ACUHO-I News Blog

Colleges and Universities employ a myriad of programs aimed at retention; many, not all of these, are in the student affairs area; plenty of those are in housing. Living-learning communities, mentoring, tutoring, freshman introductory programs, second-year experience programs, et cetera, are all aimed at getting students to graduation and improving their experience along the way. The success of these programs is often measured on retention and graduation rates. But that’s not the only way to measure success; there’s also the more business-like (or callous?) way: do the students who stay (and continue paying tuition and fees) make up for the monies spent on the programs? For the most part, they do, says a report, Investing in Student Success, sponsored by Jobs for the Future and the Delta Project on Postsecondary Education Costs, Productivity and Accountability. Thirteen institutions allowed their retention programs to be evaluated using a costs-to-returns calculator. While the return of a programs could not be accurately calculated because of a lack of necessary data, most did very well, their returns outstripping the costs considerably.

This week’s items from InsideHigherEd.com discuss what “college ready” really means, budget cut protests in California, and what the libraries of the future will look like.

’60s TACTICS, NEW CAUSE: With an approach reminiscent of the protest movement, University of California students, faculty and staff plan walkouts and teach-ins today in response to budget cuts.

THE LAST STOP: Among last to start classes in California, community colleges on quarter system struggle — amid severe budget cuts and overcrowding — to serve students being turned away elsewhere.

DEFINING ‘COLLEGE READY,’ NATIONALLY: State school officers and governors, with higher education’s help, develop “common standards”designed to align high school and college curriculums.

WHEN LESS IS MORE: Changes in essay requirements to apply to MIT and Penn reflect sense among admissions officers that students don’t need to write a book (or even 1,000 words).

LIBRARIES OF THE FUTURE: What will they look like? Prediction about vanishing physical infrastructure intrigues some college librarians and frustrates others.

The September + October 2009 issue of the Talking Stick magazine should be on your desk (or in your hands). For those who don’t receive the print version, however, we offer the digital option.

In this issue ACUHO-I again recognizes September as National Campus Safety Awareness Month, this time focusing on new educational approaches to fire safety as well as stressing the important role actual real-life people play in the security process, even as technology continues to improve. Luke LaCroix from The College of New Jersey and Bruce Griffin from the University of North Carolina are our authors for these feature stories.

Also, Stephanie Carter-Smith from the University of South Carolina takes a look at the sensitive subject and difficult process of employee furloughs. In this story she shows how campuses are managing morale and maintaining customer service even as staff schedules are juggled.

Other topics in this issue include a look at the future of automated maintenance management, the capital planning process, and the growing number of community colleges that have residence halls.

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A Cornell University graduate student has written a paper making an argument that student services spending positively impacts retention and graduation rates. But we all knew that anyway, didn’t we? Now there’s proof.

The Talking Stick magazine is the authoritative source for campus housing. The latest edition is now available online and we are excited to share version 3.0 of the NxtBook interface. New features and design will make the experience even smoother and more valuable than before.

This issue delivers the information you need to succeed as a college and university housing professional. Check out stories such as:

• Courting Change in Judicial Affairs: Is a kinder and gentler approach to judicial affairs the secret to improving student conduct?
• The Other Side of the Street: When the need for new housing spills past a campus’ traditional boarders, careful planning can successfully blend town and gown.
• Six Degrees of Separation: Real-life social networks show how students connect.
• Balancing Values and the Bottom Line: When and why should you consider outsourcing your maintenance?
• Budget 101: Learn to wisely navigate the budget-making process.

Plus, don’t miss the quick-hitting stories of Just In, a Conversation about curbing student substance abuse, the latest Transitions, and turning the spotlight on North Central College in Naperville, Illinois.

After reading the issue, you can share your thoughts in the comment section below, or on the ACUHO-I online network.