The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 43, No. 2 - 36

James C. Stoner * Yi Zhang

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS
Although the positive benefits of increased
mattering have been well documented (Connolly & Myers, 2003; Dixon et al., 2009; Dixon
& Robinson Kurpius, 2008; Doğan et al., 2012;
Gibson & Myers, 2006; Schlossberg, 1989),
little research has focused on RAs, who possess
an important position within the university
setting. As mattering is based on relationships
with those that surround us (Rosenberg & McCullough, 1981), attention should be given to
those who work in communal living environments such as on-campus apartments and
residence halls. This is especially important
considering the documented impact of mattering on college student engagement levels
(Schlossberg, 1989), and the large number
of college students served by RAs on a daily
basis. This study sought to begin filling in the
existing gap in the literature by investigating
the relationship between RAs' sense of mattering and different sizes and types of residential communities.
	 Although the results of the study do not
imply causality, they imply that housing practitioners should make efforts to lower the resident-to-RA ratios in existing residential and
apartment facilities on college campuses. This
is even more important in apartment communities, where resident-to-RA ratios are already
higher compared to residence halls (ACUHOI, 2013; Hovarth & Stack, 2013). On campuses
with both residence halls and apartments,
efforts should be made to identify ways to increase apartment RAs' mattering, since apartment RAs' scores were significantly lower
in all components of mattering compared to
their counterparts in residence halls. Housing
departments about to enter or are currently in
36

the planning stages of adding new housing
facilities on their campuses should make
these same considerations as they strategize
for supporting staffing structures. Although
resident-to-RA ratios "are relatively consistent across institutions, regardless of size"
(Horvath & Stack, 2013, p. 6), by accounting
for staff mattering, housing operations can
intentionally lower these ratios during the
planning stages of new construction projects
and major facility renovations.
	 Improving resident-to-RA ratios comes
with budget implications based on institutional compensation packages for RAs. Often,
housing departments offer discounted room
rental rates for RAs (Horvath & Stack, 2013).
As a result, hiring more RAs may lead to an
increased expenditure for paying for RAs'
service, charging them with a lower rental rate,
as well as losing revenue of removing a room
from the general inventory for residential
students. However, fostering environments
where RAs sense a higher level of mattering
may offset the financial costs because it will
promote RAs' engagement and commitment,
and ultimately build more enriching residential communities where students are more

In addition to increasing or securing
stable financial resources to provide
such environments for RAs and
residents, other strategies should be
employed to enhance a feeling of
mattering among RAs.

THE JOURNAL OF COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENT HOUSING
The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 43, No. 2

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