FOURTH AMENDMENT KNOWLEDGE IN STUDENT HOUSING: A STUDY OF TEXAS PUBLIC UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS

Abstract

The purpose of this quantitative study was to analyze Texas public college and university housing professionals’ knowledge of constitutional Fourth Amendment law using a 20-question True/False/Unsure survey. This survey was designed to investigate the legal literacy of housing officials in order to determine what they know and what predictors are associated with greater or less knowledge. The participants in the study were full and part-time employees and student resident assistants of Texas public college and university housing programs. In total, 245 participants completed the survey in its entirety. The survey results were analyzed using Qualtrics where multiple regression was used to determine significance of six variables. Results revealed two variables, highest education completed and years of service, were significant predictors of knowledge. An interactive model revealed an interdependent relationship between these two variables. As years of service increased, the effect of education declined. These findings suggest (a) Better educated employees measured by Highest Education Completed will be significantly more likely to have a better grasp of Fourth Amendment search and seizure law as it applies to college dormitories, in the early years of service, independent of generalized legal training they may have received; (b) The importance of Years of Education Completed diminishes over time as housing officials obtain more “on the ground experience” working in that capacity; (c) The overall level of knowledge of college and university housing officials, whether professional full or part time staff, or those currently enrolled as students, is generally poor relative to the responsibilities they have assumed; and (d) There is little evidence that administrators supervising housing operations have more knowledge of search and seizure law than other housing employees.