Living-learning communities combine curricular, co-curricular, and residential components of college life. They are a relatively new variation on the residential education that has been part of the undergraduate experience at America's independent colleges and universities for centuries. Research suggests that living-learning communities have a…

The sources of work motivation for resident assistants have received little attention in the literature over the last decade. As the role grows more complex and more expectations are added to the RA position, determining what current factors motivate students to apply for the RA position is essential. This study presents quantitative research to…

"Pregaming" or "pre-loading" is what college students call the practice of drinking alcohol in a private setting prior to attending an organized event or social activity where alcohol might or might not be served. According to one student, "Pregames are usually a fun part of the night because you're just with a few close…

Leaders at Indiana University of Pennsylvania had heard the horror stories: Students would be accepted here, visit the campus, take one look at the outdated dormitories, and decide to go someplace else. Something had to be done. So they made the bold move to replace all student housing, bed for bed--at a cost of $270-million. The public university…

More than 1,700 students between the ages of 18 and 24 die each year from alcohol-related causes, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). These students succumb to alcohol poisoning, cardiac arrest, or injuries from falls off dorm room balconies or other heights on campus. The problem of binge drinking, defined…

To determine the present adequacy and future trends of the dormitory arrangements on each of Pennsylvania's 14 state-owned higher education institutions, a survey of administrators and students was conducted. The survey instrument, a four-part, 44-item student housing questionnaire, was developed and disseminated to the appropriate respondents at…

In an effort to attract the best and brightest undergraduate students, administrators at U.S. colleges and universities are beginning to leverage their physical facilities as major assets. Academic institutions across the country are launching ambitious, long-term programs that include the construction and renovation of academic buildings. They…

The American phenomenon of "more is better" extends a value-loaded concept implicit in budget preparation. At any university, the scope, magnitude and cost of a residence hall assistant program selection process is a metaphor to illustrate efficiency and effectiveness of human resources. In order to discover a more efficient and…

Results of a survey on compensation for a student staff in the residence halls of Mid-Atlantic Association of College and University Housing Officers' (MACUHO) member institutions are reported. The responses from 71 percent of MACUHO members indicate a wide variety in types of compensation. While room and/or board continues to be the most…