a multi- faceted adjudication challenge student homelessness:
TRANSCRIPT
A multi-faceted adjudication challenge
STUDENT HOMELESSNESS:
Meloni S. RudolphDean of Student LifeCommunity College of [email protected]
Jake KasperDirector of Student ConductCommunity College of [email protected]
PRESENTERS
Urban, commuter campus CCD (approx. 11,000 students)
Downtown DenverTri-Institutional campus (Approximately 46,000)Hispanic Serving InstitutionOpen Access
COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF DENVER
People who are living in a place not meant for human habitation, in emergency shelter, in transitional housing, or are exiting an institution where they temporarily resided, and were in shelter or a place not meant for human habitation immediately prior to entering that institution (HUD, 2012).
DEFINITION OF HOMELESSNESS
10.2%met federal
(HUD) defi nition of homeless
6.6% have been
homeless at some point while attending CCD
1% currently live in
their car
6.2% “couch surf” each
night
1.3% currently feel
pressured to engage in sexual activity to keep their housing
20% feel chronic stress
due to fi nding housing aff ects their abi l ity to succeed in school
9.5% have frequent
absences due to insuffi cient housing
CCD STUDY
33,039 college students identifi ed themselves as homeless in the 2010–2011 academic year.
636,000 homeless in US (HUD 2011)
Denver is ranked 26th in the nation.
47% low-income young adults are enrolled in
higher education(2008)
National poverty level is 15% (2011) Lack of employment opportunities (recent increase) Decline in public assistance (recent increase) Lack of aff ordable health care Domestic violence Mental illness (25%) Addiction
NATIONAL DATA ON STUDENT HOMELESSNESS & POVERTY
U.S. Census Bureau Poverty Thresholds, 2012
Size of Family Unit
Poverty Threshold
One person (unrelated individual)
$11,720
Under age 65 11,945
Age 65 or older 11,011
Two people 14,937
Householder under age 65
15,450
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Weighted Average Poverty Thresholds, 2012, released in September 2013.
Inspired by the CCD Psi Beta Study
Data Collection: one 60 minute interview with each participant:AdamOscarMaria
STUDY OF STUDENT HOMELESSNESS
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs A. Maslow (1943, 1954)
Downward Comparison Theory Wells (1981)
Challenge and Support Theory Sanford (1966)
RELATED THEORIES
Pride and Independence
Faith
Hope
“No one knew”
FINDINGS
Panhandling – a symbol of lost hope or pride
Downward Comparison Theory - when identified was also linked with an act of kindness and generosity to another
INTERESTING PIECES
How it is generalizable… Challenge and support Student development Individual’s Needs v. Needs of Community
Limitations – Case Studies Vincent Matthew
IMPLICATIONS FOR CONDUCT OFFICERS
Vincent
CASE STUDY #1
He is a non-tradit ional, self- identifi ed homeless “C” student with several incompletes and fai lures. He fi rst enrol led in 2009 and has taken out ful l fi nancial aid every semester with no defi nit ive plan to graduate.
Vincent is a student who identifi es as homeless. He has a lengthy criminal history ful l of disturbances of the peace, drug felony violations, forgery, contempt of court, theft and carrying concealed weapons.
Vincent was widely known on campus as “the homeless guy sleeping on the couch”. He would spread himself out in a public space, rearrange furniture, remove his shoes, leave food and beverage messes on lounge furniture and sleep, often snoring loudly. He also created an odor in the general vicinity of his person. Vincent creates a scene when he does sleep making a mess with his food, leaving items unattended, and being verbally aggressive with anyone who may approach him.
What possible violations do you see? What policies in your current Code would help you adjudicate this case?
VINCENT
Vincent had a meeting with the conduct offi cer initially for trespassing in a building on campus after hours. After repeated conversations with Vincent about modifying his behavior, the behavior continued.
Several offi ces are complaining to the Conduct Offi cers about the nuisance that Vincent is becoming, saying that it deters from the professionalism the institution is trying to portray and makes community members uncomfortable.
What sanctions can you think of that would be appropriate in this situation? What other factors can/should be considered? Housing options Discomfort factor Status Social norm
VINCENT (CONTINUED)
Characteristics of VincentPride IndependenceEntitlementExtensive criminal historyA student in paralegal programHomeless
VINCENT (CONTINUED)
As time went on, Vincent was contacted by police dozens of times, going through multiple court proceedings for trespassing. He continues to ignore directives from the court and from the institution. He has said to the conduct offi cer “there is nothing more you can do to me.” And he continues to violate multiple policies.
What else can be done?
VINCENT (CONTINUED)
ACTUAL OUTCOME OF CASE
Matthew
CASE STUDY #2
Matthew is a non-tradit ional, sel f- identifi ed homeless student who lost his construction job because of chronic back pain. He then turned to alcohol and ended up in the streets. His cr iminal history is relat ively smal l but has disturbances of the peace, contempt of court, and publ ic intoxication.
He is an A/B student who never took school seriously in his l i fe. He says he doesn’t know what he wants to study so he has taken mult iple courses since 2011. He is wel l - l iked by other students and instructors. He pract ices personal hygiene and uti l izes the rec center showers.
He fi rst came into contact with the conduct offi ce when he attempted to enter campus in the middle of the night whi le stumbling and intoxicated. He had fi nished a ‘gig’ playing music for a local bar where they paid him in beer. He was placed on probation status.
Does it matter i f: Hygiene Contrition
What pol ic ies/sanctions in your code would apply in this situation?
MATTHEW
Matthew considers himself a spokesperson for the campus homeless populat ion.
Matthew has mult ip le pol ice contact when concerned students and community members cal l the campus pol ice when they see Matthew walking around with his large hik ing bag equipped with his s leeping bag and chair. Community member reported that he makes them uncomfortable and deters from the professional image the campus is trying to portray.
Matthew came in contact with the conduct offi ce again when he was contacted again by the pol ice because a custodial member was feel ing int imidated when Matthew asked her for his chair. He had left i t in the hal lway overnight but couldn’t fi nd i t the next day. The staff member took that to be threatening and cal led her supervisor who then cal led the pol ice.
Matthew admits to sleeping on campus but str ives to use the lockers and spaces within pol icy and does not make a ‘mess’ l ike Vincent. He said most homeless students do not get along with Vincent because he gives them a bad name. Addit ional ly, Matthew bel ieves the col lege homeless students do a great job pol ic ing themselves and they’re often the ones cal l ing the pol ice when something is wrong on campus.
What sanctions/resources would you recommend in this case?
MATTHEW (CONTINUED)
Characteristics of MatthewNon-traditional studentA/B studentFrequent visitor to resources in Student Life office
Well-liked
MATTHEW (CONTINUED)
How are these cases the same?
How do they feel diff erent?
CASE COMPARISON
Communication
Mental health resources
Policies – how to adjudicate?
Sanctioning – who funds it?
Chemical Dependency issues?
Compassion
What else can you see?
IMPLICATIONS/CONSIDERATIONS
Meloni S. RudolphDean of Student LifeCommunity College of [email protected]
Jake KasperDirector of Student ConductCommunity College of [email protected]
CONTACT US
http://columbiachronicle.com/homeless-students-invisible-on-college-campuses/
Joy, D., Baca, R., Mil l ican, B., Ragusa, M., Taylor, A., Vitervo, A. & Walker, D. (2011). Homelessness and housing challenges in the community college population, fi nal results and recommendations. Presented at the 119 t h Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C.
Housing and Urban Development, Department of (2012). National al l iance to end homelessness. Retrieved from http://www.endhomelessness.org/l ibrary/entry/changes-in-the-hud-defi nition-of-homeless
Maslow, A.H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50(370-396).
Maslow, A.H. (1954). Motivation and Personality . New York: Harper & Row Publishers.
Maslow, A.H. (1962). Toward a Psychology of Being. New York: Van Nos/Trand Reinhold Company.
Wills, T.A. (1981). Downward comparison principles in social psychology. Psychological Bulletin, 90,2, 245-271.
http://www.ccd.edu/ccd.nsf/html/WEBB9CZCV7-CCD+Psi+Beta+Wins+National+Awards
http://www.huffi ngtonpost.com/linda-tirado/why-poor-peoples-bad-decisions-make-perfect-sense_b_4326233.html
REFERENCES