The Role of Student Housing in Student Success: An Ethnographic Account

Abstract

The role of university student housing in the lives of undergraduate students has changed. While student housing used to be understood only as a space to accommodate students who primarily come from out of town, now universities have started using student housing strategically to advance  the success of the students. Student housing is now used to build sustainable living and learning student environments in the interests of promotion of student access and success. Through an ethnographic account, where the researcher spent two consecutive semesters living in an  undergraduate university residence which accommodates 577 students, the article provides an ‘insider-outsider’ interpretation of students’ context for success from one of the South African university student residences. This article uses Tinto’s theory of student integration model to frame an understanding of students’ experiences and perceptions of success. It further highlights socioeconomic hardships as well as stories of caring and partnerships that students experience in their journeys towards success. These student experiences are very relevant to their integration into the university culture and systems and are critically important to the success of the student. This article concludes that the role of student housing is key to student success as it provides various opportunities for support from fellow students and staff.

Keywords: ethnography; student experiences; student housing; student success; university residence