On-campus housing programs strive to provide a quality living environment that not only fosters strong social connections and comfortable living, but also provides programs, services, and initiatives that support broader student learning and success.
This research note explores the relationship of participating in residence life programs and activities with the broader student housing experience. Respondents who were highly satisfied with their on-campus housing experience were found to be more likely to frequently participate in housing activities and programs, suggesting that these programs positively impact the overall housing experience.
Key Questions:
- How often do students attend residence hall programs and activities?
- How does attending programs and activities relate to student learning?
- How does attending programs and activities relate to student satisfaction?
Key Points:
- Few students report regularly participating in residence hall programs and activities.
- There is a relationship between participating in programs and activities and learning outcomes.
- There is a relationship between participating in programs and activities and student satisfaction with on-campus housing.
How Often Do Students Attend On-Campus Housing Programs and Activities?
Data from the ACUHO-I/Benchworks Resident Assessment indicates that the majority of students living on-campus do not regularly attend on-campus housing programs and activities in their residence halls. Figure 1 of the associated research note displays the breakdown of responses asking how often students participate in programs and activities sponsored by their residence hall building or complex. Only 15% of students indicated they participated in programs and activities often or very often.
About the Data
The data used in this research note are from the 2016-2017 ACUHO-I/Benchworks Resident Assessment. The survey was jointly designed by ACUHO-I and the survey development team at Skyfactor. This survey enables institutions to evaluate the experiences of on-campus residents, focusing on satisfaction with the housing experience, facilities, staff, dining and roommates; as well as learning related to community interactions, programs, diverse interactions, sustainability, and practical competencies. For this note, we analyzed data from 283,144 on-campus residents from 261 institutions in the United States.
Check out our recent blog on how you can utilize Skyfactor assessment data to inform your interventions in a targeted, resourceful way.
