The Residence Life Phenomenon in England

Abstract

This thesis explores the 'Residence Life' phenomenon and investigates the factors and drivers for its development in the context of the English higher education sector.
The research for this study included a detailed investigation of Residence Life through the review of a broad range of literature, using both academic and grey sources to ascertain the main features and drivers in the creation, and proliferation of this phenomenon. The research also incorporated a survey of practitioners from across the higher education sector and conducted a deeper analysis, through a series of interviews, into the manifestation of phenomenon in three English institutions. The key findings from the study are:
1. The term Residence Life is in common usage across the English higher education sector and represents a paradigm shift in the consideration of residential accommodation from that of a material building, housing students, to one where accommodation is at the heart of community-building and wellbeing.
2. That, due to the unique residential nature of UK higher education, student accommodation is integral to the university experience and student success. Despite the popularity of the residential university model, the Residence Life phenomenon manifests in institutions differently due to several factors including the ownership and availability of student accommodation, the strategy of the institution, the staffing structure and how the programme is funded.
3. The Residence Life phenomenon is part of the management toolbox in the mitigation of risk for universities. Residence Life contributes to an institution’s financial stability, supporting universities in student recruitment, retention and student success; developing partnerships; and managing reputation, Residence Life and accommodation play a strategic role in a university’s decision-making process.
On the basis of the research findings, a series of Residence Life models, developed for English universities is presented and a systems-level typology is proposed. The study recommends that these models are adopted by institutions in order to build understanding of the purpose and potential of Residence Life programmes and secure effective alignment with institutional missions.

Date of Award	27 Apr 2022
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bath
Supervisor	Kendall Jarrett (Supervisor)