Alexander (Sandy) Astin

Positions

• Allan M. Cartter Professor Emeritus
• Founding Director, Higher Education Research Institute

Responsibilities

Currently Co-Principal Investigator (with Helen S. Astin) on a seven-year longitudinal study of students’ spiritual development funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Education

Ph.D., Psychology, University of Maryland, 1958

Teaching & Research Interests

• Higher education policy in the United States
• Educational reform
• Human consciousness
• Spirituality in higher education
• Values in education
• Impact of different types of institutions on student development
• Assessment and evaluation research in higher education

Select Publications

Astin, A. W., Astin, H. S., & Lindholm, J. A. Cultivating the Spirit: How College Can Enhance Students’ Inner Lives. SanFrancisco: Jossey-Bass, 2011.

Astin, A. W., Astin, H. S. , & Lindholm, J. A. Assessing students’ spiritual and religious qualities. Journal of College Student Development, in press.

Astin, A. W. & Denson, N. “Multi-campus Studies of College Impact: Which Statistical Method is Appropriate? Research in Higher Education, Vol. 50, No.4, June 2009, 354-367

Astin, A. W. Mindworks: Becoming More Conscious in an Unconscious World. Information Age Publishing, 2007.

Astin, A. W. “Why Spirituality Deserves a Central Place in Higher Education.” Liberal Education, Vol. 90, No. 2, Spring 2004, 34-41.