by Citklali Ibarra-Hernandez
As a mid-level residence life professional, there are so many times when I find myself thinking or talking to colleagues about how different this generation of students is from the students at the beginning of my career. One of the greatest tools in my toolbelt for working with different generations of students is the gift of utilizing a curricular approach. There is so much I can say about using a curricular approach for residential education (and I could, but that’s not what today is about). For the sake of this topic, I will stick to the notion that we as educators need to prioritize the unique experiences that our students bring into our institutions, and it’s up to us to meet students where they are to design these experiences for them.
This blog series features different writers responding to the prompt, “How is the rising generation of college students changing residence life practice?”
Student Services, Student Affairs, and even more specifically Residence Life were developed to alleviate parents and families concerns over their student’s safety while they are in college. The term loco parentis literally means “in place of the parent,” and as staff, our initial role was to serve as supportive resources to increase student success. While at the core, our mission and values often align with this framework, our students have changed drastically from the students for whom higher education was originally intended for. While every region, university, and student is different, when we think about the persona of who is attending college, our first thought often goes to Generation Z (GEN-Z).
The current and rising generation of college students, Gen-Z, is unlike any student population we have ever seen. These students grew up in a world with information at the touch of their fingers, where they are technology-savvy and can build community digitally, but also live with the information overload of the world on their feeds. For many, student’s knowledge about the world has developed a stronger sense of self and an ability to reflect on their own identities and values. As educators, we have the gift of meeting students where they are, and with many of these students, it is clear they have a strong understanding of who they are and what they want to bring to the world. As the dominant demographic in college, Gen-Z has truly impacted our processes and ideas of who we think college students are, as values-based, curious, and willing to ask the hard questions of, “Why do we do this?”
What does this mean for us and our role as educators in residence life? It means being open to taking a look at many of our long-standing practices and really assessing whether they are meeting the purpose for which they were created, to help students learn outside the classroom. In Housing and Residential Education, there are so many processes that we have done the same way for decades, whether it be large-scale operations like Move-In or details like bulletin boards, roommate mediations, and training. What does it mean to accomplish these goals with students whose individual needs have changed?
How many of us have had an RA training experience that is weeks long, where large groups of students are sitting in a room together for eight hours and then expected to get their bulletin boards done after hours? How many of us have noticed new trends where residents are struggling to communicate and manage conflict with their roommates and are moving away from a collective community? While many of us can acknowledge the need for reimagining these processes, what does it mean to truly make these changes to our practices?
Here are a few tips when it comes to reframing our processes with purpose in mind as we continue to improve our systems and practices to better serve Gen-Z.
Select projects to really “lock in.”
It’s the beginning of the year, yay! You have the time to take inventory of the projects that, as a department, you want to prioritize for improvement. Take the time to review departmental resources, shared drives, chat with staff about the various topics, and even consider asking, “Why do we do this?” Context matters, and it’s important not to change an entire system without getting the team on board and understanding how these practices came to be. Once you select your project, develop a timeline and outcomes for what you hope to accomplish, and take time to bring these new ideas to students to review, listen to their feedback, and discuss tips for engagement. Consider the impact of reviewing the developmental needs, learning styles, and values of today’s students as you reframe these exciting new projects.
Learning outcomes… trust the process!
Do you know where you are heading without naming it? Learning outcomes development is one of the most impactful components of utilizing a curricular approach, as it allows you to define the intended outcome of a strategy. Once you select your priority projects, develop three to five measurable and clearly defined learning outcomes. It can be as simple as imagining, “If this goes perfectly, what will students learn?” Once you define your outcomes, consider the needs of Generation Z students. These clearly defined outcomes provide context and clarity for students who regularly seek information to ensure they are meeting expectations and help answer the “why” behind the project.
Design based on your persona, Gen- Z.
We know there is no one-size-fits-all approach to any of our processes, but persona-based design allows you to actively consider who the students you are serving are and what their distinct needs may be. If Gen-Z is telling us they are disengaging with our presentation styles, struggling with certain conflict management skills, or disengaged with processes that feel passive, they might be onto something. Consider utilizing technology to help sequence and scaffold learning through platforms such as social media, software, and e-learning tools for a digital generation. Students have been, and will always be, at the core of our work since the creation of residence life, and there is so much to be proud of when it comes to our practices. We are truly changing lives and leaving a deep impact on students. Let’s continue to commit to connecting people, streamlining processes, and finding purpose for all generations of students.
