College students experience tremendous and sometimes overwhelming changes. The choices they make during this time will
impact the rest of their lives. That is why this ministry is so important. After many years of studying college students, Harvard graduate Arthur W. Chickering, Ph.D came up with seven developmental stages college students experience.
College students develop competence
During this time they develop intellectually, as they seek to process information. They develop physically, which involves athletic and artistic achievements and they develop interpersonally as they seek to listen, cooperate and communicate effectively.College students learn to manage emotions
During this time they discover a wide array of emotions. These emotions must be acknowledged and managed properly. This stage is vital as they learn the balance between self-control and self-expression.College students move through autonomy to interdependence
During this time they become independent and are able to function without the need for constant reassurance or approval. Along with this autonomy however they begin to seek healthy interdependence. They learn to balance their independence with their need to belong.College students develop mature interpersonal relationships
During this time they learn to choose healthy relationships and make lasting commitments. They move towards relationships between equals.College students establish identity
During this time their search for identity is like assembling a puzzle. It is a time when the students finally reconcile with their physical appearance, ethnicity, and history, a time when they can analyze and reconcile with their background.College students develop purpose
During this time they develop a sense of destination. College students identify their interests, set goals, make plans and seek to achieve them in spite of obstacles.College students develop integrity
During this time they identify and personalize their values. Once identified college students will seek to live according to them.
Chickering, Arthur. Education and Identity. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1993.
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