Question 1: What do you feel some of the positive effects of dorm living are?
Response to 1: They provide an environment where students can socialize with other students and build relationships. They have more access to campus resources and are closer to campus. They tend to be more involved on campus when they live in a dorm. Bad behavior is monitored to keep them out of trouble.
Question 2: What are some of the negative effects of living in a dorm?
Response to 2: Students may have a bad roommate experience. They might be restricted by room size or the building. They could be effected by other students behavior (loud neighbors). They might feel controlled since their behavior is monitored.
Question 3: Are there resources within dorms to help students be academically successful? If so, what are they?
Response to 3: Yes there are resources within dorms. There is tutoring available. They are able to have one on one conversations with their RAs or their hall director about resources. They have access to free newspaper.
Question 4: Do you feel that the new rule requiring students to live on campus for two years will have a positive impact on their success? In what ways?
Response to 4: Yes. It will allow students to continue to be involved on campus. Some students are really not ready to live on their own and this will give students more time to mature. The housing department has programs for second year students living on campus.
Question 5: Do you feel that honors dorms do more to help their students be successful?
Response to 5: In honors dorms, the students may have similar interests which may help them be more successful. Non honors dorms are not much different. There are non honors learning communities and scholar programs which focus on student interests and success.
Question 6: Do you feel that a student is more likely to be successful if they live in a dorm their first two years? Why?
Response to 6: Yes. They are given more time to mature and more time to become prepared to be successful adults when they graduate.
Question 7: Do you feel that living in a dorm is an easier transition from home than living in an apartment on their own?
Response to 7: Yes. Living in a dorm provides structure and order. If a student lives off campus, bad behavior is not monitored and they may not have as many opportunities to meet new people and make new friends.
Question 8: Do you feel that living in a dorm rather than a fraternity or sorority has an effect on the students success? If so, in what way?
Response to 8: Living in a fraternity or sorority is similar to living in an apartment. It is not as structured. This should be reserved for upperclassmen. Students in them, tend to only be involved in activities that have to do with the house.
Question 9: Students have the option of living in a dorm room by themselves or with one or more roommates. Do you feel their choice could effect their success?
Response to 9: It’s all about preference. Students should have the option available. Having a single roommate gives the student the opportunity to make a new friend. Having more than one roommate can be problematic because there are too many people in one room. Student might have a bad roommate experience.
Question 10: Do you feel that the effect on success if different in co-ed living spaces rather than single gender ones?
Response to 10: There is no problem with co-ed housing. Co-ed wings within a dorm are good. It gives students the opportunity to to learn about different genders. It should be option to live in a co-ed space.