A Sociological Examination of First Year Residence Life at Union College (NY)

While literature exists on the sociological determinants of a “partying” lifestyle that arises in many college students, few direct attention towards the impact of residential life. The development of a residential life culture can have a widespread impact on numerous immediate and future domains of life such as grade point averages, and deviant behaviors including alcohol consumption and drug use. Various factors of the residential experience lead to the development of this culture including the degree of policing, behavioral characteristics of the residents, and architectural structure. The purpose of this project is to analyze the behaviors of students in each first year residence hall at Union College (NY). Further, this analysis will provide an understanding of potential future implications for students due to their first year residential experience. This presentation reports upon surveys with Union College students, asking them questions about their residential life experiences and perception. First year students and upperclassmen are represented. The presentation also analyzes interviews conducted with administrators, Residential Directors, and Residential Advisors about their role in the conduct process that occurs within first year residence halls. Lastly, quantitative data is analyzed from the college’s conduct system software in order to identify trends and draw conclusions about the misconduct that occurs in each residence hall. Common themes were identified that highlight how the behavior within, and perceptions of each first year residence hall has an impact on the socialization of Union College students.