Living in university residence develops a stronger sense of community that leads to greater student engagement and improved outcomes. Residential communities provide academic peer support, a sense of interconnectedness, exposure to diversity, and pastoral care like a new home. Building community requires addressing social entropy, understanding why students live on campus, crafting the right physical spaces, focusing on details, hosting diverse events including food, fostering an academic atmosphere, and empowering leaders and staff.

1. The development of community
in residential accommodation and
enhanced student engagement
and experience
Paul Yeates, Dean of Students, RMC

2. Students living in residence have a broader university
experience and a higher level of engagement
“Challenging and supportive learning environments, and
environments that support students’ participation in enriching
experiences, play an important role in enhancing satisfaction and
student outcomes.”
ACER, 2008, p1.

3. Students living in residence have a broader university experience and a
higher level of engagement

4. Definition of community
 People in relationship connected
 in some kind of space (e.g. geographic locality, cyber
space, and social spaces),
 with organizational structures (leadership, authority
and rule-makers/implementers),
 and a shared culture/identity.

5. Reasons why community contributes to student
engagement and experience: Academic peer support
2.45
2.52
2.63
2.54
2.66
2.72
2.68
2.73
2.86
2.82
2.90
2.83
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
2.9
3
2007
Sem 1
2007
Sem 2
2008
Sem 1
2008
Sem 2
2009
Sem 1
2009
Sem 2
2010
Sem 1
2010
Sem 2
2011
Sem 1
2011
Sem 2
2012
Sem 1
2012
Sem 2
MeanGPA
RMC MQ Students Average GPA 2007-2012

6. Reasons why community contributes to student
engagement and experience: Interconnectedness

7. Reasons why community contributes to student
engagement and experience: Diversity

8. Reasons why community contributes to student
engagement and experience: Pastoral care in a new
home/family

9. Reasons why community contributes to student
engagement and experience: Integration of staff

10. How to build community
•Social entropy
•The reasons students come
•The built environment
Challenges Strategies

11. How to build community
•Social entropy
•The reasons students come
•The built environment
•Do details well
•Events with diversity
•Use of food with imagination
•Create an academic community
•Leaders and staff
Challenges Strategies