This study examines the role of living-learning (L/L) programs in facilitating first-generation students' perceived academic and social transition to college. Using a sample of 1,335 first-generation students from 33 4-year institutions who participated in the National Study of Living-Learning Programs during Spring 2004, the results of the study…

Provides advice on how to best meet the furniture needs of student residents now and in the future to ensure their privacy and value from the residence hall experience. Twenty tips are highlighted that include considering fire safety, upholstering, lifecycle costs, input from stakeholders, the Americans with Disabilities Act, comfort, lighting,…

Asserts that proper planning is a prerequisite for creating satisfactory laundry rooms in school residences. Identifies and explores the features that make a laundry room successful, and discusses how to get started. (GR)

The authors introduce the Personal Living Space Cue Inventory (PLSCI), designed to document comprehensively features of personal living spaces (PLSs); common examples of PLSs include rooms in family households, dormitories, or residential centers. The article describes the PLSCI's development and provides evidence for its reliability and…

All private colleges and universities make strategic capital investments and consider the use of debt to fund those investments. From the commonplace purchase of photocopiers to the construction of new academic buildings or dormitories, investment decisions that yield long-term financial benefits must follow on the heels of careful analysis. To…

Because of segregation in neighborhoods and schools, college may provide the first opportunity for many young adults to interact closely with members of different racial and ethnic groups. Little research has examined how interracial friendships form during this period. This article investigates changes in the racial composition of friendship…

Among the major tasks facing the modern day youth is how best to manage his/her time productively. With the plethora of problems facing the Nigerian undergraduates, it becomes necessary to find out how the Nigerian undergraduate spends his time. Two thousand four hundred full time undergraduates formed the sample of this study. Simple percentage,…

Residence hall construction continues to be a priority for colleges and universities. With enrollments on the upswing, higher-education institutions are spending more and building larger facilities to entice students to live on campus. This article presents the findings of "American School & University's" 17th annual Residence Hall Construction…

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…

Elevator vandalism has increased recently. Suggestions are offered for reducing the problem. (MLF)

Explains how Stanford University custom designed its own building maintenance and administration software package: the Housing Operations Maintenance Enterprise Resource (HOMER). Describes how HOMER relieved facility maintenance staff from some archaic systems, and its development and functionality. (GR)

Describes three projects showing that originality prevails in residence hall design. One creates a European feel in an urban neighborhood, one is an apartment renovations, and one supports group learning. Photos are included. (GR)

Explores the benefits of including high-brightness Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) for emergency systems and its use in residence halls. LED emergency lighting options and their qualifications are also highlighted.(GR)