SCUP Annual International Conference

I attended several sessions over the past two days focused on the millenial generation. What was most interesting were suggestions regarding the the of housing and related student experience this generation of students expects as part of the college experience. Most of us would agree that students arrive on our campuses with different expectations. In addition, we see a different level of involvement by parents of this millenial generation, fondly referred to as helicopter parents, who feel empowered to insert themselves into their children's course registration or roommate selection decisions; or as a colleague of mine once shared, calling our food service operation to suggest we offer their daughter's favorite jam in the dining hall.

Yes, students have changed and our institutions need to change accordingly. I offer these thoughts on what I see may be some fundamental reasons behind the changes we see on our campuses making our tasks as planners ever more challenging.

Jeffrey Arnett suggests that the 18-25 year old cohort defines a new stage in the life-cycle. Emerging adulthood is label for this life stage and it is characterized by five psychological dimensions unique to this age group:

• Identity exploration;
• Instability;
• Self-focused;
• Feeling in-between, and;
  
• Age of possibilities.

The presentations I heard in the last two days focused on housing and educating these millenial students reflect these five dimensions of the development of the emerging adult. Emerging adults struggle with finishing the developmental tasks of adolescence---consolidating a sense of self during a period of instability and self-questioning while sorting through and determining vocational trajectories, personal relationships, and civic responsibilities. Students want their living and learning spaces to support these challenging developmental tasks. At times, they want the seclusion of a private space to reflect on the course of their lives, yet at other times they want convenient semi-public or public spaces to share time with their peers. The challenge for planners is to design living and learning spaces to support the diverse character of the life of the emerging adult. My observations over the last two days confirm that our institutions, with the help of our design and construction colleagues, are seeking creative solutions to the challenges posed by the millenial generation.