Sustaining Healthy Staying Communities in University Residential Halls amid Unprecedented Pandemic

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, most teaching and learning or student services in the higher education setting have moved to the digital world. However, university residential halls have continued to provide services as there are students who are unable to go back to their homes/countries because of travel bans or family reasons. This study investigates the perceptions of residents who stayed at university residential halls during the pandemic. In-depth interviews were conducted with 77 staying residents from four public universities in Hong Kong. Through the sharing of their residential experience, it was found that these stayers were impacted greatly by the changes in the residential hall environment, particularly in terms of reduced interaction and emerging disciplinary concerns. Results reveal that stayers had undergone different negative mental states, namely stress, paranoia, loneliness and boredom. After identifying their conditions, some sustainable residential practices were proposed, such as maintaining minimum face-to-face contact for stayers, practicing transparent communication and arranging bulk purchases of living supplies. It is hoped that the results of this study can help to inform readers regarding the possible impacts on the stayers during a partial lockdown environment in university residential halls and how they can be better supported by universities.

Equity, Listening, and the Transference of Power in Design-Driven Healthcare Innovation

The American Heart Association has almost 100 years of experience uncovering barriers to better health across the United States. Looking to transition towards a more equitable approach to health, the AHA partnered with verynice, a design strategy consultancy, in 2017, to develop a design research toolkit that could understand the needs of rural communities, align scientific understanding with human-centered design, and build capacity for qualitative design research. In 2018, Professor Matthew Manos of the USC Iovine and Young Academy led a group of 19 graduate students on a Professional Practices Residential in Dallas, Texas. Along the way, students developed a series of strategic recommendations for the organization moving forward. In a second application of the toolkit, Professor Manos led 20 additional graduate students in a residential experience with the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles in 2019. By introducing the framework in the offerings of the Academy, we saw first-hand the power of the methodology in an educational environment as a tool for teaching students how to listen to community needs, and suspend their bias.

Influence of Outdoor and Adventure Activities on Subjective Measures of Resilience in University Students

Background: Adventure experiences offer opportunities to improve resilience by exposure to controlled challenging situations. While previous studies have shown improvements in resilience, they have often lacked matched control groups, relied on a single measure of resilience, and had limited longitudinal follow-up. Purpose: This research assessed changes in subjective measures of resilience in response to adventure experiences. Method/Approach: Using a quasi-experimental design, resilience was assessed in two matched groups of university students using two validated instruments. Measurements were taken at four time points over a 3-month period, which included a 4-day residential experience for the Outdoor Adventure group. Findings/Conclusion: Adventure experiences showed tentative evidence for influencing subjective measures of resilience, more so for individuals who started with a low score. Resilience demonstrated the largest increase immediately post-program, returning to near baseline within 3 weeks. Implications: The mechanism for change in resilience would appear to be appropriate levels of challenge, rather than specific exposure to outdoor adventure activities. Furthermore, individuals with initially low scores are likely to achieve the greatest gain.

Gated Neighborhoods, Privatized Amenities and Fragmented Society: Evidence from Residential Experience and Implications for Urban Planning

Nowadays, urban space has become more fragmented and largely consists of many unconnected enclaves. The significance of neighborhood amenities to resident’s quality of life has been identified in the recent literature. However, studies have inadequately explored the real experience of residents in their use of neighborhood amenities under the gated urban form. Since the 1990s the urban environment of many Chinese cities has been re-shaped by the large creation of gated neighborhoods. Based on a case study in the city of Shenzhen, this paper draws upon evidence of residential satisfaction with local amenities to reveal a significant variation between different neighborhoods. The outcome of the enlarged social differentiation is a result of imbalanced micro-level urban development. The findings also provide new evidence demonstrating the increased fragmentation of society as the consequence of urban privatization. By linking the planning process with the social outcome, this paper reflects on the current strengths and weaknesses of the Chinese urban planning system.

The Effects of a Roommate-Pairing Program on International Student Satisfaction and Academic Success

While great attention has been given to the growth of international students at U.S. institutions, there is a gap in the literature examining support for this student population within residence halls. To address the gap, this quantitative study evaluated an international roommate-pairing program (IRP) by comparing the residential experience of IRP participants with a control group. The results showed the roommate-pairing program had a positive impact on the residential experience of international students. These findings suggest physical environment and structured support are critical factors in the satisfaction and success of international students. This research can inform the practice of Residence Life professionals and aid in the establishment of effective support programs.