Against the Odds Shaydean Saye & Kyle Trafton Montana State University Bozeman, Montana

Objectives Be able to properly identify struggles on own campuses Be able to properly identify resources available to support working through our struggles (short and long term/permanent) Discover new ideas incorporated on other campuses that might apply on our home campuses Find comfort in resources and ideas are available Be able to prepare historical references for future response needed for similar situations

What brings you to this session?

AIMHO Trends Challenges Housing Departments Face

AIMHO Trends By State Arizona Increased enrollment and need for student bed space Colorado Increased enrollment Mental health issues among students Idaho Decreased enrollment and need for student bed space resulting in less financial flexibility for departments Mental health issues among students

AIMHO Trends By State Nevada – no data provided  sorry New Mexico Increased enrollment Mental health issues among students Utah Facility and financial resource constraints Wyoming Understaffed

AIMHO Trends By State Montana Increased enrollment Mental health issues among students

Trends Plan of Action

Montana State Challenges Increased Enrollment Mental Health Issues Among Students Roommate Conflicts Student Financial Need

Montana State Approaches Increased Enrollment impacts: - Student housing needs/proactive planning (overflow & new construction) - Staff increase -Facility upkeep -Roommate conflicts -Decreased living option change flexibility -Pre-arrival communication with students, families and campus community

Montana State Approaches Mental Health Issues Among Students: -Helping students self-identify & develop plan of action -Crisis response plan -Positive inter-department relationships -Training staff to identify warning signs and direct approach with timely follow-up -Finding creative ways to program towards homesickness/depression

Montana State Approaches Roommate Conflicts: -Proactive approach implementing roommate contracts -Continued staff training using challenging examples -Diligent follow-up after conflict -Identifying emergency rooms to diffuse extreme situations -Encouraging resident centered approach to confrontation -Community Living Agreements

Montana State Approaches Student Financial Need: - Referrals to offices on campus (Office of Student Success, Financial Aid, etc.) -Student job opportunities -Intentional programming - refund checks & budgeting

AIMHO Challenges vs Solutions CHALLENGESSOLUTION IDEAS Increased enrollment-Northern Arizona = Comprehensive analysis of current and projected on-campus housing plan coupled with decisional impact modeling so that housing inventory may be dedicated for students for whom living on campus would have the most positive impact. -Colorado School of Mines = Additional training for the staff -Embry-Riddle Aeronautical = created business case to show the financial benefit of new housing -New Mexico Tech = We have rented hotel rooms to accommodate any overflow residents. Minimal resources-University of Idaho = Working to retain current students with targeted retention initiatives Understaffed-University of Wyoming = everyone works harder, training -Colorado School of Mines = Through advocating and showing the data assessment -Dixie State University = Creative approaches. Trying to do "more with less". -Embry-Riddle Aeronautical = creative staffing practices - using more student workers to do things a professional would typically do. I have 3 undergraduate hall directors rather than 2 full time RDs Lack of communication-Boise State = Increasing opportunities for communication (dept mtgs, sharing agendas, etc.) and involvement in dept decision making Mental health issues-Northern Arizona = Close collaboration with campus colleagues such as Counseling Services, NAUPD, Dean of Students Office and weekly Student Behavioral Intervention Team Meetings. -North Idaho College = Work Hand in Hand with Counseling Services -Boise State = training for student/pro staff; working closely with the Dean of Student's Office -New Mexico Tech = We send students to our Counseling Center. -Colorado State = Working closely with counseling resources on campus and case management Student financial need-Northern Arizona = Continued focus on campus rent rates in relation to overall cost of attendance and in-state competitiveness. -Colorado School of Mines = Financial Literacy Workshops -Grand Canyon University = We use an appeal process for students to and explain their situation so we can make the decision of a room switch -North Idaho College = Try to help educate students on how to use money wisely -Boise State = increase communication and flexibility about policies; allowing payment plans Departmental financial need-Dixie State University = Fiscal conservatism. Deferred maintenance. Increase in student policy violations-Grand Canyon University = 1.Roommate mediations with RA 2. Roommate mediations with RD 3. Room Switch -Colorado State = working closely with our student conduct office Roommate conflicts-Grand Canyon University = Violations Increase: RD is the first line of defense. If the violation goes beyond them it is reported and brought to the Student Conduct Manager who decides the punishment (sanctions) for the student to complete. A lot of times this results in a room switch -New Mexico Tech = We conduct roommate mediations.

Any others?

“Managing student issues is sometimes like... when architects don’t talk to engineers, we become the carpenter and can’t turn our wrench”

Questions?

Contact Us Shaydean Saye Kyle Trafton