Understanding and Addressing Commuter Student Needs New Directions for Student Services, Number 150

by Biddix, J. Patrick

• ISBN13: 9781119115199
• ISBN10: 1119115191
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2015-06-29
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Summary

Despite representing a majority of the college student population, a surprising lack of research has focused on the unique issues and needs of commuter students. This volume reviews the contemporary research and thinking about commuters. Topics include:

• theoretical perspectives and discussions of foremost topics and issues,

• specific examples for applying contemporary research with students of color, students with disabilities, and online students,

• perspectives for immediate work and strategic planning, and

• practical applications, recommendations, and suggestions for supporting commuter students.

The volume has four major sections: theory, profiles and issues, support and services, and general applications.

This is the 150th volume of this Jossey-Bass higher education quarterly series. An indispensable resource for vice presidents of student affairs, deans of students, student counselors, and other student services professionals, New Directions for Student Services offers guidelines and programs for aiding students in their total development: emotional, social, physical, and intellectual.

Author Biography

J. Patrick Biddix is an associate professor of higher education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Table of Contents

EDITOR’S NOTES 1
J. Patrick Biddix

1. Enhancing Commuter Student Success: What’s Theory Got to Do With It? 3
Barbara Jacoby

This chapter offers theoretical and conceptual frameworks useful in understanding commuter students, institutional environments, and the nature of the interactions between them.

2. First-to-Second-Year Persistence Profile of Commuter Students 13
Terry T. Ishitani, Aileen M. Reid

Built on Tinto’s integration retention model, the chapter uses national data to focus on how academic and social integration influence persistence behavior for commuter students.

3. Nonacademic Commitments Affecting Commuter Student Involvement and Engagement 27
Mary Beth Burlison

This chapter reviews the past decade of literature on nonacademic factors affecting commuter student success such as family, work, and time.

4. Exploring the Impact of Commuting to Campus on Psychological Well-Being 35
Georgianna L. Martin, Cindy Ann Kilgo

The authors use a national data set to explore the role that commuting to campus plays in college students’ psychological well-being and other health-related issues.

5. Supporting Commuter Students of Color 45
Corinne Maekawa Kodama

This chapter considers the experiences of commuter students of color and includes recommendations for supporting their success along with example programs.

6. Commuter Students With Disabilities 57
John L. Garland

This chapter reviews related literature and highlights best practices for meeting the needs of commuter students with disabilities.

7. Commuter Students, Online Services, and Online Communities 69
Mark Kretovics

This chapter discusses the importance of developing quality online student services, not only for distance education students, but for commuter students as well.

8. Lifestyle Challenges for Commuter Students 79
John J. Newbold

This chapter outlines various coping strategies for managing stress factors faced by commuter students, coupled with implications for institutional practice.

9. Creating an Institutional Academic Advising Culture That Supports Commuter Student Success 87
Ruth A. Darling

This chapter focuses on advising approaches and strategies that support commuter student success, persistence, and progress toward degree completion.

10. Strategies for Assessing Commuter Students 97
J. Patrick Biddix

Assessment practices to help improve the institutional environment for commuter students are the subject of this final chapter.

INDEX 109