June Pierce Youatt, Wyl McCully, and Sue A. Blanshan describe an innovative, collaborative approach to making on-campus life more accessible to students at Michigan State University.

One undergraduate's transformational story of self-discovery and personal development frames this discussion of the importance of undergraduate involvement in social justice research. In this article, the authors first share a bit about the national landscape regarding community-university engagement initiatives. They also share research…

Undergraduates' use of social networking sites has been well documented in both the popular press and in academic publications. Research suggests that students spend, on average, 30 minutes a day engaged in a predictable routine of social networking. Correspondingly, on the first author's previous campus, she had frequently observed many of the…

Perhaps a decade ago, accreditation agencies might have been satisfied with a list of student learning outcomes and some evidence that students achieved them. More and more, accreditors request evidence of "improvement". It is not enough to merely demonstrate that what one is doing works reasonably well; one must also show that he or she invests…

Research on college choice, like research on general college experiences, has focused mainly on the process for all students as well as on racial or ethnic minorities and economically disadvantaged students. Less is known about the potential concerns for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer (GLBTQ) college students. In this article, the…

In this article, the authors report on a successful collaboration between academic and student services that resulted in a Rutgers University Byrne Seminar on social entrepreneurship. The course, entitled "The Business of Doing Good: Combining Business Practices with Social Activism," was designed to inspire the next generation of change makers,…

When she was graduate coordinator for the Office of Community Service-Learning's Alternative Breaks (AB) program at the University of Maryland-College Park, the author had the privilege of working with undergraduate student trip leaders as they researched, planned, and coordinated weeklong service-learning immersion trips in which students would…

In this article, the author shares her research findings on the differences between how men and women respond to college. She explores some of the cornerstones of the undergraduate experience--living away from home, interacting with faculty, being academically engaged, and learning about diversity--and how they contribute in unique ways to women's…

Student organizations enhance college students' experiences and contribute to the vitality of campus life. As staff and faculty, the authors are regularly called on to advise these groups. Good advising can help an organization stay connected with its true mission. One tool that can help advisors navigate and grasp the culture of student…

The author shares the results of her research with focus groups of Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and atheist students who discussed their religious and spiritual beliefs with her and with each other. She offers these students' words in order to encourage other educators to consider hosting similarly structured conversations and to think about the…

A while ago, the author and his wife, Shari, were charged with the daunting yet intriguing task of planning and implementing a multiweek short-term study abroad course in Wales. One of their first tasks was to select a student as assistant leader for the trip. This student would be responsible for a great deal of work throughout the semester…

Interest in creating conditions that enhance student learning and support students in achieving their educational goals is at an all-time high. The pool of prospective undergraduates is larger and more diverse than ever, and four-fifths of high school graduates will require some form of postsecondary education to acquire the knowledge and…

Three decades of research and practice have demonstrated the power and importance of the experience of students who are making the transition from high school to college. Student persistence to the sophomore year and, ultimately, persistence to graduation are at stake. This recognition of the critical nature of the first year has motivated…

Sociologists define norms as configurations of belief about behavior expected in various situations or circumstances. Members of social groups share these expectations for behavior. Accordingly, norms embraced by student peer groups influence the behavior of their members, which, in turn, affects the learning experiences of college students. In…

More than two-thirds of all African American males who begin college never finish. This and a legion of other discouraging facts about African American males are the usual headlines. Sharon Fries-Britt suggests that "the disproportionate focus on Black underachievement in the literature not only distorts the image of the community of Black…