1. Tracking & Retaining Commuter Students: How To Engage Your Off-Campus Population Dr. Amy Golden Director for Strategic Initiatives Amy.golden@asu.edu

2. Why are you attending this presentation? 1. My institution has no specialized services/programs for or means to engage off-campus and/or commuter students. 2. My institution has limited services/programs for or means to engage off-campus and/or commuter students. 3. My institution has limited funding for off- campus and/or commuter student services. 4. My institution is interested in tracking and retaining off-campus and/or commuter students.

3. Webinar Agenda Definition Practice based in theory Trends & Needs Engagement vs. Programming Successful Programs and Services Additional Resources

4. Who are Commuter Students? 1.“Traditional age” student living in family’s home 2.“Traditional age” student living off campus 3.Transfer student 4.Veteran student 5.Adult learner/Non-traditional age student (25 years or older) 6.Married student 7.Student with dependent(s) 8.Online learner

5. How does your institution define “commuter student”?

6. Definitions ASU’s definition of COMMUTER Students ◦ A student who lives at their permanent address ◦ ALL Commuter Students are Off-Campus students

7. Multiple Life Roles Student Academics Family Professional Development Social Life/Work Campus Activities/ Student Orgs Elliptical Orbit Model – John Nonnamaker, Providence College, Rhode Island

8. Needs and Trends

9. #1 Need - Transportation parking, traffic, transportation schedules, inclement weather, maintaining a car, costs –have you ever looked into a commuter’s car?

10. #1 Trend - Sustainability being a “green” commuter –challenges and/or deterrents

11. Developing a Sense of Belonging need to feel wanted physical space need opportunities interaction with faculty interaction with other students engagement and success

12. Did you know…? Students who live off- campus and commute have a higher freshman retention rate than residential students.

13. Engagement vs. Programming

14. Best Practices Drexel University http://drexel.edu/oca/c/CT_Programming_Curriculum.asp The Ohio State University http://offcampus.osu.edu/ Grand Rapids Community College http://cms.grcc.edu/foodpantry

15. Community Liaisons Students who reside in apartment community assist with problem-solving efforts educate students regarding their rights and responsibilities coordinate social programming CL’s are university employees –work 6-8 hrs/wk at OCCSS front desk –works 2-4 hrs/wk with apartment community

16. Peer Mentors  Pilot program  Team concept  Matched commuter student with:  faculty (same class)  peer mentor commuter student  Met in small groups

17. Best Practices cont. University of Maryland http://thestamp.umd.edu/student_involvement/off- campus_student_life Town Gown Certificate Program http://www.itgau.org/certificateprogram/description

18. QUESTIONS ???

19. National Resources ACPA Commission for Commuter Students and Adult Learners http://www.myacpa.org/comm/commuter/ National Clearinghouse for Commuter Programs http://nccp.nsuok.edu/ CAS Standards: Commuter and Off-Campus Living Programs http://www.cas.edu/getpdf.cfm?PDF=E8691D43-F622- 313D-B58D3B648AED9A55

20. Dr. Amy Golden Director for Strategic Initiatives Arizona State University amy.golden@asu.edu (480) 965-7661 Off-Campus & Commuter Student Services http://www.asu.edu/studentaffairs/reslife/occss