The Role Of Participatory Communication In Enhancing Student Participation In Institutional Development: A Case Of UniMAC-IJ

Abstract

Sanitation management is a crucial component of facility management in universities, directly shaping health, productivity, and institutional reputation. At UniMac-IJ, recurring sanitation crises such as blocked washrooms, water shortages, and delayed waste disposal expose significant weaknesses in crisis communication and user engagement. This study examined how crisis communication practices and participatory strategies influence sanitation outcomes, with a focus on identifying common challenges, evaluating communication systems, and exploring user involvement in sanitation governance. A mixed methods approach was employed, integrating quantitative surveys with 360 respondents and qualitative interviews with 15 key informants, including facility managers, sanitation supervisors, and student leaders. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, analyzed using SPSS for statistical patterns and NVivo for thematic insights. Ethical standards—including informed consent, confidentiality, and Institutional Review Board approval—were strictly adhered to, ensuring methodological rigor. Findings revealed that communication practices at UniMac-IJ were largely reactive, fragmented, and inconsistently applied, despite student preference for channels such as WhatsApp, SMS alerts, and noticeboards. User participation in decision-making remained minimal, though both staff and students expressed readiness to engage through feedback platforms and joint committees. The study concludes that weak crisis communication and limited user involvement exacerbate sanitation challenges, recommending a participatory framework that integrates digital reporting tools, real-time messaging systems, and structured dialogue mechanisms. These insights extend the literature on facility management and provide a practical model for strengthening resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability in tertiary institutions.