Academic unit relocation: students’ pre- and post-move responses^*

* The author is grateful to the late Moshe Krausz for his helpful comments on a preliminary version of this paper.

Abstract

Relocation of an academic unit affects not only the staff, but also the students. A pre- and post-move study examined the responses of undergraduate students to the relocation to a new and spacious campus carried out during the break between two semesters. The distance between the old and the new site did not require home relocation. However, it required change and adaptation to issues of commuting duration and transportation. 314 students participated in a pre-move survey. Second-year students were less satisfied about the move than were first- and third-year students. The significant predictors of pre-move satisfaction with the impending relocation were the estimated change in commuting duration, estimated advantages and disadvantages of the relocation, extent of thinking about the move, and a feeling of uncertainty. 203 students participated in the post-move survey. The significant predictors of post-move satisfaction with the relocation were perceived changes resulting from the relocation, a feeling of uncertainty, and a belief that relocation is a common organisational change. Among the 126 students who participated in both surveys, there was a significant increase of positive feelings associated with the relocation, relocation satisfaction, and its justification, and a significant decrease of negative feelings and feeling of uncertainty.

Keywords:

• Organisational relocation
• longitudinal study
• students’ satisfaction
• role theory

Notes

* The author is grateful to the late Moshe Krausz for his helpful comments on a preliminary version of this paper.