During the past two decades institutions of all types have sought to expand and enhance residential facilities. Institutional focus on scale, configuration, amenities, and academic integration has sought to leverage prior research documenting the multiple and often positive impacts of on-campus residence. Although institutional size has been documented to differentially impact student engagement [Kezar, A. J. (2006). NASPA Journal 43(1): 87–114], few studies, however, have directly explored the effect of residential expansion on student engagement. This study, based on a sample of 731 first-time freshmen explores NSSE results before and after the opening of a residential facility that doubled on-campus living at a single, metropolitan institution. Results indicate limited positive differences after opening, and suggest that structure, in the form of size, does not, in and of itself, contribute significantly to shifting engagement. Additionally, these results suggest an alternative method for using NSSE data in institutional analyses.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blimling G. (1989). A meta-analysis of the influence of college residence halls on academic performance. Journal of College Student Development, 30(4), 298–308
Blimling G. (1993). The influence of college residence halls on students. In J. Smart (ed.), Higher Education: Handbook of Theory and Research 9 (pp. 248–307). New York: Agathon Press
Carmines E. G., Zeller R. A. (1979). Reliability and Validity Assessment. Newbury Park, CA: SAGE Publications
Carver R. (1984). Writing a Publishable Research Report in Education, Psychology, and Related Disciplines. Springfield, IL: Charles C Thomas Publisher
Chickering A., Gamson Z. (1987). Seven principles for good practice in undergraduate education. AAHE Bulletin, 39, 3–7.
Cohen J. (1977). Statistical Power Analyses for the Behavior Sciences. New York: Academic Press.
Department of Education (2006). A Test of Leadership: Charting the Future of U.S. Higher Education. A Report of the Commission Appointed by Secretary of Education Margaret J. Spellings. Department of Education, Washington, DC
Gordon, D., and Raymond, J. (2005). Which colleges bring the bling? Newsweek Kaplan College Guide, Retrieved October 11, 2005 from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8974546/site/newsweek/
Hill C. (2004). Housing strategies for the 21st century. Planning for Higher Education, 32(3), 25–36
Hughes, C. J. (2006, September 30). As competition builds, so do colleges. New York Times, Retrieved October 18, 2006 from http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/30/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/01Rcolleges.html
Hurtado S., Milem J. F., Clayton-Pedersen A., Allen W. A. (1998). Enhancing campus climates for racial/ethnic diversity: Educational policy and practice. Review of Higher Education 21(3), 279–302
Hurtado, S., Milem, J. F., Clayton-Pedersen, A., and Allen, W. A. (1999). Enacting Diverse Learning Environments: Improving the Campus Climate for Racial/Ethnic Diversity. ASHE/ERIC Higher Education Report Volume 26, No. 8. The George Washington University, Graduate School of Education and Human Development, Washington, DC
Johnson W. G., Cavins K. M. (1996). Strategies for enhancing student learning in residence halls. New Directions for Student Services, 75(Fall), 69–82
Kezar A. J. (2006). The impact of institutional size on student engagement. NASPA Journal, 43(1), 87–114
Kuh G. D. (2000). The National Survey of Student Engagement: The College Student Report. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research and Planning
Kuh G. D. (2003). What we’re learning about student engagement from NSSE: Benchmarks for effective educational practices. Change, 35(2), 24–32
Kuh G. D., Douglas K. B., Lund J. P., Ramin-Gyurnek J. (1994). Student Learning Outside the Classroom: Transcending Artificial Boundaries. Washington, DC: The George Washington University, Graduate School of Education and Human Development
Kuh, G. D., Kinzie, J., Schuh, J. H., Whitt, E. J., and Associates (2005). Student Success in College: Creating Conditions that Matter. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco
Pascarella E. (1984). Reassessing the effects of living on-campus versus community to college: A causal modeling approach. Review of Higher Education, 7, 247–260
Pascarella E. T., Terenzini P. T. (1991). How College Affects Students: Findings and Insights from Twenty Years of Research. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass
Pascarella E., Terenzini P. (2005). How College Affects Students: A Third Decade of Research. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass
Pascarella E., Terenzini P., Blimling G. (1994). The impact of residential life on students. In C. Schroeder, P. Mable (eds.), Realizing the Educational Potential of Residence Halls (pp. 22–52). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers
Pike G. R. (2002). The differential effects of on- and off-campus living arrangements on students’ openness to diversity. NASPA Journal, 39(4), 283–299
Pike G. R. (2006). The convergent and discriminant validity of NSSE scalelet scores. Journal of College Student Development, 47(5), 550–563
Pike G., Schroeder C., Berry T. (1997). Enhancing the educational impact of residence halls: The relationship between residential learning communities and first-year college experiences and persistence. Journal of College Student Development, 38(6), 609–621
Pedhazur E. J. (1982). Multiple Regression in Behavioral Research: Explanation and Prediction (2nd ed.), New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston
Sanoff, A. (2005, August 28). Newly listed: 20 colleges that foster student success. USA Today. Retrieved September 14, 2005 from http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2005-08-28-colleges-success_X.htm
Schroeder C., Jackson G. S. (1987). Creating conditions for student development in campus living environments. NASPA Journal, 25(1), 45–53
Schroeder, C., and Mable, P. (1994). Realizing the Educational Potential of Residence Halls. Jossey-Bass Publishers, San Francisco
Strange C. C., Banning J. H. (2001). Education by Design: Creating Campus Learning Environments that Work. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass
Tabachnick B. G., Fidell L. S. (2001). Using Multivariate Statistics (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon
Warner M. J., Noftsinger J. B. (1994). Increasing student involvement through residence hall lifestyle assignments and developmental programming. Journal of the Freshman Year Experience, 6(1), 91–114
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
LaNasa, S.M., Olson, E. & Alleman, N. The Impact of On-campus Student Growth on First-year Student Engagement and Success. Res High Educ 48, 941–966 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-007-9056-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-007-9056-5