The State of the (College) Union Contemporary Issues and Trends

Overview New Directions for Student Services Author Panelists Chapter Highlights Discussion

1992 “The Role of the College Union and the Future” predictions for 2000 (Milani, Eakin, and Brattain) Themes More diverse populations Expansion of technology and the rate of knowledge exchange Changes in values and lifestyles Increased competition for resources A more volatile political climate Increased external accountability

The Role of the College Union and the Role of the College Union Professional Community Building – not only in the union Maintaining the connection between programming and operations Auxiliary Services versus student engagement and learning Living Room and Community Center for on- line community

The State of the (College) Union: Contemporary Issues and Trends Themes Changing campus demographics Technological expansions Changing lifestyles and values Political climate Accountability, resource competition, and the assessment movement

The Future of the College Union What value does the union provide to all students? What value does the union provide to the campus? What is the relationship between providing a service for the community and creating conditions for student learning?

Serving Today’s Diverse Students Changing Student Demographics Intentionality Programming

Student Engagement Critical question: What is the impact of the union on student learning and how do we increase student engagement and assess student learning opportunities offered through programs, services, and facilities? In addition to using the CAS standard as a self-assessment tool, staff should be knowledgeable regarding institutional learning outcomes, general education outcomes, and be able to demonstrate how the union’s student outcomes align with those. Through intentionally planned programs, services, and activities the union can serve as an effective bridge for connecting out-of-class experiences or co-curricular learning with classroom learning. Union professionals must be competent in articulating program learning goals aligned with institutional and divisional priorities, identifying measurable learning outcomes, assessing what learning has occurred using a variety of methods, succinctly reporting data, and using data gathered to continually improve programs and activities offered. Successful examples: California State University Northridge & Texas A&M Corpus Christi

Assumption: College unions impact learning & development Goal: Describe how facilities impact learning & development Historically understood (e.g. Dewey, Lewin) Mattering & Marginality: Place as Social Construct Architectural Theory: Determinism, Probabalism, Possibilism Cultural Conditioning: Proxemics Campus Planning: Symbolic Cues Facilities: Learning & Community

Fundraising Partnering with the foundation. Tracking students for future giving. Fundraising for programming. The art of naming rights.

Technology Technology savvy students, high expectations Technology solutions for our buildings Technology impact on retail operations Engaging students through technology Planning for the future

Small College Campus Unions Any focus on small college unions largely absent from literature The significance of the small college union: size and mission matters Physical space: multi-purpose and intentionally blended Small union staffing: many hats & the significant role of student paraprofessional The future of the small college unions: a canary in the coal mine?

Global College Union Impact of Globalization and Internationalization Staff Roles and Competencies International Paradigms of the College Union Idea

Assessment Evaluation and Research

Assessment, Evaluation & Research How many student affairs positions listed in The Placement Exchange require:  competency in assessing student learning outcomes  learning assessment duties in the job description  The Placement Exchange comes from combined resources of it’s partner associations, which include NASPA, ACUHO-I, NACA, NODA,ASCA, AFA & HigherEdJobs. 27.1% Hoffman & Bresciani (2010) 15

Assessment, Evaluation & Research Primary Focus Student Learning Outcomes Client Satisfaction Cost Effectiveness Newer Focus  How do Programs/Services Align with Academic Mission  Public Accountability  Contributions to Persistence/Graduation 16

Assessment, Evaluation & Research Number of identified master’s theses and doctoral dissertations specifically addressed on college union in the last 30 years? Yakaboski & DeSawal (2013) 23 17

Assessment, Evaluation & Research Considerations  Validation insufficient evidence to substantiate the importance of student learning & engagement evidence  Intention understand data how do you intend to use it? dissemination of information

 Gaps skills set needed getting better at assessment & evaluation need to focus on research  Partnerships collaborate with student affairs graduate preparatory faculty conduct research that links to the college union idea Assessment, Evaluation & Research Considerations

Discussion