The Horrible, Awful, No Good Roommate

PRESENTED BY:

JEFF BONDY, KORRIN ENGEL, AND TYLER FAGENSTROM

MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY-BOZEMAN

GoalsRecognize the importance of roommate assignment process.

Compare/contrast your roommate experience to current issues

Examine a new approach to managing roommate conflicts

Assess current practices in roommate assignment, contracting, management

Mismatched: Common Roommate IssuesSpace

Privacy

Sharing

Cleanliness

Guests and Visitation

Sleep Habits

Interests

The Montana Side of ThingsRapid enrollment growth

Limited bed space

Student need for space, amenities

Parents’ expectations

Consumer Mentality

Decreased Flexibility

Increased Cost of Attendance

Lower Coping Skills

MSU—On-Campus Occupancy

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 20130

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2678 28183170 3256 3403 3536

Montana State University Enrollment Trends

1998 2001 2005 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

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ResidentNon-Resident

WUE

ResidentNon-ResidentWUE

Top Freshman Feeder States

Wash

ington

Californ

ia

Colorado

Minneso

taIdah

o

Oregon

Alaska

Illinois

Wyo

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New Hampsh

ire0

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230181 177

93 68 67 46 42 34 21 0

Quick Survey What were your great challenges during your freshman year of college?

What have been some of your greatest professional challenges?

Here’s the Issue… With limited bed space and often static staff

numbers, confronting and alleviating roommate issues can be challenging.

Eeny Meeny Miney Mo…Hand Assigning

Housing Software Management Programs◦ StarRez, Adirondak◦ Student Survey, Parental Involvement

Third Party Modules◦ Roomsync

Our Story…WHAT WE’VE TRIED:

Housing Management Software

Roommate Contracts

RA Mediation

WHAT WE’VE FOUND OUT:

Can be based on inaccurate information

Effective if both parties are invested

RAs can feel overwhelmed and ill-prepared

Contracts, Contracts, Contracts

Updated roommate contracts◦ Alcohol use questions◦ Mandatory

Discussion with parents

Follow up with Connections Surveys

ConflictIs an evitable part of life, especially on a campus

Can impact a person’s emotions, thoughts, and ability to learn and engage

Can be an opportunity for personal growth

Sustained Dialogue: Let’s ChatA brief historyFocuses on:

Seeking mutual understanding Reassessing earlier assumptions Creating a safe environment Approaching problems analytically and emotionally

Talk, Talk, Talk

Relationship Mapping

Let’s Give It a Shot… Rob and Chris are sophomores who have roomed together for the last year, with very few apparent sources of conflict. However, things have been increasingly tense between the two roommates in recent days over seemingly mundane things. Rob has his girlfriend over for three or four days at a time, which annoys Chris because Chris is unable to get any sleeping or studying done in the room while the girlfriend is there.

Rob is also a slob, with clothes tossed all over the room in no particular order. This annoys Chris because he is a very neat, meticulous person. Chris, on the other hand likes to listen to heavy metal music at all hours of the day and night. This annoys Rob because he is into country music.

Chris also often uses Rob’s stereo equipment without taking proper care of it. Rob may be a slob with his clothes, but is very meticulous with his stereo. With the beginning of midterms, the tension in the room has grown thicker. Rob is doing very well academically, even with his girlfriend over for so many days at a time, while Chris has been struggling. This also puts a strain on the relationship between the two roommates.

I Hear What You’re Saying…

Let’s Talk About…

Our Two Cents…Roommate Issues are static, but our approach has to be dynamic

Sometimes the goal has to be personal growth not conflict resolution

Let’s See What You’ve Got…