BLOG #4 Creating a Community Where you can Live and Learn

Creating a Community Where you can Live and Learn

     Improving students’ living arrangements can improve student’s learning and actually increase the probability of obtaining a degree.

     Research states that students living on campus have better peer interactions and become more involved with their university.  Upperclassmen that continue to live on campus tend to have better relationships with their advisors.

University of Wyoming’s Plan

     University of Wyoming is in need of creating new living arrangements for their students. The hope is to keep enrollment, attract new students and make the living experience more enjoyable. 

     The University of Wyoming has a Housing Master Plan that explains the university’s plan to improve student housing over the next ten-years.  The plan identifies three phases which involve demolition, repurposing and new construction.  

     The university has a strategic plan, within that plan one of their goals is to offer a cultivating community of learning, which will inspire collaborative work. Those creating the housing plan interpreted this goal, creating new dorms that ones that will be built to improve student’s residential experience by creating spaces for more shared work or room for team projects within the dorms.  These areas will increase opportunities for learning. 

     Additional improvements will include personal health and growth for all members of the community.  The University of Wyoming wants to enrich and improve student housing because enhancing a student’s residential experience  will help maintain recruitment enrollment and increase interest in the University of Wyoming. The university will accomplish this improvement student living in three phases.

     Phase I will be to demolish Crane and Hill Halls.  They will then construct new suite-style residential housing on the site where Crane and Hill Halls once stood.  Phase II will renovate Orr and McIntyre Halls creating 21st century housing for first year students. Phase III includes improving the streetscape around the Washakie Halls and to renovate the last two halls, White and Downey. 

     “It is hard having to complete group projects when it snows.  The bathrooms are really old, I mean how old is this building?”  said Jacob a freshman living in White Hall.

Living on Campus

   The newly equipped dorms along with the newly designed bathrooms will improve  the overall campus experience. The common areas created in each dorm will allow for opportunities of community.  These newly designed living arrangements will make the University of Wyoming a more sustainable place for its students.  The newly designed dorms will make the University more attractive to future students and will make the University of Wyoming a more competitive option for students who are looking at multiple universities.

When students live on campus they are better engaged in their learning.  They have a deeper connection with their peers and their professors. They are able to collaborate and commensurate with their friends socially and academically.  They have greater flexibility when it comes to scheduling times to meet with their peers. A residential and academic community are developed when students live on campus, therefore they are able to maximize their educational experience. 

   “New buildings bring a great deal of excitement to the university and also show that our numbers are up, which is something really exciting for the state of Wyoming.”  Said Taryn Wright resident coordinator for White Hall.

Mental and Physical Health

The dorms offer you a welcoming place to come “Home” to. There are programs offered that allow interpersonal interactions.  Programs are designed around topics that are challenging to students, in hopes of improving awareness on such topics.  A diverse community in the dorms offers interactions, and communication with a variety of people who have differing experiences than yours creating a diverse culture where one can become receptive to other views and beliefs.

Resident Assistants look out for your well being..  They know the signs and symptoms to look out for. RA’s provide twenty four hour staff support.  They are connected to other school services therefore they have the ability to partner students with the resources they need. Regardless of the need, social, academic or mental they can help you get connected to the resources you need on campus.

To Live on or Off

The University of Wyoming has a ten-year plan to improve student learning by improving where they live. Improving student housing will improve the experience for students already committed to the university. The improved living conditions will retain those students already here and will make the university more attractive to prospective students.

     For more information about the university’s Housing Plan and updates visit http://www.uwyo.edu/studentaffairs/housing-files/index_housing_updates.html.

Resources

University of Wyoming Housing Master Plan Final Report 20 December 2017

https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/the-benefits-of-living-on-campus-in-college/

https://www.oit.edu/campus-life/housing/living-on-campus-benefits-value

Interviews

Taryn Wright, resident coordinator for White Hall

Resident Jacob