Talking Stick - September/October 2016 - 61

AROUND STUDENT AFFAIRS

Survey Shows Wellness Programs
in Decline

ACUHO-I SAC Conference
Summary Available

The College and University Professional Association for
Human Resources (CUPA-HR) recently released their 2016
Higher Education Employee Healthcare and Other Benefits
Survey that shows the number of institutions that offer a
wellness program is down. When surveyed in 2012, 70 percent
of institutions reported they had a program. This year's
survey shows that only 56.8 percent have one. The survey also
includes highlights about the cost of various healthcare plans.
View it in its entirety at www.cupahr.org/surveys/benefits.aspx.

The ACUHO-I Southern Africa Chapter (SAC) held
their 5th Annual Green Campuses Conference at
the University of the Western Cape, July 3-7, 2016.
They have compiled the wealth of information from
that conference into a report which can be found at
http://www.acuho-i.org/partners.

 34  CONTINUED

Special Focus: Let's Talk

Freshman state that "full-time college
students reported substantially greater
likelihoods of participating in student
protests and demonstrations while
in college compared to their peers
who entered last year." In 2014, 5.6
percent of all freshmen "indicated a
'very good chance' that they would
participate in student protests while
in college; in 2015, that figure has
increased to 8.5% of students, which
is the highest level recorded for this
item since [the survey's] inception
in 1967." An examination of student
interest by demographics revealed
that students of color were more likely
than white students to express an
interest in political activism. Housing
professionals and their colleagues
are wise to consider the potential
implications of these findings for their
campuses as well as their campuses'
demographics, their past history of
student activism, and geographic
location. As Tom Scheuermann,
faculty member at Oregon State
University, notes, "The political
leanings and collective concerns of
students on our campuses may vary
based on their backgrounds and
experiences. And we should also
keep in mind that on most campuses

students come from different parts of
our states and various regions of the
country, as well as other countries."
International student interest in
presidential elections may also vary
by country of origin. For example,
Carolyn Ballagh, acting manager
of residential education at La Trobe
University in Melbourne, Victoria,
Australia, notes that Aussies do not
share the United States' passion for
politics. "There are only low levels of
debate in politics amongst the student
residents; this is broadly representative
of Australian society. Generally,
discussion about politics is marginally
taboo." Rhonda Fitzgerald, managing
director of the Sustained Dialogue
Campus Network in Washington, D.C.,
interacts with college students from
around the world and shares another
perspective. "Recently, I was asked
by a young Kenyan whether or not
most people in the United States were
aware that [a presidential candidate]
dislikes the idea of Africans and
Muslims being American." Fitzgerald
comments that "Other countries are
paying attention to [this candidate's]
casual suggestions about who can't
be American; they are assuming they
are affected, and they are wondering

if U.S. voters are paying attention.
So it isn't just U.S. students who are
affected by the presidential elections,
but this is a global phenomenon."
Housing professionals would
be wise to carefully consider the
demographics of students living on
campus and with that knowledge
anticipate the best course of action
to take as the presidential elections
unfold this fall. Stay in tune with your
campus climate by reading student
publications, following popular social
media, and talking with students
and staff. The presidential elections
can serve as a valuable tool for
engaging students, faculty, and staff
in educational discussions, which can
set a positive, post-election tone for the
rest of the academic year. 
Virginia Koch is the director of residence
life at Auburn University in Alabama.
 Virginia.Koch@auburn.edu
Paul Harris is a professor in the
department of political science and an
associate director of the honors college.
He also serves as faculty-in-residence in
Aubie Hall.
 paul.harris@auburn.edu

SEPTEMBER + OCTOBER 2016

61
http://www.acuho-i.org/partners http://www.cupahr.org/surveys/benefits.aspx
Talking Stick - September/October 2016

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