How Does Your Institution Measure Up?

ACSD Benchmarking Group  Private, Faith-based, 4-year ACSD member institutions  U.S. schools only  117 schools

Sample Selection  Schools were first sorted based on cost Range was $18,604 to $58,772 Standard deviation used to eliminate 17 institutions on the low end and 16 on the high end, plus one additional school with no cost data available  Schools were then sorted based on total undergraduate enrollment Standard deviation used to eliminate one institution on the high end Standard deviation did not eliminate schools with low enrollment due to being skewed by the larger schools Eliminated schools with enrollment lower than 500 students, leaving us with a sample of 75 institutions

ACSD Benchmarking Group:  Abilene Christian University  Anderson University (IN)  Anderson University (SC)  Belhaven University  Bryan College  Cairn University  California Baptist University  Calvin College  Carson-Newman University  Colorado Christian University  Concordia College at Moorhead  Concordia University – TX  Corban University  Cornerstone University  Covenant College  Crown College  Eastern Nazarene College  Eastern University  Evangel University  Franciscan University of Steubenville  Fresno Pacific University  Friends University  Goshen College  Grace College and Theological Seminary  Grand Canyon University  Greenville College  Hope College  Hope International University  Houghton College  Houston Baptist University  Howard Payne University  Huntington University

Benchmarking Group (cont.)  John Brown University  Lancaster Bible College  LeTourneau University  Malone University  Messiah College  Milligan College  Missouri Baptist University  Montreat College  North Central University  North Park University  Northwest Nazarene University  Northwest University  Northwestern College (IA)  Nyack College  Ohio Christian University  Oklahoma Wesleyan University  Olivet Nazarene University  Oral Roberts University  Ouachita Baptist University  Palm Beach Atlantic University  Shorter University  Simpson University  Southeastern University  Southern Adventist University  Southern Nazarene University  Southern Wesleyan University  Southwest Baptist University  Southwestern AOG University

Benchmarking Group (cont.)  Spring Arbor University  Tabor College  Taylor University  The Master’s College and Seminary  Trevecca Nazarene University  Trinity Christian College  Trinity International University  Union University  University of Northwestern (MN)  Valley Forge Christian College  Warner University  Waynesburg University  Wheaton College  William Jessup University  Wisconsin Lutheran College

Survey  Qualtrics Survey of 88 questions sent to representatives of the 75 institutions via  Sent to Director of Housing or Director of Residence Life In a few cases, sent to Dean of Students  46 total responses  33 completed surveys = 44% response rate

Region

Setting

Total Undergraduate Enrollment

The Numbers  The majority of schools had between 4 and 8 residence halls  7 institutions had no apartment buildings  5 had more than 12 apartment buildings  Half of the schools surveyed had no houses  16% had 12 or more houses

Number of RAs in Residence Halls

Number of RAs in Apartments

RA Compensation

RA Stipend  Ranged from $100 to $5,000 per semester  Average stipend amount for RA staff was $1,838 per semester

RA Responsibilities  Build community and foster relationships  Enforce rules and ensure safety  Deliver programming  Plan events  Rounds/Desk Staffing  Mediate Conflict

RDs  93% of institutions have between 1 and 10 RDs staffing their residence halls  70% of institutions have between 1 and 5 RDs staffing their apartments  Only 12% of institutions have RDs present in their houses

RD Responsibilities  Supervise RA staff  Build community and foster relationships  Crisis response  Liaison between students and parents  Academic intervention  Student mentoring  Maintain facilities  “Normal RD responsibilities – live-in do- it-all”

Student to Staff Ratio – Residence Halls

Student to Staff Ratio - Apartments

Student to Staff Ratio - Houses

Visitation/Open Hours – Residence Halls

How many days per week?

Open Floor/Visitation Hours  On weekdays, visitation generally begins between 5:00pm and 7:00pm  On weekdays, visitation generally ends between 10:00pm and midnight  On weekends, visitation generally begins between noon and 2:00pm or between 6:00pm and 7:00pm  On weekends, visitation generally ends between 11:00pm and 1:00am

Visitation/Open Hours - Apartments

Days per Week

Open Floor/Visitation Hours  Visitation generally begins between 8:00am and noon  Visitation generally ends between midnight and 2:00am

Visitation/Open Hours - Houses

Open Floor/Visitation Hours  Visitation generally begins between 8:00am and noon  Visitation generally ends between midnight and 2:00am

Do you have first year residence halls?

Do you house transfer students with other transfer students?

Do you have required meetings throughout the year for residence hall residents?

How often are these meetings held?

Do you have required meetings throughout the year for apartment residents?

How often are these meetings held?

Do you have required meetings throughout the year for campus house residents?

How often are these meetings held?

How were your apartments acquired?

Are there common areas/lobbies within the apartment buildings?

Are the apartments furnished?

Furnishes Included in the Apartments:

How were your houses acquired?

Are the houses furnished?

Furnishings Included in Houses:

What students are required to live on campus?

What criteria are used to determine housing eligibility? AGEPROBATION SERVICE CHAPEL ABSENCES

How is the housing sign-up process completed?

Housing software used?  Homemade  RMS  Starrez  Cbord  Residence by Symplicity

Do students find identity with their building or apartment?

How do you determine housing cost?

What supplemental housing strategies do you utilize?

How do you control access to exterior doors of residence halls and apartment buildings?

How do you control access to individual rooms/apartments?

Do you have a rotation schedule for painting campus residences?

How often are they painted?

Who does the painting?

Do you have a rotation schedule for carpeting campus residences?

How often are they carpeted?

Who does the carpeting?

Do you have a rotation schedule for replacing furniture in campus residences?

How often is furniture replaced in campus residences?

Do you have specific learning outcomes for residence life?

Successful strategies in meeting learning outcomes:  RA-planned events  Passive programming (bulletin boards)  Housing contracts and suitemate meetings  Bible studies/small groups  RA development class  Event reports after every gathering/program  Conversation-based programming instead of floor event programming  Faculty involvment

What strategies/instruments do you use to assess your learning outcomes in Residence Life?  80% of respondents utilize surveys  33% of respondents utilize focus groups  Other responses included: RD/RA Feedback Programming Reports One-on-one Interviews

Areas for Improvement:  Remodeling  Renovation schedule for housing  New residence halls  Software for room selection and roommate selection  More staffing – RDs, assistant director, administrative assistant  More clear learning outcomes  Developing more community in apartments  Strengthen floor programming  Better management of overflow housing  Better staff development/training

Questions?  Please