Transcript Braga, DeBlois, Goetz & McCoy: A Case Study Arkansas Tech University.

Braga, DeBlois, Goetz & McCoy: A Case Study
Arkansas Tech University
Campus Profile:
•Founded in 1862
•Private, liberal arts University
•Riverton Four Corners
•Tuition $38, 780
•Number of Applicants 2012 – 2013: 18, 213
•Accepted: 1, 934 (10.62%)
•5, 300 Undergraduate Students
•1, 400 Graduate and Professional Students
•All 50 States represented plus Washington D.C. and over 60 foreign countries
•93% Caucasian 3% African American 2% Hispanic 2% Other
•Student to Faculty ratio 18 to 1
•295 Faculty
•3,860 live on campus
•Over 200 Registered Student Organizations
•26 Athletic teams
The Problem:
(click to play videos)
News Cast: Sunnyvale students cause a ruckus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idnCBXEd1R8
Disturbance at Local Mall
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9QhZUhFF1Q&feature=youtu.be
Emily McCoy – Riverton Four Corners, Deputy Mayor
Sunnyvale University Relations
The town of Riverton Four Corners is having issues with Sunnyvale University for
a few reasons:
-Riverton Four Corners was a quiet, quaint town that is losing it’s reputation as such. The town
relies on tourism to help fuel the economy and with a poor reputation, tourists will not be as
plentiful.
-The university, like some universities, does not pay taxes on the land that is being used by
Sunnyvale, so Riverton Four Corners feels like they are not profiting as much as they could.
-The college students of Sunnyvale University want more chain retail stores and restaurants
which is threatening small business owners in town. The business-owners don’t feel as though
college students frequent their businesses enough already and large chain stores would surely
run them out of business.
-The townspeople also see an opportunity with the community of
Riverton Four Corners that Sunnyvale University is not properly taking
advantage of. There are many local businesses and organizations that
have community service opportunities that Sunnyvale students could
take advantage of.
For example:
•The Animal Hospital of Riverton Four Corners always needs people to help walk
the rescued dogs and play with rescued cats.
•Whispering Pines Nursing Home and Assisted Living needs people to assist
residents with meal time, games, and to keep company during leisure time.
Emily McCoy – Riverton Four Corners, Deputy Mayor
Sunnyvale University Relations
Proposed Solutions:
1.
Sunnyvale University creates a department focused on Town and Gown relations.
There are many other universities that have already done this or started programs
where the two entities work together.
The University of Southern California, The University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern, Yale
2.
Sunnyvale University seeks out the assistance of the International Town and Gown
Association.
-Their mission is to provide resources and assist with creating a healthy and effective relationship
between the town and university.
-There is a certificate program and conferences to attend which are both resources that Sunnyvale
could take advantage of to get ideas about what other universities are doing.(The international town and
gown association. (n.d.)
3. Sunnyvale University starts giving back to Riverton Four Corners by
providing community service.
-This would benefit both the university and the community and at no cost
either. Students could gain valuable life skills and the townspeople may change
their previously assumed ideas about the student body.
-It could be worked into the curriculum or it could be a requirement for some
extracurricular activities.
-Students would also gain a deeper respect for the town and it’s people and be
less likely to cause problems or vandalize property.
Hannah Goetz – Director of Student Activities, Sunnyvale
University
Problems from a Student Activities Perspective
“Although the problem seems to be directly coming from ruckus in
Current Issues:
the community; I believe the problem starts here on campus with
Sunnyvale has over 200
lack of student involvement. We have seen a huge decrease in
registered student
attendance to university events.” – Goetz
organizations. With this
Astin’s Involvement Theory:
number students are not as
Involved students devotes energy and time to academics, time
involved as they should be.
on campus and is an active member in student organizations
Many organizations are on
and activities. Not to mention interacts and networks
the verge of becoming
frequently with faculty and staff of the university.
inactive. – We need to
(Evans, Forney, Guido, Patton, & Renn, 2010)
engage students back into the
campus environment and into
Students learn more the more they become involved.
community positively.
A lot of this theory is geared towards students being reconnected to their campus environment. In our case, Sunnyvale
University and community are one in the same one. Essentially,
since the community can be counted as part of our campus
environment we need to not focus just on campus events and
activities but also events that can engage students in civic
engagement towards the community and township.
(Williams,2009)
Hannah Goetz – Director of Student Activities, Sunnyvale
University
Solutions from a Student Activities Perspective
Possible Campus & Community Engagement Events:
Career. Community. Connect.- Geared
towards community appreciation. L.I.O.N. Fair (Love-In' Our Neighbors) - Annual fair geared towards the
Professionals from successful enterprises
connection of Sunnyvale students and community members. Top
within the Sunnyvale community engage in
Sunnyvale student organizations are directly responsible for the
training and mentoring currently enrolled
organization, funding and putting-on of this annual fair. Students will
Sunnyvale students. Willing community
be responsible for catering all carnival events for the community and
members will be matched with students
their families. All university students are encouraged to attend and to
interested in their profession. (Ties in with
volunteer at fair. University organizations will serve as "Big
involvement theory-- Students will be more
Brother/Sisters" to community student groups such as elementary and
successful the more they are involved with
middle schoolers throughout the fair. Each fair would also serve as
university programs especially those that are fundraiser for a select sponsored community renovation project voted
academic. We as a collegiate community
on at a city council. Each university student group is required to be
need to properly motivate our students to
represented at said fair.
want to succeed. Encouraging relationships
with professionals is a direct way to do so as Service Learning – “Service learning is anchored in values of
well as redeem our relationship with our
community and civic society” (William., 2009). Successful
outstanding community)
learning occurs while students are still within their
environment not necessarily flung out of it. Usually considered
as programs that add value to curriculum not necessarily
connected to specific course work.
- In our case– We would connect with our community groups
such as: businesses, elementary, middle and high schools, the
elderly, renovations projects, park and recreation initiatives
etc. The involvement much address or relate to an actual need
of the community. Cannot be “fluff” work.
Barbara Braga – Director of University Housing
Problems from a Housing Perspective
In Residence life we have an occupancy issue. There are too many students with the
need to be housed on-campus and we are struggling to find room for these students.
In turn, students have to resort to trying to find living spaces in town, encroaching
on the town’s properties.
-Students do not feel like they have enough space on campus (their environment),
and in turn, seek other areas within the community.
•Lewin’s Interactionist Perspective states that students behavior is a function of
their environment and the interactions they have with people. (Evans et al. 2010).
•A recent Twitter post from a Sunny Vale student: “There is nothing to do in this
place #SVProbs”
Students feel that college is a temporary thing, and do not
take ownership of the town they are living in. This causes
students to do things out in the town that they would not
normally do.
Barbara Braga – Director of University Housing
Solutions from a Housing Perspective
One potential solution would be to build a new residence hall to help with the
occupancy issues.
-More appealing living arrangements with interesting common spaces, complete
with entertainment options, would make students want to live on campus.
-A new building would help students from encroaching into the town by having
students live on-campus, and wanting to spend time in their residence halls
common spaces.
(North Georgia, n.d.)
(Thomas Jefferson University, n.d.)
(Rhode Island College, n.d.)
Morgan DeBlois – Dean of Students, Sunnyvale University
Problems from the Dean’s Perspective
Issue:
Destruction and ruckus
in the community
“The issues with the Sunnyvale University students and the
Riverton Four Corners Community are critical and need to be
addressed in a timely and efficient manner” – Dean DeBlois
Causes:
•Limited and out dated housing space
•Lack of student involvement and leadership
•Lack of quality involvement opportunities
•Community disconnect
Challenges:
•Population growth was faster than funds
•Student leadership motivation
•Feedback from students
•Town politics and history
We have met as a task force for three weeks now and have
tossed around a lot of different ideas. We have looked at
many different aspects to what our solution to the issue
could potentially be. Before we decided on anything our
initial initiative was to get candid quotes from our students
themselves about their view of this issue and what solutions
they think would help and would like to see.
Morgan DeBlois – Dean of Students, Sunnyvale University
Student Interviews
Lisa Smith
Carl Wong
“I feel as though it is immature
“I see how the town can see
and rude what these students
are doing in the community. I
for one wish there were more
opportunities to get involved
with Riverton. I was in Key
Club in high school and did a
lot of volunteer work in my
home town. I wish I had the
same opportunities now that
I’m in college.”
what we’ve been up to as
“ruckus”, but in reality we’re
just trying to find stuff to do.
My dorm room I share with my
roommate is the size of my
friends single at his college.
Also I’m not interested in any
of the activities put on.
Therefore me and my friends
try to find things in town to do.
Since there really isn’t
anything to do we just mess
around.”
After getting our feed back from now the students we
came to a conclusion on what our focus to the solution
will be to mend Sunnyvale’s relationship with our dear
community, Riverton Four Corners.
Morgan DeBlois – Dean of Students, Sunnyvale University
Solutions
Final Proposed Solution Timeline to the Board
•Civic Engagement opportunities (Ready by Fall 2013)
We will create a program through Student Activities and in collaboration with the new
upcoming student group, L.I.O.N (Love- In’ Our Neighbors). L.I.O.N is headed by Sophomore Lisa
Smith, one of the students we interviewed. She will also be working with Ms. Goetz, Director
of Student Activities, on her proposed idea of L.I.O.N. Fair (described above). The purpose of
these programs is to mend the disconnect between Sunnyvale and the community.
•Town and Gown Initiative (started Summer 2013)
We will be taking Ms. McCoy ‘s, Deputy Mayor, suggestion on joining the International
Town and Gown Association. We feel as though working toward obtaining the certificate they offer
will be beneficial to Sunnyvale’s relationship with Riverton Four Corners. We believe this because it
will show a concrete form of commitment.
•Residence Hall (breaking ground Fall 2016)
We will be taking Ms. Braga’s, Director of Housing, suggestion
of creating a more modern Residence Hall which would entice student’s
to feel comfortable and at home in their place of residence on campus.
The style of rooms will be quads and apartment style living. This hall will
also incorporate a wide variety of facilities such as: game room, study
room, computer lab, lounges, café, and conference rooms.
REFERENCES
Evans, N. J., Forney, D. S., Guido, F. M., Patton, L. D., & Renn, K. A. (2010). Student development in college (2nd ed.).
San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. ISBN: 0787974
Focus Initiative. (2013) Astin’s Theory of Student Involvement. Retrieved from
http://focus.illiniosstate.edu/modules/what/involvement_theory.shtml
North Georgia. (n.d.) http://www.northgeorgia.edu/uploadedImages/Student_Support/Residential_Life/
Residence_Halls/suite%20style.jpg
The international town and gown association. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.itgau.org/content.aspx?ContentID=1438
Thomas Jefferson University. (n.d.) http://www.tju.edu/content/tju/housing/options
/martin_hall/_jcr_content/par/textimage/image.img.jpg/1359391865162.jpg
Rhode Island College.(n.d.).Retrieved from http://www.ric.edu/virtualtour /images/pano_newHall_ 450px.jpg
Williams, J. W. (2009). Service Learning: Practical Guidance from Theory.
Conference Papers -- American Political Science Association -Teaching & Learning, 1.