The notion of a metatheodel is pioneering and it is a disruptive paradigm shift within higher education. The DSDM attends to meeting the affiliation and belonging needs of students. The DSDM text informs the co-curricular experience, engages the student experience, and provides new ways in which to improve student success through the affective domain of student development.”—Karrisa Merkel, Assistant Dean for Student Development, Agnes Scott College