Inter-agency Collaboration for Student Success Commuter Memorial University of Newfoundland

Questions?

Objectives A little bit about us and Memorial Commuter Students: Who and Why? The situation as it exists at Memorial Our approach, proposal and research Our Conclusion

A Little Bit About Memorial Memorial University of Newfoundland ~17,000 students 4 campuses 100 degree programs “Comprehensive” university

Commuter Students Definition Commuter vs. residence campus as a “place to visit” (Likins 1988) Not apathetic or uninterested in campus life

Not homogenous (Kodama, 2002) but common core of needs (Wilmes & Quade, 1986) Transportation Issues Multiple Life Roles Developing a Sense of Belonging Need for multitude of resources at first point of contact Commuter Students

Who We Are and What We Do Dean Career Development and Experiential Learning Counselling Centre Housing, Food and Conference Services Student Health Services Student Success Programs University Bookstore Department Services Co-op education, on-campus employment, job skills training, volunteer Personal / group counselling, wellness education, courses Campus health clinic, pharmacy Scholarships International Student Advising Answers

Who We Are and What We Do Answers Inquiries Essential Services Leadership Programs Liaising

Examples of services LocationAdministratorService All overMUNSU, Answers, OCH Transportation Information FacMan buildingCEPParking permits University CentreAnswersGeneral on-campus service information NAProject GreenRide Share University CentreMUNSULegal Counsel University CentreMUNSUSafe Drive ResidencesOCHLandlord Tenants info ResidencesOCHRental Info

Location of Services 1) MUNSU 2) Answers 3) OCH 5) CEP 4) Project Green Lauren’s House

Data: Our Survey 1.Are students aware of the services on campus? 2.Is there a difference in awareness between commuters and residence students? 3.What services do students think they need?

Data: Our Survey Title: “Are you being served?” 250 respondants Online (virtually paperless) Leadership and community list-serve biases Summer demographics

Data: Our Survey: Awareness

Data: Our Survey: Differential

Data: Our Survey: Needs Qualitative data Are your needs being met? Yes, but… A centre resource or office person?

What do we do now? Foundation for inter-agency collaboration Reallocation of services? Too many cooks? Single office easier to coordinate? Organisational imperialism Internal strain Student Agency Model

What do we do now? Bridges not barriers Administrators, faculty, staff and students Deans and senior staff direct the movement to collaborate Joint efforts “begin with leadership that can communicate persuasively a vision for collaboration in ways that both inspire and direct, thus inducing and empowering others to take initiative” ( Kuh and Banta)

Implementation Integration of services under a “commuter student” mentality Commuter student working group Creation of Continual marketing – web, list, promotional materials, door-to-door Service maps

The Future

Lauren Power Chris Hibbs