post #7 Frame and Project

Theoretical frame:

In order to understand the effects of commuting versus living on campus, the article “College Residence and Academic Performance: Who Benefits From Living on Campus? ”

Will be used to compare data on findings. We will also examine other variables that could affect college student life such as events, money, living with family, or living alone.

My goal is to understand what are the consequences that commuting might cause to a student's life and compare it to the life of those who live on campus. Many students begin college with much enthusiasm are discouraged to continue by many different factors which ultimately can lead them to drop out. As a commuter myself, I know how very annoying, time consuming, and tiring it can be to commute for an hour to campus. Not only having to leave enough time to get to school but also, time to park, time to make snacks if I am staying for a long period of time, as well as other things such as gas and toll.  A commuters social life is affected as well, events are something that can not usually be attended being that aside from school, individuals have work, or have to leave in order to get home faster and try to avoid traffic, however, events can also be a distraction for many students. Research shows “One  possible  explanation  for  why  students  living  in  residence  halls  do  not perform  better  academically  than  students  living  off  campus  postulates  that residence  halls  are  primarily  social  settings  in  which  students  encounter  more opportunities  for  social  rather  than  academic  involvement ”  (Pascarella  et  al., 1994;  Schroeder  &  Mable,  1994). Being able to commute to school can offer more focus to the student because they are attending school only for class, use the library when necessary, or to study for midterms/ finals.

Exploring the Effects of Campus Residential Settings on Educational Outcomes by the Eisen Research Proposal

“Some terms that can help focus this article are, Engagement, Time Management, and Support.

Engagement for how students have a hard time getting involved in their school. Time Management to describe how time-consuming commuting can be. And Support, for the lack of peer interaction commuters have.”

“Commuter students, on the other hand, are likely to rely on the same people as they did prior to beginning university, making their new friendships less important for their adjustment.”