Wellbeing Deficiency Among Wellbeing Professionals: Attrition in Student Affairs

The purpose of this project was to gain insight in the issue of turnover in Student Affairs at Virginia Tech, specifically within the health and wellbeing sector. Additionally, this project sought to identify specific reasonings for what caused employee turnover, and what can be done to combat this issue in the future. This qualitative research study consisted of semi-structured Zoom interviews with individuals who had left student affairs within the last two years. These individuals were professionals who had previously worked in Student Affairs at Virginia Tech, specifically the health and wellbeing sector. This study was guided by Herzberg’s theory, which explains common factors that influence job satisfaction and dissatisfaction. After research and observation, practical insight emerged. Many participants reported multiple elements that contributed to their attrition, most of which align with Herzberg’s theory.