More than a Place to Sleep: The Role of Student Housing in Supporting First-Generation and Historically Excluded College Students in the Two-Year Setting

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135

First Generation College Students; Disproportionate Representation; College Housing; Two Year Colleges; Two Year College Students; Social Support Groups; School Holding Power; Academic Persistence; Student Experience; Community; Leadership; Student College Relationship; Role

979-83-7975-930-8

The strength of alignment between Student Housing and its functions with Student Life may impact its ability to promote the retention and persistence of first-generation and historically excluded students who live on campus. The purpose of this action research study was to investigate the role of Student Housing, as a Public-Private Partnership, and its functions in the support of the promotion and retention of first-generation and historically excluded students at one two-year college in the Pacific Northwest. Participants and data collection within Cycle 1 consisted of semi-structured interviews with Student Life, International Programs, and housing personnel who employed housing functions in advancing the persistence and retention of students. The results revealed that while Student Housing provided a supportive on-campus community, its integration with Student Life was influenced by personality-driven systems, and its functions were not tied to the missions of campus or Student Life. Cycle 2's action step included an opportunity to situate housing and its functions within these missions and to strengthen their integration with campus life. The study found that Student Housing's community experience is reinforced when it is situated within overarching Student Life end goals, and when integration between housing and Student Life is strengthened and sustained through insistent Student Life leadership. Implications for the organization include clarifying the contributions of Student Housing and its functions toward Student Life end goals and the contemplation of a council of personnel to sustain alignment between Student Life and housing with the insistence of institutional leadership. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]

As Provided

2023

ED635821