By James Donnelly Azusa Pacific University Azusa Pacific University.
17
By James Donnelly Azusa Pacific University Building Commuter Community in a Drive-Thru World: A study of First-Year Commuter Engagement & Satisfaction
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Transcript of By James Donnelly Azusa Pacific University Azusa Pacific University.
By James Donnelly Azusa Pacific University
Building Commuter Community in a Drive-Thru World:A study of First-Year Commuter Engagement & Satisfaction
Where is everyone coming from?
What are you hoping to gain?
Why Are We Here?
• Today, 85% of college students are commuters.
• Majority of research regards residential students.
• Commuter programs are adopted without much evidence to support those decisions.
• Assumptions that programs for residential students will work for commuters.
The Situation
Key Theories• Maslow’s Hierarchy of
Needs• Schlossberg’s Mattering
Theory• Astin’s Theory of
Involvement
Population Studied
• 1,022 total First-Year Students• 104 Commuter & 1,018 Residential
Survey• 104 Commuters & 300 Residential
students surveyed
First Year Experience* Engagement *
5.074.73
4.50
2.94
SatisfactionResidential Students (n=60) Commuter Students (n=34)
23.25
16.65
Social Engagement ScaleResidential Students (n=60)Commuter Students (n=34)
22.30
23.41
Academic Enagement Scale
Residential Students (n=60)Commuter Students (n=34)
Campus Events/Activities* Mentoring/Leadership Programs*
Student Organizations* Online Social Networking Socializing On Campus*
3.58
2.88 3.00
3.42
4.20
1.82 2.03
1.56
2.91 2.79
Social EngagementResidential Commuters
Key Differences• Commuters much less socially
engaged compared to Residential Students
• Commuters are significantly less satisfied with their experience and their engagement level.
Key Differences• Commuters spend less time
on campus & are generally on campus in the mornings
• Commuters are mainly focused on academic engagement and development
What quandaries have you had with commuter students?
ORWhat seems to be posing the biggest challenge for commuter
engagement?
Activity: Show & Tell
Community?• Commuters are often between
many “worlds”.• What do “communities” look
like on campus?• Building a need/necessity for
community.• Meeting them where they
are…
New Concepts• Understand YOUR commuters.• What “reaches” your commuters.
- Mentoring, Smaller events, “Commuter only” programming, etc.
• New concepts of success for commuter events/engagement.
• Location on campus for commuters to spend time and develop community
New Concepts
• Commuters reaching commuters.
• Who are those commuters that are allies.
• Meeting commuters where they are...
“I feel like college is like a restaurant and the residential students get to go inside and experience everything. Commuters are just taking the drive-thru.”
Million dollar question ???
• What works best?• What is making that difference?• Who will help bridge the gap?• Where will the next great idea
come from?
YOU!
