January 15, 2008

Student Affairs Leader - January 15, 2008 - Full Issue PDF
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In Favor of Special-Interest Housing
By Lee Burdette Williams
The creative use of housing to strengthen learning outcomes is not new. One of these strategies, as described in the November 15 issue, is the residential college. As the former director of a long-standing residential college, I know from personal experience the benefits that students derive from their participation in these programs—the sense of connection, ownership, self-governance, and bond with faculty that come from a common curriculum and a common home.

News Capsules
One of the issues that we plan to explore in these pages in 2008 is “What is the best way to help under-prepared students?” We have heard from many readers that this is a growing – and complex – challenge. Inside Higher Ed ran a story titled “Outsourcing Remedial Ed,” which described how 900 University of Arizona students took remedial math classes at Pima Community College last fall.

Expensive Pizza: College Students & Credit Cards
By Ron Chesbrough
“Imagine being 30 years old and still paying off a slice of pizza you bought when you were in college.” In a recent publication about the dangers and difficulties of credit card debt, the College Board used this graphic depiction of the perils of personal debt to drive home the point to college students that credit cards are not “free money.”

What Do I Do When a Student Dies?
Q. A student very nearly died in an accident on campus last week. Thankfully, she is recovering, and we expect she will be able to resume her studies soon. However, the incident made me realize that I really wouldn’t have known what to do. Can you offer some advice on how to proceed after a student dies?