Introduction

4

― Residential Life

Campus Living

Where you live – and how you live – during your college experience becomes a touchstone throughout life. Stories and memories are ever present. We are reimagining the future of residential life to take those lessons and many others toward even more effective experiences and outcomes.

Living on campus offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience to build lifelong friendships, form tight communities, and create memories and experiences that enrich the college experience. With the right program, community size, and common amenities, the results and quality of the residential life experience can be truly transformational.

Residential Life

The home address for residential communities on campus that strengthen student success.

Bridgewater State University, Weygand Hall

Residential life is broad in definition. It spans from firstyear to upper division to graduate to faculty and staff housing. Each of these relates to a different outcome, a different mission. The choreography of these experiences from the front door to the bedroom or apartment can lead to success in many ways…empowerment, collaboration, learning, respite, and retreat. So it should come as no surprise that the most effective student housing is informed on guiding principles:

nj Intentionality in space and organization is the overall measure of success nj Right-sizing communities through clarity and identity of micro and macro frameworks nj Successful living units should be tailored to student demographics nj Living learning environments provide intentionality of student success nj Diversity and inclusion is at the forefront of gender fluid communities nj Social common spaces and amenities are the figurative hearths of student housing nj Focused group interactions – individual and collaborative – lead to the outcome that learning happens everywhere nj The science of small and micro units is at the forefront for graduate students on campus nj Sustainable principles can lead to behavioral change and co-ownership of resources.