The Anatomy of Room Change: Architecture, Academic Performance, and Differences in Race and Socioeconomic Status

The number of room change requests by first-year college students can be influenced by several factors, including race and socioeconomic status. This study adds to the body of research by also examining the role of residence hall architecture, roommate similarity, and academic performance in room change requests. Findings indicate that residence hall architecture was the first differentiator of these requests. Other differentiators were first-semester GPA, age, and differences between roommates in socioeconomic status and race. The results indicate that residence hall architecture has important effects on students’ college experience, which can influence the development of social networks and form the context through which personal characteristics and roommate differences affect interpersonal interactions. Employing policies and programming that support student autonomy, create social connections, and reduce interpersonal barriers can foster a rich and positive environment for developing culturally diverse student experiences.