Exploring Compassion Fatigue and Community Care in Student Affairs

Abstract

Many student affairs practitioners passionately support students, but the cost of caring may include compassion fatigue or secondary stress. This constructivist case study examined how a program that serves at-promise students contributes to and alleviates compassion fatigue among staff members. While the scope of work, position of the program at the institution, and high rates of staff transition challenged participants, their compassion fatigue was buffered by a culture of care and mentorship within the program.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation.