<p> Many colleges and universities have space on campus that extends beyond a traditional classroom. These areas include but are not limited to dining hall facilities, residence halls, college bookstores, and outdoor quads that serve as a focal point of the institution. In the case of a small, private, Los Angeles-based art and design college, this type of space was not always formally available to its students. Thus, a sense of student community engagement was absent from the college experience.</p><p> The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how the implementation of a new multipurpose space at a college of art and design had the ability to alter the social and academic experiences of art and design students. The study amplified the voices of students who lacked power and longevity at an art and design institution. In a case study method of design, an interview protocol was used for primary data collection, with additional data obtained through document collection and participant observation. Environmental theory served as a conceptual framework for this research. Ten students and seven faculty, staff, or other administrators participated in this study in the fall of 2016. Findings emphasized that art and design students have a need to foster expression and thrive in environments where strong levels of student engagement are present. </p><p> The new facility serves as the central platform to highlight values or desires that ultimately sustain the heartbeat and magnificence of the new space. Participant motivation to utilize the new space was driven by the opportunity to experience stronger engagement in spaces that were previously nonexistent. While data were collected from multiple college stakeholders, the primary focus of this research was the influence on student culture. The findings suggested a need for new systematic processes that equate to a series of short- and long-term recommenda- tions for policy and practice.</p><p> This study provides recommendations for policies and practice that may transfer to similar institutional contexts and provide institutional leaders with insights and strategies to develop community and facilitate a stronger sense of campus life in the context of an art and design school.</p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PROQUEST/oai:pqdtoai.proquest.com:10285138 |
| Date | 11 July 2017 |
| Creators | Luna, Michael |
| Publisher | California State University, Long Beach |
| Source Sets | ProQuest.com |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
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