Student Housing Research Articles

Gap theory based post-occupancy evaluation (GTbPOE) of dormitory building performance: A case study and a comparative analysis

Student housing significantly influences the quality and competitiveness of the university education environment. Whereas the traditional post-occupancy evaluations (POEs) of buildings have typically focussed on investigating users' satisfaction, an earlier study developed the gap theory based post-occupancy evaluation (GTbPOE) method, by which both the users' expectation and satisfaction (viz. performance gap) of a university dormitory were investigated. To validate the applicability of the GTbPOE method, further research was undertaken to evaluate the building performance of another dormitory. Using face-to-face interviews, responses of 104 dormitory users were collected, of which the relative importance ratings of six essential aspects (namely: visual comfort, thermal comfort, aural comfort, fire safety, hygiene, and communication via information technology) were analyzed via the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). A series of gap analyses on the users' expectation and satisfaction levels corroborated the existence of the adaptation effect on the users’ perception: that is, the longer the stay, the smaller the performance gap. A comparative analysis on the findings between the two dormitories - one from the earlier study and the other from the present study - further demonstrated the usefulness of the GTbPOE method in benchmarking building performance. Adoption of this method in future POE studies will enable reliable identification of any shortcoming in building performance and hence, can form the basis for improvement measures to augment the performance of buildings within the built environment.

MOÇAMBIQUE E SUAS PARTICULARIDADES: VIVÊNCIAS E OLHARES

O texto em questão aborda a terceira missão de estudos, pesquisa, intercâmbio e mobilidade do Projeto “Práticas sociais e saberes de mulheres e homens e a produção do território rural no Distrito de Marracuene, em Moçambique: viabilidade das alternativas produtivas no mundo da sustentabilidade”. Missão na qual ambos os autores deste artigo participaram na condição de doutorandos em Geografia, e estavam em sua primeira viagem ao continente africano. O texto relata, na perspectiva dos autores, um olhar ao que nos assemelham, ou nos aproximam, mesmo que apresentado de forma tímida, ou interpretado superficialmente. Porém, buscamos destacar Moçambique e suas particularidades, utilizando nossa vivência e nossos olhares no tempo de convivência e aprendizado em que estivemos por lá. Dentre as principais similitudes, possivelmente a primeira a se destacar, é o fato de termos o Português como idioma oficial, e que apesar de falarmos o mesmo idioma, por vezes não falávamos a mesma “língua”. As diferenças linguísticas tornaram-se evidentes e por diversas ocasiões precisávamos de alguma “tradução”. Ademais, a maioria das pessoas domina no mínimo outra língua e/ou dialeto, tão ou mais falado, de modo que ao caminharmos pelas ruas de Maputo, nem parecia que estávamos em um país lusófono. Apesar de alguns contratempos provocados pelas diferenças linguísticas e culturais, a receptividade do povo moçambicano foi sempre um diferencial. Dentre tantos pontos que enriqueceram nossa experiência abordada no texto, destacamos também que ficamos alojados em um dos prédios da moradia estudantil da Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (UEM), o que aprofundou nossa imersão.

Relating Green Space Characteristics to Student Housing Habits

Relating Green Space Characteristics to Student Housing Habits

Is exposure to indoor secondhand smoke associated with poor mental health? Results from non-conflict and post-conflict setting

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine the association between exposure to indoor SHS and self-reported HRQoL among healthy non-smoking students at the University of Belgrade, Serbia and Kosovska Mitrovica located in the post-conflict Kosovo province. Students who presented at Student Public Health Center in Belgrade in 2009 and Kosovska Mitrovica in 2015 for mandatory health checks were invited to participate. Data were collected using socio-demographic and behavioral questionnaire, health-related quality of life questionnaire Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). A total of 82.3% students in Belgrade sample and 76.0% in Kosovska Mitrovica sample reported daily exposure to indoor SHS. After adjustment for socio-demographic characteristics and behavior, daily exposure to indoor SHS for more than 6 hours was associated with poorer Vitality (β = −5.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] −9.49, −1.61) and Mental Health (β = 5.00, 95% CI-8.94, −1.07) only among students at the University of Belgrade. This study showed that the association between longer daily indoor SHS exposure and poor mental health HRQoL was not consistent in non-conflict and post-conflict setting. This association was not found in a post-conflict setting. Strict no smoking policies are needed in student housing, university campuses and all public spaces.

Trans University Students’ Access to Facilities: The Limits of Accommodation

AbstractThis paper explores results from a survey of fifty-four trans students in two major universities in Ontario that sought to evaluate participants’ access to on-campus facilities. Although both universities have made efforts to accommodate trans students in their use of washrooms, locker rooms, and student housing, the numerous barriers that participants encountered signals stark gaps in access. The results invite a critical reflection of three accommodation models that may be undertaken to address these barriers. By addressing each model’s benefits and limitations, wherein the journey towards trans inclusion may generate a new set of exclusions, this paper complicates the notion of increasing access. This paper concludes by offering recommendations across these three models but concedes that challenges may persist until better facilities are reimagined and redesigned going forward.

Towards a European rating system for sustainable student housing: Key performance indicators (KPIs) and a multi-criteria assessment approach

Abstract The shortage of student housing in Western Europe and the high demand for student population indicate the potential of the impetus for more sustainable and better quality accommodation. The residential building sector is one of the significant contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, yet appropriate criteria for the assessment of student housing do not exist. Decisions to evaluate student housing are still primarily based on rental cost or anecdotal evidence when assessing their performance and living quality. Multi-objective criteria are needed to assist with the selection of sustainable student housing for higher education institutions students. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to identify key performance indicators for assessing sustainable student housing, and to develop a simple tool for the selection and measurement of the sustainability of student housing. The overarching aim is to improve the quality and sustainability of student accommodation in Europe. The methodology is based on a mixed-method research approach comprising a literature review on rating systems, a survey questionnaire with 610 student respondents, and a ranking analysis acquired from the severity index calculation. A total of 44 key performance indicators were identified, and a simple interactive tool was developed and tested. The proposed tool is demonstrated using a case study with two students as the decision-makers. The tool provides a novel approach to assess student housing. This creates an opportunity for a pan European environmental policy and an increase in market competitiveness to attract European and overseas students.

Kent Hakkı ve Toplumsal Cinsiyet Bağlamında Mekânın Siyaseti: Erzincan KYK Yurtları Örneği

In Turkey “termination of a mixed university student residence” policy was put into practice by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in 2013. This policy has created an actual situation that proposes the placement of male students in the residences that are close to the center, and the female students in the student residences in locations that can be considered deserted and remote for women in Erzincan. The sample of this study is composed of 459 people, including both male and female students, who live in all Higher Education Student Loan and Housing Board (HESLHB) residences in the city. The surveys conducted on the sample form the data of the research. The data were analyzed with independent sample t-test and ANOVA test. The findings show that the policy on the termination of mixed residences, which may be referred to as the gendering of space, creates gender inequity. The results of the study show that the visibility of female students in public-urban areas has been limited in line with conservative and patriarchal policies which delimits their right to the city. However, it shows that this results in the fact that male students are pushed into a more financially disadvantaged position.

Effect of Affirmative Actions on Student Permanence at a Brazilian Federal University

The study aims to identify the Affirmative Actions (AAS) promoted among students of business programs at a Brazilian federal university and analyze whether, in the students’ opinion, they meet the fundamental assumptions of the theory of justice. The documentary survey of AA examines student housing, financial aid for student parents, food, transport, permanence, and pedagogical support. Sixty-two respondents took part in the survey. The results show that personal factors, especially those of a psychological nature, adversely affect the permanence and performance of university students. Considering the students’ perception of Rawl’s “equal liberty” and equality of opportunity, the university’s AAS are understood to reflect the assumptions of John Rawls’ theory of justice.

Trans-formando a universidade: um estudo sobre o acesso e a permanência de pessoas trans no ensino superior

O presente artigo trata do acesso e da permanência da população trans junto ao ensino superior. Paralelamente a uma revisão bibliográfica concernente ao tema, é apresentada uma pesquisa de campo composta por seis entrevistas abertas com mulheres trans e travestis e uma entrevista com um homem trans. Os sujeitos abordados pertencem a diferentes raças/etnias, classes sociais e frequentam diferentes universidades. Os resultados apontam que o acesso à universidade foi facilitado por conquistas específicas do movimento trans – como a implementação legal e o direito de utilização do nome social para travestis e transexuais em instituições de ensino que aderiram à legislação e nas avaliações nacionais como o ENEM – e por conquistas mais amplas, destacadas as políticas governamentais voltadas ao acesso de minorias étnicas e raciais de baixa renda, via oferta de vagas em universidades públicas federais e estaduais pelo sistema SISU, e oferta de bolsas de estudos em universidades privadas e confessionais, pelo PROUNI. Também foi fundamental o recurso de projetos sociais, como o “cursinho preparatório”, voltados a travestis e transexuais. Por outro lado, ainda são isolados os casos de políticas públicas de permanência relacionadas à população trans, inexistindo oferta e manutenção de políticas públicas específicas. Foram relatadas dificuldades relativas ao pagamento de matrícula e mensalidades da universidade; à utilização de banheiro segundo o gênero de identificação; ao acesso à moradia estudantil e a bolsas de auxílio-alimentação; e a falta de trato adequado por parte de docentes e funcionárias/os não capacitadas/os a lidarem com pessoas trans. Desta forma, conclui-se que a participação na militância trans no contexto universitário constitui elemento importante para a transformação deste ambiente, contribuindo para a mudança de paradigmas; a aceitação das subjetividades; o reconhecimento de direitos; e o respeito à diversidade humana.

Travel Behavior of the Engineering Students of UNHAS and UIN Alauddin in Meeting the Needs of Shopping Facilities

In the last ten years, there have been two developing universities in Gowa Regency (Faculty of Engineering, University of Hasanuddin and UIN Alauddin). Both universities are the centres of growth in housing and settlements, especially student rental houses. The development of housing has not yet been served with adequate housing/city infrastructure and facilities. The purpose of this study are: 1) to analyze the student travel behaviour in meeting their shopping needs (daily or monthly), 2) to explain the visit location of shopping facilities of those groups of student, 3) to arrange the resource development directions for environmental and sub-district development. The data were collected from field surveys, and online questionnaire using non probability sampling. The analytical method used were spatial and descriptive analysis. The results of analysis showed that the dominant student travel behaviour using a motorcycle, both for daily and periodic shopping needs. Travel behaviour always done together (two people). Behaviour movements, using motorcycles, both to the service centre in the environmental scale or district and city scale. The location of the visit is an environment scale service centre with a distance of ± 200 meters and a district or city scale service centre with a distance of > 5 km. Direction of development to support the dominant path of students using motorbikes within short reach is, provided a bicycle lane and pedestrian shade. In addition, the procurement of mass transportation to support long-distance travel to district and city-scale shopping centres. Development of sub-district service centres can be directed using the concept of mixed use and smart transportation (TOD), where the distance of the two groups of student housing is within a radius of ± 5.2 km.

Evaluation of Snack Food Environment at a Large Hispanic Serving College in South Florida Utilizing the Nutrition Environment Measurement Scale for Vending Machines (NEMS-V)

Abstract Objectives Dietary intake is strongly associated with obesity and other chronic diseases. A critical time for developing long-standing eating habits is when adolescents transition to adulthood, leaving the family home. The college student's food environment is an essential point of intervention for establishing healthy eating habits. Vending machines (VM) at colleges are of increased importance as many students use these often to eat between classes and when restaurants are closed at night. Snacks from VM contribute to the diet quality and intake of key nutrients in young people, and >90% of college students consume snacks daily. The objective of this study was to audit the snack food VM environment at a large Hispanic serving university in South Florida. Methods A snack food VM audit of the campus was conducted between June 2019 and January 2020. Utilizing the NEMS-V, all VM on campus were photographed and scored by the principal investigator. NEMS-V categorizes very unhealthy foods as those with ≥35% of calories from fat, >200 calories per portion sold and >400 mg of sodium; unhealthy snacks as <200 calories, >230 ≤400 mg sodium; and healthy snacks as <200 calories per portion, <35% of calories from fat, ≤230 mg of sodium, zero trans fats. Once individual machine scores were calculated, VM content per building and an overall campus report card were generated. Further comparisons were made to evaluate VM content and proximity to restaurants and residence halls. Results A total of 77 VMs, with 2600 available slots, were located and evaluated. A total of 16% were in student housing, 64% were in academic buildings, and 20% were in recreational buildings or parking garages. The average VM contained 35 slots, of which 70% were very unhealthy snacks, 11% were unhealthy snacks, and 19% were healthy snacks. Of the six residence halls on campus, five had greater than 75% very unhealthy snacks available for purchase. Conclusions The VM environment at this large Hispanic serving college contains predominantly very unhealthy choices from which students, faculty, and staff may choose. To date, the choice of VM content has been left to an outside contractor. The poor VM environment is a significant finding to aid in informing policy as the college itself does not have a snack food policy. Funding Sources Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, Florida International University.

Understanding the Effects of Capturing Climate and Occupancy Trends During Concept-Stage Sustainable Building Design

Abstract This paper presents a model prediction to capture specifically how energy usage in sustainable buildings on college campuses is affected by different variables of student life. The California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) Student Housing Phase III, which received a Platinum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the Building Design and Construction category, with its performance in a LEED California Nonresidential Title 24 (NRT24) and ASHRAE 90.1 climate zones, is used as a case study to illustrate the method. Through LEED-approved software, the standard compliant energy models are compared with the occupancy-scheduled models along with the actual energy consumption in different climate zones. The results provide insight into how variables within student dormitory life affect the total building energy usage. The total amount of energy consumed per area is one new factor providing understanding into occupancy trends. This new data set reveals more understanding regarding how and where the energy is consumed to maintain a comfortable learning environment. The LEED certification program is one benchmark used to determine sustainable building design. Designers must adhere to set standards before being awarded a U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) certification such as LEED. The results from this paper will provide input over which variables within student dormitory life affect the energy usage of the building. With the model results, some solutions are presented to update the LEED project certification as well as to reduce student energy usage.

Student residences: time for a partnership approach?

PurposeRecent years have witnessed significant increases in the number of undergraduate students entering UK higher education. This increase is a result of the removal of the sector-wide cap on student numbers in England and Wales, along with a growth in overseas students attracted by the reputation of UK universities and the weakening of the value of Sterling. Adopting a corporate real estate perspective, the aim of this paper is to understand how the UK student residence market is structured and financed, and to identify the motivations that are driving the strategies adopted by the universities, private sector providers and investors in this market. In doing so, this research seeks to test the appropriateness of the Gibler and Lindholm (2012) model of corporate real estate strategy in the UK higher education sector.Design/methodology/approachData was gathered from a survey of UK university secretaries, combined with interviews of private sector providers, bank lenders and the analysis of secondary data on investment flows into purpose built residential accommodation (PBSA).FindingsUK university real estate strategy is mainly one of outsourcing student accommodation to reduce costs as well as employing modern purpose-built student housing as a marketing tool and brand enhancer. This strategy is also used as a risk mitigatory tool enabling universities to adjust to changing student demands. Revisions to the Gibler and Lindholm (2012) model are proposed to reflect the reality of the real estate strategy adopted by the universities. Private sector providers view the sector favourably and are set to be the main providers of new supply over the next decade, entering into strong partnerships with the universities. While there is evidence of some oversupply of bed spaces in certain cities, well-located developments are viewed as an attractive lending opportunity. Since 2013 there has been significant growth in institutional investment into UK student accommodation, albeit sentiment is currently tempered by political uncertainty.Practical implicationsThe role of PBSA designed to meet modern student requirements is playing a critical role not only in attracting, recruiting and retaining students but also enhancing the overall higher education experience promoting student welfare and well-being.Originality/valueThe corporate real estate strategy adopted by the UK higher education sector is an under researched area. This paper focuses on the strategy surrounding student accommodation provision and reports on the findings of an extensive survey of the key players in this sector. The results are of value to all stakeholders including government and regulators, at a time when higher education is facing substantial challenges. The evidence of a growing partnership between universities and the private sector is viewed as a logical solution, both for the present and the foreseeable future.

‘We prefer our Dutch’: International students’ housing experiences in the Netherlands

This article investigates how international students find and maintain housing and what constraints they have to deal with in the process. It reveals how the interplay between personal characteristics and housing-market features shapes housing biographies and unequally disadvantages certain international students over others. Eighteen in-depth interviews with international students were conducted about the housing situation for them in Utrecht, a Dutch student city. Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA) of the interview data found that international students’ housing biographies differ substantially, both in progression and outcomes. Despite some students successfully finding adequate housing, many described living involuntarily in conditions of stress, instability and insecurity and a number experienced progressively worsening housing conditions. The students ascribed their difficulties to discrimination and structural disadvantages on the housing market. In light of these findings, this article calls for a re-evaluation of the Dutch student housing system.

Public University Use of Social Infrastructure Public–Private Partnerships (P3s): An Exploratory Examination

Using data from the 50 states, this exploratory study looks at public university use of public–private partnerships (P3s) for a particular type of social infrastructure, student housing. The relation between state social infrastructure P3s enabling legislation and public university P3 student housing project closures is analyzed. A deep dive is conducted into the legislative requirements of four states (California, Florida, Georgia, and Virginia) that have specific enabling legislation governing public university use of P3s for social infrastructure. The study finds that public universities have a 20-year history of utilizing social infrastructure P3s for student housing. A relationship is found between state social infrastructure P3 enabling legislation and increased public university use of P3s for student housing. The study also finds that states with specific public university P3 social infrastructure enabling legislation place decidedly different requirements on their use.

The influence of the vitiated air from the treatment plants on the urban and rural development

In order to reduce the emissions produced by the operational flow of a wastewater treatment plant, regardless of whether they are located in urban or rural areas, the quality of air must be analyzed. For this reason, the Constanta Nord treatment plant was chosen as a study location. This is near the Mamaia resort and does not fall within the recommended sanitary protection norms, according to NP-032-1999 (at least 300 m from the last house). Therefore, it was necessary to take measures to reduce the repellent gases generated in the neighborhood of wastewater treatment plants. The solution is in attention of all wastewater treatment plants from the world because this depend on operational flux management and health of population.The research consists of: description of the technological flow of the treatment plant and in particular of the deodorizing installation of the contaminated air, choosing a work scenario for a day with 2 shifts per hour, respectively 6 shifts per hour, the air flow needed to treat the vitiated air (the deodorization plant components) and the efficiency of the regulation system from the point of view of energy consumption. Also, possible leakage of dangerous gases into the atmospheric air was monitored (H2S, Cl2, CO), taking into account the fact that in the immediate vicinity there is the Mamaia resort, the student housing and rural locations Palazu and Mamaia village.

Unicamp Student Housing (1990 – 1992): 30 years later

Unicamp Student Housing (1990 – 1992): 30 years later

Recurrent outbreaks of mumps in Lothian and the impact of waning immunity.

Another large outbreak of mumps occurred in Lothian from October 2017, which coincided with the commencement of the higher education term. During this period 324 cases were notified, most of whom were aged 18-22 years old. Although previous outbreaks had a focus in student populations, 43% of current cases reported that they were not a student. There has been increases in private student housing where students from all universities live, which may have contributed to the wide spread of the outbreak and complicated outbreak control. Information on vaccination status was available for 244 cases (75%), of whom the majority (75.8%) reported having two MMR doses. To investigate potential waning vaccine immunity the mean length of time since last mumps containing vaccine was calculated as 14.3 years. The outbreak was declared over in May 2018 after case numbers returned to background levels. This outbreak highlighted that mumps outbreaks occur cyclically coinciding with new cohorts of susceptible students entering the Lothian population. The lessons from this outbreak are to encourage students to have two MMR doses and also be prepared for mumps outbreaks in the near future. In future outbreaks the utility of a third MMR for outbreak control could be examined.

Social Noise Exposure in a Sample of Slovak University Students.

Purpose: Social noise exposure is currently an emerging problem in adolescents and young adults. Various leisure time activities may be responsible for hearing impairment (temporary or permanent hearing threshold shift or hearing loss). The study aimed to quantify environmental noise from various sources—voluntary (social) noise (personal music players (PMPs), high-intensity noise exposure events), and road traffic noise and to detect hearing disorders in relation to individual listening to PMPs in the sample of young adults living and studying in Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia. Methods: The study included 1003 university students (306 men and 697 women, average age 23.1 ± 2) living in Bratislava for 4 or more years; 347 lived in the student housing facility exposed to road traffic noise (LAeq = 67.6 dB) and 656 in the control one (LAeq = 53.4 dB). Respondents completed a validated ICBEN 5-grade scale “noise annoyance questionnaire”. In the exposed group a significant source of annoyance was road traffic noise (p < 0.001), noise from entertainment facilities (p < 0.001), industrial noise (p < 0.001), and noise from neighboring flats (p = 0.003). The exposure to PMPs was objectified by the conversion of the subjective evaluation of the volume setting and duration. With the cooperation of the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)specialist, we arranged audiometric examinations on the pilot sample of 41 volunteers. Results: From the total sample of respondents, 79.2% reported the use of a PMP in the course of the last week, and the average time was 285 min. There was a significant difference in PMP use between the road traffic noise-exposed (85.6%) and the control group (75.8%) (p = 0.01). Among PMP users 30.7% exceeded the lower action value (LAV) for industry (LAeq,8h = 80 dB). On a pilot sample of volunteers (n = 41), audiometry testing was performed indicating a hearing threshold shift at higher frequencies in 22% of subjects. Conclusions: The results of the study on a sample of young healthy individuals showed the importance of exposure to social noise as well as to road traffic noise and the need for prevention and intervention.

Student Housing Deficit and Housing Adjustment in Kukusan Subdistrict, Depok, Indonesia

Student Housing Deficit and Housing Adjustment in Kukusan Subdistrict, Depok, Indonesia