The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 36, No. 2 - 96

Kevin Guidry • Carol Anderer • David Futey • Clifton Pee

some studies of college student technology not specifically focusing on residential students are, because of their design, de facto studies of residential students (Gemmill & Peterson, 2006). There have been many formal and informal descriptions of residential computer networks on individual campuses (Auguston, 1988; Byrne & Brown, 1988; Gallagher & Porter, 1988; King, 1988; Workman, Childs, Causey, Moberly, & Fitzpatrick, 2006), including numerous conference presentations. However, despite the rapid growth of these networks and the use of computers in residence halls, there have been few scholarly attempts to accurately present a national perspective on the growth and change of these networks and how they have been created, maintained, managed, and ultimately used. In the mid-2000s, the ResNet Applied Research Group began significant efforts to fill this gap by conducting, presenting, and publishing research with a broad focus on residential computer networks at American and Canadian institutions. The primary research vehicle was the 2005 ResNet Survey, the first comprehensive attempt at providing a baseline analysis of areas encompassed by ResNet operations. Sections within the survey related to the support of technologies to residential areas and included networking, staffing, computer security, and policies directing computer use. The survey also included questions, with areas provided for comments, where respondents were asked to identify present and future challenges in providing support. There were 224 institutions that replied to the survey and were included in the analysis, providing a broad base of information about residential computer networks (Bullard, Futey, Gerenstein, Guidry, & Pee, 2005).
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CONFERENCE PROGRAM PRESENTATIONS AS A SOURCE OF DATA
As recognized by others, such as McCluskeyTitus (2000) and Bucher (2002), conference proceedings and program information (title, abstract, presenters) can be a rich source of data describing not only the sponsoring organization but also the evolving interests and concerns of the conference participants. McCluskey-Titus’s 2000 summary of 50 years of Southern College Personnel Association/ Southern Association for College Student Affairs conference programs “document[ed] the historical trends in the profession and on campuses in the Southeast region through an analysis of the topics presented during interest sessions at the annual conferences” (p. 85). Bucher’s 2002 summary of 25 years of papers and

There have been many formal and informal descriptions of residential computer networks on individual campuses  . . . However, despite the rapid growth of these networks and the use of computers in residence halls, there have been few scholarly attempts to accurately present a national perspective on the growth and change of these networks and how they have been created, maintained, managed, and ultimately used .

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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
