Coordination of program communication between departments of residence life and student activities at four year public institutions in an upper midwest region

In the search for information about the coordination of programming between Residence Life and Student Activities, survey responses were helpful in building an accurate picture. The description of communication between departments of Residence Life and Student Activities indicate little duplication of programming is seen by directors. Also, when duplication is seen, it is usually intended. Little adverse reaction is seen in these situations. Posters, the phone, and the master calendar are the most used methods of communication, while formal meetings are the most preferred method. Most campuses do not have a formal liaison, but of those who do, most feel liaisons an effective way to communicate. The benefit most often projected to occur with more communication is stronger interpersonal relationships. Conclusions: 1) More communication is regarded as a positive process by respondents, based on the attributes it is projected to establish, and attributes it is projected to almost never establish. 2) There are three methods of communication which are most used. A) Poster: Although most frequently used in coordination of departmental educational and social programming, this one sided communication tool may not be one of the most efficient in bringing about the desirable potential benefits identified with the communication process. B) Phone: A more direct and therefore probably a more efficient method of communication. In view of the flexibility and versatility of information which can be given or received by departments, the phone could be highly beneficial and effective in coordination of department programming, and in developing the desirable benefits of communication. C) Master Calendar: Some methods used to assemble calendar information could be more efficient in bringing about the desired benefits of communication and a constant flow of information while others may be less productive. 3) Formal liaison channels are effective and desirable by a large majority of those employing this method. 4) Most directors do not get information in the way they most desire, which is the formal meeting. 5) A flexible technological advance in communications, the computer, is almost never used in the communication process between departments. 6) Program duplication is not an issue on most of the surveyed campuses. 7) Most often duplicated programs are intended; therefore the potential exists for positive benefit in most cases when duplication does occur. 8) A significance cannot be drawn between the relationship of school enrollment and amount of perceived communication regarding programming between departments of residence life and student activities