Graduation Date
Fall 2025
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Arts degree with a major in Public Sociology
Committee Chair Name
Caglar Dolek
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Anthony Silvaggio
Second Committee Member Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Keywords
Cal Poly Humboldt, Student housing, Financialization, Neoliberalism, Basic needs insecurity, Northern California, Humboldt County, Student well-being
Subject Categories
Sociology
Abstract
Cal Poly Humboldt has faced major challenges in the realm of housing due to a long history of shortages and difficulties in prioritizing the distribution of housing amongst the student population. Recent issues such as the mold infestations in Fall 2024 bring this into focus as the campus is also trying to expand its available housing through constructing new housing facilities. This in conjunction with the campus’ desire to continually increase its student population base year by year brings into question the fundamental goals of the campus and whether or not students feel the campus is helping or hurting them. This research presents a multimethod analysis of how Cal Poly Humboldt students’ experiences with housing in the area have potentially impacted their view of the campus and their enthusiasm for the institution. The key framings of this research are based around three points: the financialization of the university, neoliberal profit motive and the subjective well-being of students. Each framing point is meant to build some understanding of how the financialization of the university may be negatively impacting students' sense of connection towards their education. The neoliberal desire to maintain continual profitability over time is in conflict with the goal of a university to provide an education within an environment that supports students. This project seeks to listen and analyze the experiences of students as a way to gauge the validity of these concerns as they are being experienced. The research itself consisted of both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. A survey was conducted in February 2025 and received a response rate of only 32 out of 600 As the second data collection method, 10 interviews were performed with students of varying academic career lengths, majors, and backgrounds regarding their experiences with student housing and Cal Poly Humboldt as an institution.Among the key findings was that students were excited and enthusiastic about the campus during their initial enrollment and arrival. Their criticisms of the school mainly revolved around housing and employment, indicating that economic insecurity has a major impact on students’ experiences while in Humboldt. The students’ main critique of the campus is that it focuses on the wrong solutions to address student housing insecurity. The view was that solutions were too short-sighted in solving immediate problems to support students in the long term and were not building a foundation of longevity as an academic institution, resulting in retention problems in the student population.
Citation Style
ASA
Recommended Citation
Perez, Aaron Gabriel, "Student housing insecurity and its impacts on academic enthusiasm: A multi-method analysis of Cal Poly Humboldt" (2025). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2535.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2535
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