Barbershops on campus offer students an opportunity to access personal care, often with a cultural component, coupled with the benefit of built-in community. Seeking such necessary services can lead lonely or isolated students to engage in a safe manner. Here are two different barbershop models that institutions are using…
A Pop-Up Model
At Michigan Technological University, a pop-up barbershop is offered twice a month inside a campus gym, reported The Lode. It “benefits students who have difficulty finding a barber or who don’t have easy access to the off-campus barber shops,” according to the paper. And services are available for students with all hair textures.
The initiative was started in 2021 as a collaboration between the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Athletics and Recreation. Other supporters include Residence Education and Housing Services, the Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Office, and other staff and faculty members.
Local barber Manny Hernandez of The Good Life Barber Lounge has been coming to campus for the pop-up events, despite the 98 miles from his shop to campus. “Barbering is a culture,” Hernandez told Michigan Tech News. “There’s music, positivity, good lighting – a familiarity and comfortability. That’s part of my mission, to make them feel as good and comfortable as possible.”
A Dedicated Shop
The College of Charleston (SC) opened their Cougar Cutz shop to build community and support underrepresented students who might otherwise need to travel far to get a haircut. The shop is designed as a community hub, specifically with the recruitment and retention of male minority students in mind, reported The College Today. Plus, the Office of Multicultural Student Programs and Services (MSPS) organizes related cultural programming around the space.
College of Charleston President Andrew T. Hsu said of the barbershop: “I know how important a place for hair care is for historically underrepresented groups of varying hair textures. Having a barbershop to have your hair cut is a place for socializing, having friends, having a good conversation or having a good gossip.”
“I think the challenge for us as a college is students will remember how we made them feel,” Kenyatta Grimmage, associate director of admissions, access initiatives and pre-College programs, who is also a master barber, told the publication. “When other students look at the College of Charleston and think ‘Can I find my place at the College of Charleston?’ look no further than this place right here. This tells you right here that we care, that we want you here and you’re welcome here at the College of Charleston.”
Sources: The Lode, 10/31/23; Michigan Tech News, 2/2/22; The College Today, College of Charleston, 9/19/22
For more initiatives like this that you can put into action on your campus, check out our NEW Addressing Student Loneliness and Isolation on Campus strategy guide.
