It is by now an accepted fact that living on campus is better for students than living at home with their parents, but recent studies from Europe are challenging that orthodoxy, and may shine a light into the future for US residential life.
Pascarella and Terenzini’s meta-analysis of 2,500 research studies showed that students living in on-campus accommodation were more likely to get better grades and to progress to graduation – even when pre-college characteristics were taken into account. Pretty incontrovertible evidence, one would think. Of course, these studies took place in the US where the halls are generally run by the University (not privately-run), where rooms are often shared by students, and where there are excellent residential life programmes.
However, the experience in Ireland has been slightly different and is an interesting case study as it may reflect the future for US colleges. Ireland has come late to student residence halls. In the last ten years, following the introduction of tax breaks for property developers (don’t get me started!), the percentage of students living on campus went from 4.4% to 17%.
Pascarella and Terenzini’s meta-analysis of 2,500 research studies showed that students living in on-campus accommodation were more likely to get better grades and to progress to graduation – even when pre-college characteristics were taken into account. Pretty incontrovertible evidence, one would think. Of course, these studies took place in the US where the halls are generally run by the University (not privately-run), where rooms are often shared by students, and where there are excellent residential life programmes.
However, the experience in Ireland has been slightly different and is an interesting case study as it may reflect the future for US colleges. Ireland has come late to student residence halls. In the last ten years, following the introduction of tax breaks for property developers (don’t get me started!), the percentage of students living on campus went from 4.4% to 17%.
Worryingly, however, students living in on-campus accommodation are the least satisfied with their living arrangements, and are also less happy with other aspects of college life (Eurostudent study). While only 67% of students living on-campus describe themselves as Satisfied or Very Satisfied, the equivalent statistic for students living at home with their parents is 88%. (The figure in private rented accommodation is 79% - also higher than the on-campus satisfation rating).
In fact Irish students living at home were the happiest of all student cohorts in 23 European countries (apart from Portuguese students living at home). This says something about Irish Mammies which I won’t go into here – but any Higher Ed administrator who has taken a phone call from a disgruntled Irish Mammy knows that they’re not to be trifled with!
However, more importantly, it also says something about Irish residence halls. The structure of the halls was defined in the property tax legislation – apartments with up to eight bedrooms grouped round a self-catering kitchen. Generally these are single bedrooms with a study desk and internet access. Fifteen thousand such rooms have been built in the past decade, the majority by private operators. There is no requirement for residence life programming, pastoral care, Living Learning Centres, or social spaces.
The trend in the US is apparently towards apartments and increased privacy for students, with growth in the numbers of privately operated residence halls. The experience in Ireland has been that students in apartments can retreat to their bedrooms and not engage with their flatmates, other students, or the college life in general. By moving to meet consumer demand from students are we shooting ourselves (and them) in the foot?
I would be very interested in seeing any US research that has compared student satisfaction based on place of residence, so please point me in the right direction!
No comments:
Post a Comment