The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 36, No. 2 - 104

Kevin Guidry • Carol Anderer • David Futey • Clifton Pee

lasted as pre-conference programs were developed explicitly to address implementation of a new network. So this implementation phase almost certainly lasted longer than indicated by this analysis of ResNet Symposium programs. Finally, it is almost certain that this general

Several of the themes, particularly “User education” and “Staff,” illustrate that students are a central concern of this community . We know that many students are employed by residential computer network programs given that the vast majority of respondents (86%) to the 2005 ResNet Survey told us that they employ students .

tent as technologies, students, and staffs have changed. Some of these themes—“Networking,” “Support methods and practices,” and “Software development and distribution”— seem to be inherent in the provision, maintenance, and support of large computer networks and their users. Other themes, however, seem to be unique to higher education and residential computer networks specifically. Several of the themes, particularly “User education” and “Staff,” illustrate that students are a central concern of this community. We know that many students are employed by residential computer network programs given that the vast majority of respondents (86%) to the 2005 ResNet Survey told us that they employ students (ResNet Applied Research Group, 2005b). The presence of “Student staff training” as one of the few consistent specific minor themes throughout the time period studied reinforces this idea that students are central to those who support residential computer networks. The centrality of “User education” throughout the entire time period studied further reinforces the importance of students and the place and role of residential computer networks in residence halls and in higher education. It is possible that the importance of students can in part be traced to the influence of residence life and student affairs. In addition to the obvious fact that much of the support for residential computer networks and their users occurs in residence halls, many of those employed to provide this support work directly in housing departments. For example, over onefifth of the respondents to the 2005 ResNet Survey indicated that those who perform this work, including student employees, work in housing departments (ResNet Applied Re-

cycle of implementation, growing pains, and maturation has been and will be repeated as new technologies are introduced in residence halls. Despite these caveats, these time periods provide a useful lens for those seeking to understand how residential computer networks and the support structures that surround them have historically developed. The consistent themes identified in this research identify topics and concerns shared among those who presented at the ResNet Symposium throughout the entire time period studied. These themes can be described as foundational, for they have remained consis104

THE JOURNAL OF COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITy STUDENT HOUSING

The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 36, No. 2

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 36, No. 2