From Loneliness To Connection
There's a loneliness epidemic in colleges. In the United States alone, there are more than 20 million students with an adult living in their household who are going to college without a child of their own, which means they're all on their own.
This can be a scary and lonely place for students who may feel like they won't fit in or that no one will understand them and show them the same affection as other children might. One study suggests that students who feel like this experience higher levels of distress than those with parents living on campus.
On top of all that, the loneliness can be magnified by the fact that college is a place where people are actively trying to meet new friends and foster new relationships. This creates a unique challenge for students who are already feeling disconnected from their peers and family.
Some of the factors behind this loneliness epidemic may be beyond our control, like rising tuition costs and limited financial aid. However, one factor we can control is reaching out to students who are struggling on campus.
We don't always have time to talk to every student we see on campus. In fact, there often isn't time. However, you can make a difference by taking just two minutes to reach out and tell them you care and want to help.
Ask them how their day is going. If they say "fine," follow up with a question about what's going on in their life.
One study suggests that students who feel like this experience higher levels of distress than those with parents living on campus.
It doesn't matter if you're a student affairs professional, academic advisor, residence hall staff member or someone else on campus — it only matters that you're willing to make an effort to connect with students who might be feeling alone and disconnected.
Your efforts don't need to be massive or expensive. It's as simple as asking them how they're doing, acknowledging their presence and making a point to get to know them better. It can go a long way in helping them feel like they have someone in their corner who cares about them and wants to see them succeed and feel supported.
There are other things you can do on campus, too. Organize events for students who are feeling lonely or depressed, like showing a movie at a study area, or setting up "pizza with friends" nights where students can connect over dinner or snacks.
Most importantly, talk to students who are feeling lonely or disconnected. It's something that we, as adults living on campus, need to do more often.
Finish reading this article and be sure to share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter. Together we can help students feel like they belong and connect with others who are going through the same things — it will make a difference for them!
Let us know what other ideas you have for helping students feel connected on campus in the comments below!
Tags: Campus Life, Dining Center Staff, Housing Council Student Staff, Loneliness , social work , Student Services Staff : Student Affairs 4040609
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For the past two weeks we've taken a look at the importance of fostering a sense of community among students in college . The closing installment talked about how we can use social media to connect and interact with students. This time, we're turning our attention to those who work on campus and how they can create opportunities for students to feel connected, appreciated and engaged.It might surprise you to learn that many of the university-affiliated staff members — from administrators in office buildings to dining hall workers — are sometimes lonely, too. According to a study by the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan , 45 percent of campus employees reported checking their email at home or school in their free time, earning themselves the distinction of "checking it too much." This is likely due in part because many professionals don't make enough time for hobbies or personal activities on the job . They are typically so busy doing their work that they have no time for it outside of work.While this isn't the case for everyone who works on campus, many workers feel unsatisfied or unfulfilled when they're unable to separate their work and personal lives. However, there are ways you can help these workers feel better about their jobs and your campus, as well. We've listed a few below:I think we can all agree that there will never be enough staff or money to meet all of the needs on college campuses. However, this doesn't mean we should stop trying to connect with students.
Conclusion
The suggestions listed above are certainly not the only ways professionals can help students feel more connected on campus. If you have some ideas or thoughts on how we can create a stronger sense of community for students, please let us know in the comments below!
The closing installment talked about how we can use social media to connect and interact with students. This time, we're turning our attention to those who work on campus and how they can create opportunities for students to feel connected, appreciated and engaged.It might surprise you to learn that many of the university-affiliated staff members — from administrators in office buildings to dining hall workers — are sometimes lonely, too.