Changing Student Landscape (Part 1)

Last night I was engaged in an informal conversation with about 25-30 young campus ministry leaders regarding evangelism and culture. I mostly listened to the heart, vision, frustration and best practices of these emerging leaders. The conversation drew my mind back to earlier this year, when I was asked to speak to a group of about 100 directors of student summer projects on the subject of emerging trends among students as they make an impact on evangelism. My thoughts were delivered under the title of “The Changing Student Landscape: Exploring the Trends”. Along with my own reading, research and reflections, I utilized summaries found in Ivy Jungle's Campus Ministry Updates--a resource well worth subscribing to, if you have an interest in campus culture.

The next few posts will provide the essence of what was delivered.

“It is not the reality but the image of the audience that determines how communication occurs. The communicator chooses both content and communicative style based on his or her ideas about the audience—who they are, what they are interested in, and how they will respond. Normally, these ideas about the audience are approximately correct because of shared experiences and similar backgrounds and cultures. But…(ed.: You can fill in this blank.) A first step in improving communication is to gain a more accurate understanding of the audience.” (Donald Smith, Creating Understanding:A Handbook for Christian Communications Across Cultural Landscapes)

Here are the first three characteristics:

#1 – Introducing this generation of students.
A few demographical observations (mostly obvious):
• This is the largest body of US college students ever.
• Women out number men almost 3 to 2.
• Ethnically diversity grows. (Duh!)
Student culture is a mosaic of micro-cultures & subgroups, thriving in the same cultural landscape.

#2 - A Satisfied Lot
• 93% are happy with the way things are going in their lives.
• 84% say their life is excellent or good.
• 93% are satisfied with their family life and 91% in their relationships with their parents.
• 81% are satisfied the amount of free time they have.
Pew Research, “Portrait of Generation Next” (This is a very helpful report to examine more closely!)

If you are reaching out expecting to find a generation with lots of felt needs on the surface, just waiting and wanting to change, think again. You must go deeper!

#3 – The Digital Generation

What makes this generation different from its predecessors is not just its demographic muscle, but it is the first to grow up surrounded by digital media. (Growingupdigital.com)

When the primary means of storing and distributing information changes, our worldviews change. (Rex Miller, The Millennium Matrix)

Miller explores the four major communication shifts and their implications:

• Oral Culture (Pre-printing press; up to and through Middle Ages)
  
• Print Culture (Reformation, Enlightenment through mid-20th century)
  
• Broadcast Culture (Later half of the 20th century)
  
• Digital Culture (Present)
  

The digital culture is shaping the very worldview of this generation.

Five more characteristics to go in next posts. (See: Part 2 and Part 3)