[Vision2020] Fw: UI Considers Making Freshmen Live on Campus

[Linda Pall]

With all respect to Ken and to the halcyon days of Ernie Hartung, true
believer in the role of the university and its liberal arts element, I think
these ideas about living on campus, maybe even without a car, are about
making the educational experience more relevant for young people, as they
put their toes in the academic waters for the first time. I also think it is
easier to create a community among students if there is some proximity and
some gentle help available (through residence hall advisers and even
in-house faculty who sometimes live in residence halls at some institutions.
I am reminded of my English university days and even my Reed College days
back in the year zero when dinosaurs were a prominent feature of
Eastmoreland in Portland...

Finances are part of it but cannot be the prime justification.

All the best,

Linda

PS: I haven't posted for so long, I forgot how to do it! Thanks, Tom, for
reminding me!

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Linda Pall" <lpall at moscow.com>
To: "Tom Hansen" <thansen at moscow.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 12:02 PM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] UI Considers Making Freshmen Live on Campus


> Dear Visionaries,
>
> Thanks, Tom, for passing this on!
>
> This is a very positive idea (though freshmen, anxious to get a true taste
> of freedom, will weep and gnash teeth). Many universities around the
country
> have adopted some form of the on-campus provision for the student's first
> year, with the kinds of positive outcomes that President Nellis is hoping
> for.
>
> Another provision that has been very positive for students, university
> parking and the surrounding community has been a "no cars" rule for
freshmen
> as well. Other university communities I worked with as a city council
member
> while an officer and eventually chair of the University Communities Caucus
> of the National League of Cities found the no-car rule extremely helpful
for
> getting a handle on provision of parking spaces, having students
concentrate
> on their studies and sorting out parking conflicts within the community.
The
> studies these communities have done on these policies are available from
> staff at the National League of Cities if University or City officials are
> interested in the results.
>
> All the best as we welcome back our favorite local industry, the
University
> of Idaho!
>
> Linda Pall
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Tom Hansen" <thansen at moscow.com>
> To: "Moscow Vision 2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 3:30 PM
> Subject: [Vision2020] UI Considers Making Freshmen Live on Campus
>
>
> Courtesy of the Spokesman Review at:
>
> http://www.Spokesman.com
>
> -------------------------------------------
>
> UI considers making freshmen live on campus
>
> MOSCOW, Idaho - The University of Idaho is pitching a plan that would
> require most of its first-year students to live on campus.
>
> Administrators at the Moscow campus say the move would bolster residency
> hall occupation and generate additional $700,000 in revenue for housing
> and dining services.
>
> But more importantly, they say, the policy shift could boost retention
> rates for first-year students. A 2008 study by the university found that
> 88 percent of students who lived in residence halls or the Greek system
> returned for their second year, while only 58 percent of new students who
> lived off campus returned for their sophomore year.
>
> "This is one strategy that we feel is important to incorporate in our plan
> to improve the first-year experience," Bruce Pitman, Vice Provost for
> Student Affairs, told the Lewiston Tribune.
>
> New President Duane Nellis has approved the policy and other steps being
> considered by the university to improve first-year retention rates.
>
> The next step is for university officials to sketch out the details to the
> state Board of Education when it meets Thursday in Pocatello. A board vote
> on the proposal would come later.
>
> University officials are hoping to establish the policy in time for the
> 2010 fall semester.
>
> The proposal includes a few exceptions. For example, first-year students
> who are married with children would be exempt. It also exempts those
> opting to live at home with parents, first-year students older than 21 or
> those with at least 30 credits completed.
>
> Pitman said the university's goal is to boost overall first-year student
> retention rates to 85 percent in the next three years, up from the current
> rate of 78 percent.
>
> Although living on campus can be more expensive, Pitman said it's worth
> the price for students to stay in school and perform better in the
> classroom.
>
> Students living on campus are closer to resources, more socially connected
> to campus life and more engaged in their own learning, Pitman said.
>
> "There are some very real reasons why starting your academic experience on
> campus really matters," he said.
>
> Several other regional universities already require freshmen to live on
> campus, including Washington State University, Central Washington
> University, Montana State University, University of Montana, Colorado
> State University, University of Colorado and the University of Wyoming.
>
> -------------------------------------------
>
> Seeya at Farmers' Market, Moscow.
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
> "The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
> and the Realist adjusts his sails."
>
> - Unknown
>
>
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