1. Maria Goodspeed, MLIS Pensacola State College
Serving Commuter Students: Implementing Strategies for Academic Success and Building a Connected Community in the Library
Maria Goodspeed, MLIS
Pensacola State College

2. College Trends to Encourage Success in Commuter Populations
First, the good news!
An increase in enrollment of first-generation and minority students is expected
Colleges are compelled to reevaluate at their cultures and practices.
What measures are campuses implementing to help students stay in school?
Campuses are spending an increasing spending on student-success efforts.
Using programs to track performance
Advisors to help in course selection
Seeking and encouraging internships to motivate students in their undergraduate careers.
Selingo, J. J. (2018, June 8). Why do so many students drop out of college? And what can be done about it?. The Washington Post. Retrieved from point/wp/2018/06/08/why-do-so-many-students-drop-out-of-college-and-what-can-be-done-about-it/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.8dfd1c19d66b

3. Challenges for Commuter Students
More than half of students who start college drop out within six years.
To properly address the problem, we must first understand the problem.
Why do students drop out?
Three main reasons:
Cost
Lack of accessible resources
Lack of support
What can libraries do to help prevent it?
Selingo, J. J. (2018, June 8). Why do so many students drop out of college? And what can be done about it?. The Washington Post. Retrieved from point/wp/2018/06/08/why-do-so-many-students-drop-out-of-college-and-what-can-be-done-about-it/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.8dfd1c19d66b

4. What can libraries do about costs for students?
We can actively work to combat costs for students!
Books on reserve – communicate with departments in a liaison capacity to encourage putting materials in the library for students
EBook access – increase collection development efforts to acquire material with unlimited user access
Traditional collection development techniques and collaboration with faculty to ensure materials in circulation line up with course assignments
Open Educational Resources (OERs) – Curriculum Builder

5. What increased academic role can libraries and library staff play to help with the retention and student success effort?
There are many ways in which libraries and their respective staff members can positively impact students academically. Academic and public libraries share in the effort to educate our community members.
Excellence
Accessibility
Inclusion

6. Excellence Best practices for research instruction
Continually revise classes to maintain relevancy (fake news vs. academically sound resources)
Work with colleagues to have a uniform presentation of material
Individualized help from reference desk
Technical or research oriented
Training if needed (Canvas basics course for faculty)
Working to build liaison relationships with faculty
Research guides/LibGuides
Materials to support their curriculum
Presenting to faculty to keep them up to date on library services. New faculty orientation / Professional Development days

7. Accessibility
Access to helpful academic resources and tutoring services positively impacts retention rates and academic success.
Provide space for tutors in the library
Virtual librarian assistance
Reference Desk – present and engaged librarians
Library hours accommodate most schedules

8. Inclusion
The concept of inclusion on campuses transitions into the importance of social acceptance.
Environment
Effort
Events

9. What increased social role can libraries and library staff play to help with the retention and student success effort?
“It’s about creating a culture that I’m on your side.”
David Laude, Professor of Chemistry, UT Austin
Gratitude expressed by students should be an indicator to us of the importance of staying actively engaged while at the reference desk.
Selingo, J. J. (2018, June 8). Why do so many students drop out of college? And what can be done about it?. The Washington Post. Retrieved from point/wp/2018/06/08/why-do-so-many-students-drop-out-of-college-and-what-can-be-done-about-it/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.8dfd1c19d66b

10. Social Challenges for Commuter Students
Building relationships
Feeling connected to campus
This must be understood for its importance and an emphasis must be placed on working to make students feel connected.

11. Focus on Two Things
There are two things students will notice immediately when they enter the library.
Attitude of library staff
We must keep a daily emphasis on students and their success and make certain they know that we are truly invested in their future.
Physical environment

12. Team Library

13. Environment
“The past decade has seen an increase in academic library redesign to incorporate the information commons model, which emphasizes the need for flexible spaces and furniture that can accommodate many different student needs.”
“A recent and increasing emphasis on group work in higher education has led many academic libraries to expand or improve group study spaces for students.”
“Students were asked to design their ideal libraries, many of which depicted a preference for collaborative, flexible group areas.”
“Many students feel that the carrel desk is their favorite place for academic work.”
“Multi-institution study found that both students and faculty viewed studying alone as more important than studying in groups.”
Regalado, M., & Smale, M. A. (2015). “I am more productive in the library because it’s quiet”: commuter students in the college library. College & Research Libraries, 76(7), 899–913.

14. Maintaining the beauty of a library space is essential in forming an environment in which students want to spend time.

15. Winter Theme

16. October

17. Events
Special events held in the library or in conjunction with the library make it a place students want to be.
Special programming also serves as a way for students to meet others and feel connected.

18. Make Students Feel Supported!

19. Make Students Feel Welcome!

20. Display Student Work in the Library

21. Inclusive Displays

22. Get Students Involved in Library Fun!

23. Utilize Space to Send Positive Messages

24. Effort Go the extra mile for all students, all the time.
Remove obstacles. Create a document that provides log in help desk numbers.
Create an atmosphere of positivity and support.
Do not hesitate to offer words of encouragement.
SMILE 

25. Contact Information
Maria Goodspeed, MLIS
Faculty Librarian, Chadbourne Library

26. References
Dryden, N. H., & Roseman, S. G. (2010). Learning commons: addressing the needs of commuter regional campuses. Journal of Library Administration, 50(5/6), 581– org.db21.linccweb.org/ /
Regalado, M., & Smale, M. A. (2015). “I am more productive in the library because it’s quiet”: commuter students in the college library. College & Research Libraries, 76(7), 899– org.db21.linccweb.org/ /crl
Selingo, J. J. (2018, June 8). Why do so many students drop out of college? And what can be done about it?. The Washington Post. Retrieved from many-students-drop-out-of-college-and-what-can-be-done-about-it/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.8dfd1c19d66b