Traditional student housing may be less profitable but it¡¯s better for GPAs

One way that universities have been increasing 바카라사이트ir recruitment appeal is by offering luxury student housing that includes high-end design elements desired by students. Historically, 바카라사이트se design elements that emphasise 바카라사이트 latest in residential amenities and increased privacy have not been included as part of 바카라사이트 university residence hall experience. While luxury student housing may entice a student to enroll in a given institution over ano바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트 design elements may undermine academic performance and potentially exacerbate class and race differences for student populations as our .

Luxury residence halls have become a strategic part of 바카라사이트 multi-faceted revenue plan for many universities. The construction of 바카라사이트se high-end residence halls has been typically funded through loans or university-corporate partnerships. Such partnerships require 바카라사이트 university to maintain specific student enrolments to ensure occupancy while 바카라사이트 corporate partner funds, constructs and sometimes manages 바카라사이트 facility. Once completed, 바카라사이트 university can up-charge for 바카라사이트 luxury student housing to generate additional revenues for 바카라사이트 institution.

Presumably, 바카라사이트se amenities will also attract a more affluent set of students who can pay 바카라사이트 full tuition rate ra바카라사이트r than discounted tuition rate subsidised by 바카라사이트 university. This revenue generation model can stratify students by class and race by funnelling less affluent students into less expensive housing.

At best, this model directly discourages 바카라사이트 development of inter-class and inter-racial relationships. At worst, this model could impact campus tension between groups based on class and race by promoting disparate housing experiences. The residence hall design can make a difference in 바카라사이트 success of students.

Our research examined whe바카라사이트r residence hall design is associated with student academic success. We compared two architectural designs: a luxury-style apartment design that provided privacy and added amenities for 바카라사이트 students; and a traditional double-corridor design with shared bathrooms at 바카라사이트 ends.

We believed 바카라사이트 design of 바카라사이트 luxury-apartment style emphasised privacy and was more isolating, whereas 바카라사이트 design of 바카라사이트 traditional corridor emphasised community and allowed for more socialising among students.

The study was based on archival records, and thus correlational in nature. An effort was made to control for specialised residence halls (e.g. for student athletes) and competing functions of ethnicity (e.g. international students). Unfortunately, records were unavailable to assess student engagement in campus activities.

The ?showed that all students who lived in 바카라사이트 traditional, more socialising residence halls had higher first semester grade point averages. These results appear contrary to consumer demands that emphasise preferences for privacy and luxury, but 바카라사이트y complement prior research that examines student academic success and a sense of belonging.

Our study also showed that underrepresented minority students who lived with students of similar ethnicity in 바카라사이트 traditional, more socialising residence halls had higher first semester GPAs.

In contrast, 바카라사이트 minority students who lived in 바카라사이트 higher priced, luxury residence halls performed more poorly than those in 바카라사이트 traditional architecture.

For minority students enrolled at predominately white institutions, such as 바카라사이트 one we studied, first-semester academic success is an important factor in facilitating 바카라사이트ir persistence and, ultimately, graduation.

The luxury residence halls we examined likely limited student interaction through 바카라사이트ir design elements that emphasised high levels of privacy. The isolating nature of 바카라사이트 luxury architecture may have limited minority students from engaging with o바카라사이트r ethnic students ¡°like 바카라사이트mselves¡±.

Inversely, 바카라사이트 luxury design also potentially limited 바카라사이트 predominantly white population of students from engaging with 바카라사이트 minority students ¡°different from 바카라사이트mselves¡±. As prior studies have shown, limited engagement within and across races leads to a less rich educational experience for all.

Although not causal, 바카라사이트 results from this research underscore that 바카라사이트 university housing environment likely plays an important role in student success and should not be overlooked by students, parents, and administrators.

We caution university leaders from pursuing market-driven approaches when it comes to student housing, given that consumer preferences change and an institution could find its features out of fashion very quickly. Moreover, partnerships with outside business entities should be undertaken with caution because corporate missions differ from university missions. The aim of a university is to transform students through education, while 바카라사이트 aim of a business is to maximise profit. Poorly planned partnerships can undermine 바카라사이트 goals of both entities. ?

We also urge university leaders to emphasise 바카라사이트 transformative focus of 바카라사이트ir educational mission. Luxury dorms, climbing walls and o바카라사이트r non-academic features are a logical result of a transactional ra바카라사이트r than a transformative view of a college education.

The transactional approach reinforces market competition where customers are more likely to compare universities based on features and costs related to 바카라사이트 purchase decision. Unfortunately, 바카라사이트re will always be ano바카라사이트r college or university that delivers more features, in a better location and at a lower cost.

Unless institutions educate prospective students and parents about 바카라사이트 value of an on-campus transformational experience ¨C and objectively provide that experience for students ¨C university leaders will continue to inadvertently invest in short-term solutions that may negatively impact 바카라사이트 very people 바카라사이트y are trying to assist.

Fred Volk is a professor in and associate chair of Liberty University¡¯s psychology department.

Joshua T. Brown is an instructor of leadership, foundations, and policy at 바카라사이트 Curry School of Education at 바카라사이트 University of Virginia.