Learning space has expanded to spaces outside the traditional classroom, such as public transport, cafés, or parks, where students can easily engage in learning activities. In order to understand whether students use classrooms outside class time, where their learning takes place, why, when, and with whom, students' experiences should be at the…

This study utilized a qualitative approach to learn about a co-educational housing pilot program in a rural serving, four-year regional university in the mid-south United States. Four individuals involved in the program took part in semi-structured interviews. Open coding analysis revealed four themes: sense of belonging, learning, gender and…

Objective: Determine the temporal and spatial characteristics of stairs versus elevator use in a university residence hall to inform future physical activity promotion efforts. Participants: All residents and visitors for a single, four-story residence hall dormitory building located on a college campus in Orange, CA. Methods: Smart mat systems…

Objectives: To place Smart Snacks in vending machines and determine if different sales strategies affect "Smart Snack" selection. Participants: University students living in resident halls. Methods: Vending machines included 50% "Smart Snacks" and 50% non compliant snacks. Three sales strategies targeted student selection of…

This mixed methodological study examines the relationship between participation in a residential commons system and sense of belonging in the context of an elite, highly residential liberal arts institution. Students of color, students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and students who do not participate in Greek letter organizations reported…

New student residence halls are being built to meet students' demands and needs, creating complex living units that prioritize private spaces over social group spaces despite potential negative impacts on student success and well-being. This study examines all university residences located in a large urban center in Northern America, quantifying…

The concept of a typical pathway to becoming a student is a pervasive narrative within higher education, with moving away from home to live at university framed as the "traditional student experience". In response, recent literature has begun to trouble the thinking around student mobilities. Building on this work, this study draws upon…

Bulletin boards are ubiquitous in residence halls and may not always capture students' attention, but when they do, they have the potential to engage students in meaningful learning experiences. Our study explores how arts-based methodologies can be used in student affairs and higher education research to expand possibilities for practitioners to…

The residential community is a key part of the college experience simply because students spend a large majority of their time in the places where they live. Given this fact, a student's interactions and engagement with their community can positively impact their learning experience. We utilized a constructivist, qualitative, phenomenological…

Emotional support animals are increasingly common in residence halls. This study examines the benefits and challenges of having an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) while living in campus housing, from the perspective of the animals' owners and their roommates. Using a mixed methods case study approach, we collected qualitative and quantitative data…

Since 1995 and until it apparently eased with the coming of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, ethnicity has become the dogmatic principle of the country for its social and political policies. Consequently, it has permeated through university campuses and affected relationships among students belonging to different ethnic groups. This study makes a…

The minoritized identities of many resident assistants are rarely a topic of studies that evaluate their campus experiences, yet these identities are crucial in making these experiences positive. This qualitative research study helps fill this gap in the literature by reporting the experiences of 21 resident assistants with minoritized identities…

Rural undergraduate students at flagship universities in the United States are typically outnumbered by their urban and suburban peers. Students from rural demographic backgrounds bring different forms of social and cultural capital to higher education with them. This phenomenological study at a flagship university in the Deep South region of the…

Using scholarly personal narratives as a research tool, we explored how the director of an LGBTQ+ living-learning program (LLP) created community within the constructs of an otherwise cis- and heteronormative residential environment. We reviewed the first author's reflections about community experiences and analyzed them for opportunities to upend…

Residence hall directors function as first responders during times of on-campus residential crisis and also train resident assistants on crisis procedures. These directors are often relied upon to serve as intermediaries for residential students when they are impeded by long wait times to see someone in campus counseling services. In addition,…