Student housing is in its second year at Indiana University South Bend, and it already seems hard to remember what it was like without it.
It’s also easy to forget it’s there, for those of us who stay on the familiar side of the river. The addition of student housing is an example of how the world around us is changing, and how that changes us.
Jeff Jones, vice chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, said he is happy with the housing program.
“We’ve done a very good job so far,” Jones said. “We’re making great progress.”
Caley Carpenter is a freshmen at IUSB and currently living in student housing. She said she moved into the apartments to get away from a noisy household.
“I come from a really big family and it is always hectic at my house,” Carpenter said. “I moved to student housing to get away from it all so I would be able to take full advantage of the college experience.”
Carpenter added she saves a lot of time by living in the apartments, and that being so close to school makes it easier and faster to get to and from classes. She said being close to campus helps her remember to do her homework too.
Jones said that student housing is more than just having students live on campus. He said housing is about creating a sense of community while making students more successful.
“We are trying to promote a traditional student life,” Jones said. “Student housing is a time proven retention strategy…I’m confident that housing will make students successful.”
Housing holds activities for community-building. Events like pancake breakfasts and pajama parties help to make real connections between students, faculty, and staff.
Stacy Oliver, assistant director of Housing and Residential Life, said these kinds of activities are very well received.
“We offer these multiple times throughout the semester and have ranged in attendance from 25 to 170, depending on the event and the timing,” Oliver said.
According to Oliver, academic events are attended in fewer numbers, but that may not be a bad sign for academic activities. The current model is geared towards students needing the activity, so low turnout may be a sign of student success.
Jones added that a lot of student feedback he receives is geared toward creating more activities. He said that along with expanding social activities, there is importance in connecting more academic events to student housing and student life in general.
Of course no program is perfect. Student housing at IUSB, like any other program, has its flaws as well.
Carpenter said that the geese are a big issue for her, as they clutter the walking paths with droppings. She also had an issue with noise at the apartments.
“My least favorite part of living in housing is all the noises,” Carpenter said. “Whether it is the sound of the wind getting under the paneling… or beeping from the backing up trucks.”
Jones said he knows concerns exist about the cost of student housing on campus. He said the real benefits of a traditional college experience are hard to express in dollars and cents.
“I’m afraid students compare housing on cost alone, “Jones said. “But we provide a lot of amenities, so much more than that.”
Oliver said she often hears of students reporting that rules in housing are too strict, and that the design of the buildings hinders students’ ability to connect with one another.
“The suites are beautiful, but residents are extremely closed off from one another,” Oliver said. “It makes connecting with them and helping them connect with one another extremely difficult.”
Michael Gonzales, a junior at IUSB, agrees that these issues are a deterrent for him to move into housing.
“I wouldn’t move into housing for the simple fact that it’s too restrictive for the price,” Gonzales said.
Jones said a potential solution to fostering more communication between students living in housing would be to house specific majors together. While this would take careful planning, having groups of students with the same major living together would “promote learning and cooperation,” Jones said.
With the university reaching a record enrollment of 8,394 this fall, how long is it before housing is set to grow along with IUSB’s growing population?
According to Jones, about 10% of students are planned to be housed on campus, which works out to about 840 students including this fall’s enrollment. A phase two has been planned to accommodate this growth, with a planned 400 beds to be added.
The design of the buildings and other specifics to future additions to housing haven’t been decided on, Jones said, but he added that improvements to the recreation field are already complete to accommodate intramural sports next fall.
The houses owned by IUSB on Esther St, are another potential place for future additions to the school. Jones said the university is currently not encouraging occupancy of these old houses, in case plans for future expansion become tangible.
“That’s the natural place we will grow,” Jones said.
As student housing grows, its effect on the university will be felt everywhere. Jones is confident that housing will benefit the community of IUSB. Oliver agrees that housing is going to become a big part of student life in the future.
“I think the growth of housing will continue to affect community at IUSB in a positive way,” Oliver said. “As our residents build relationships, get involved, etc, that spills over to the rest of the community. These changes will help connect all of our students with one another and with the university.”
Living on campus beneficial
Part of the J401 series on the history of IU South Bend
Published: Sunday, February 28, 2010
Updated: Sunday, February 28, 2010
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