The Resident Assistant (RA) role is unlike any other student position in the university setting. It is complicated, nuanced, and increasingly complex as the needs and expectations of residents and RAs rapidly change in a post-pandemic era of residence life. The role itself has been forced to evolve to address these changing needs. This thesis…

Situating residential colleges on a common map can provide important information about the community and its residents. Residential colleges (RCs), a subset of living-learning communities, are like the houses in Hogwarts from the Harry Potter book series, where students live together, share meals in a common space, and learn with and among each…

This quantitative study aimed to expand upon existing research, which discussed student expectations, the relationship between expectations and retention, persistence, and student success, as well as why understanding student expectations is important to supporting student success. This research study explored these concepts from a lens of…

For years, rising tuition costs have dominated the conversation around college affordability. This report examines the average education costs for students attending both two-year and four-year colleges within the State University of New York (SUNY) and City University of New York (CUNY) systems. This report also compares costs to average grant…

Colleges and universities commonly review the criminal history of students who apply to live in campus housing, but this practice may be inherently discriminatory. New guidance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development warns that the Fair Housing act, which applies to higher education institutions, prohibits the use of any practice…

Student affairs professionals are concerned about the access and success of diverse groups of students in U.S. higher education, but systematic barriers continue to confront one understudied population of college students. Justice-involved people--those who have experienced the criminal justice system--face unique challenges on our campuses but…

The prevalence of school shootings and other campus violence incidents have called attention to the increasing number of college students who are living with Mental Health Disorders (MHDs). There is a substantial amount of literature on MHDs among college students who are attending 4-year universities. However, the literature is lacking research…

In this study, we explored whether a residence life plan designed to meet the academic and psychosocial development of at-risk housing students, where oversight and support were provided on a weekly basis, and a proactive, intrusive counseling approach was implemented, would be effective for academic success. Participants included 74 urban at-risk…

The "Talking Stick" is published bimonthly, six times a year in January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October, and November/December by the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International. Each issue is divided into three sections: Features, Columns, and Departments. These sections contain…

The construction of residence hall facilities at colleges and universities continues to be strong, as institutions scramble to meet the housing needs and varied demands of a growing student population. This article presents data collected from 39 new residence hall projects completed in 2007. According to American School & University's 19th…

The numbers looked strange. In early March, the University of Missouri had received many more campus-housing contracts than it expected. Each year many upperclassmen cancel their agreements after finding an off-campus rental, leaving enough spaces for incoming students. But on March 17, the first day freshmen could select their rooms online, there…

This study evaluates the impact of a college-based dormitory program on transitioning youth with intellectual disabilities. A qualitative study, with interviews at pre and post, was conducted to evaluate the program's impact. Data were collected with semistructured interviews from young adults with intellectual disabilities who participated in a…

Native American students find sources of strength in their families, communities, and culture. This article reviews the experiences of 26 Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) college graduates who lived in residence halls while enrolled in college. These students obtained college educations while remaining culturally centered by going home often, some said…

Investigating attitudes toward residence hall living (staff, atmosphere, and rules and regulations), 40 men and 40 women completed attitude scales. Three comparisons were made: on-campus versus off-campus students, men versus women, and life styles. Results show that on-campus and off-campus students significantly differ in their perceptions of…