Crisis Response Training: Perceptions of Entry-Level Housing Professionals on Crisis Readiness Following Crisis Response Training
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Kip Sorgen
Location
Russell Union 2052
Type of Research
Completed
Session Format
Oral Presentation
College
College of Education
Department
Leadership, Technology, and Human Development - Educational Leadership
Abstract
Crisis management at institutions of higher education is not a new phenomenon. This is especially true for institutions with on-campus residential communities. Housing and residence life staff are frequently involved in crisis prevention, intervention, and follow-up efforts related to crises affecting students and housing facilities. In fact, some of the first responders to an incident include entry-level housing and residence life staff. These staff members oversee individual residence halls, supervise student staff, promote learning both inside and outside the classroom, and serve on a crisis management team. Given the unpredictability of crisis response, it is vital that entry-level housing practitioners receive crisis-response training. Not only should these practitioners receive crisis response training, but they should also perceive it as effective and feel prepared for crisis response. This qualitative action research examined the perceptions of entry-level housing professionals regarding the crisis-response training offered by a housing and residence life department at a large public university in Georgia throughout an academic year. Several themes related to perceptions of training and crisis readiness emerged from the study, including perceptions of the entry-level role as a crisis responder, perceptions and impacts of offered crisis response training, and training effectiveness. The study also offers recommendations to improve crisis-response training for these key responders.
Program Description
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Start Date
4-23-2026 11:30 AM
End Date
4-23-2026 11:45 AM
Recommended Citation
Fester, Katie C., "Crisis Response Training: Perceptions of Entry-Level Housing Professionals on Crisis Readiness Following Crisis Response Training" (2026). GS4 Student Scholars Symposium. 127.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/research_symposium/2026/2026/127
Crisis Response Training: Perceptions of Entry-Level Housing Professionals on Crisis Readiness Following Crisis Response Training
Russell Union 2052
Crisis management at institutions of higher education is not a new phenomenon. This is especially true for institutions with on-campus residential communities. Housing and residence life staff are frequently involved in crisis prevention, intervention, and follow-up efforts related to crises affecting students and housing facilities. In fact, some of the first responders to an incident include entry-level housing and residence life staff. These staff members oversee individual residence halls, supervise student staff, promote learning both inside and outside the classroom, and serve on a crisis management team. Given the unpredictability of crisis response, it is vital that entry-level housing practitioners receive crisis-response training. Not only should these practitioners receive crisis response training, but they should also perceive it as effective and feel prepared for crisis response. This qualitative action research examined the perceptions of entry-level housing professionals regarding the crisis-response training offered by a housing and residence life department at a large public university in Georgia throughout an academic year. Several themes related to perceptions of training and crisis readiness emerged from the study, including perceptions of the entry-level role as a crisis responder, perceptions and impacts of offered crisis response training, and training effectiveness. The study also offers recommendations to improve crisis-response training for these key responders.
