The role of residence life in undergraduate persistence

Abstract

For many decades, living on campus was believed to be a primary determinant of undergraduate persistence and success. However, more recent research must raise questions about expanding diversity and the experiences of underrepresented groups, changing living arrangements, new programs and learning opportunities, and the changing campus environment in general. This session will present results from a study supported by an ACUHO-I Sponsored Research Grant that examined residence life's contribution to the persistence of first-year and sophomore students at 76 institutions. It will also detail the role residence life programming and factors like perceptions of safety on persistence.