Living Black at University Commission Report 2022/23 39 38 Living Black at University Commission Report 2022/23 Adele Ruston Student Living Access & Participation Research Manager at University of Nottingham The University of Nottingham is completing research into the experiences of Black students in their halls of residence, to understand how we can create diverse communities and best support Black students to get the most out of their time at university. Our recent research has looked at how Black students choose where they want to live, and this has provided us with important information about key factors and influences that determine applicants’ choices in selecting their accommodation needs prior to starting university. Matching Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) data with student allocation information allowed us to segment the data and create average trends which reflected living patterns and student decision- making. A four-year data analysis of student accommodation allocations showed us that Black British students were applying to a small subset of halls of residence at the university. This analysis was followed up with student focus groups to explore why they chose this accommodation. The results demonstrated that for Black students, it was important to know that people like them lived in their accommodation, and they would research the best places to live to suit their lifestyle choices. All students that took part in the research mentioned the importance of a diverse community, and engaging with events and activities that reflected their values. Many commented that students living in less diverse accommodation had to work harder to seek out their own community; some students were happy to do this, but for others, this affected their ability to find their place at the university. The research and data analysis will allow our Student Living Team to consider the needs of Black students in more detail and develop and co-create events and activities that reflect their values. By creating a dashboard of students’ key characteristics, the team can access data that supports the creation of an inclusive events programme that students from all backgrounds want to attend. This has also allowed us to consider our support provision in halls and introduce new wellbeing and support programmes. 4.4 CASE STUDY: UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM The results demonstrated that for Black students, it was important to know that people like them lived in their accommodation. “ The data has also been used across the university to highlight the impact of accommodation on certain communities. We have provided our senior tutor network with information about the barriers that Black students might face. This both educates them on the diverse needs of students from different backgrounds and enables them to consider how they can better support these students. This research is a key part of the future residential strategy at the university, underpinning a diverse and inclusive accommodation offer. Further work with Black students will explore belonging, satisfaction and attendance with the goal of improving attainment.