Balance and Options – The Key to Residential Life and Housing at ESU

College residence halls are much more than just a place to sleep.

At East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU), they are where students live, learn and build lifelong relationships.  Learning extends beyond the classroom, so campus residence halls are also hubs for academic and student life, providing an environment that supports students’ growth, building community and helping students learn to live with different kinds of people.

“One of the most important questions students have about a school is where they are going to live,” says Robert Moses, ESU’s director of residence life and housing. Today’s students come to college with certain expectations, so a good balance of residential options that meet the needs of all students is more important than ever, he notes. Computer labs, kitchens, comfortable lounges and places for group study, programs and socializing are all things students look for.

“Our goal is to have a variety of options in style and price,” Moses says.

ESU’s has eight residence halls with options ranging from the traditional double dorm room to apartment living. A popular new attraction on campus is comfortable suite-style living.  Living options also include single sex, co-ed, suite-style and limited upper-class housing.

Designed after extensive market research, the new Hawthorn Suites and Hemlock Suites are in demand by students and parents. They are, Moses says, the first housing options to fill up.

“Students are used to having their own rooms at home, and even their own bathrooms, so private rooms are in demand,” says Doreen M. Tobin, vice president of student affairs. “They are less interested in multiple people in a room.” The new suite-style living also adds a dimension in security, she notes, and individual climate control is a top concern for students, especially in light of allergy issues.

Options for suite-style living include two and four-person suites, and either single or double rooms.

Still popular is the traditional residence hall option, with two students sharing a room. First-year students are encouraged to opt for this style of living. “It is a great way to get know lots of other students, with friendships typically enduring four years and beyond,” says Moses.  One additional option for housing is Shawnee Hall, which is made up of triple rooms.

The University Apartments are reserved for sophomores, juniors and seniors who prefer apartment-style housing.

Other ESU housing options include special interest housing, where students with specific interests can find common ground, for example, honors students and those with specific academic majors.

ESU’s ongoing assessment of student satisfaction ensures that residential life and housing continue to be in line with best practices. “We get high marks in comparisons with peer institutions,” Moses notes. “The changes we are making reflect the standards of modern living,” Moses says, noting that in years gone by, even co-ed residence halls were unthinkable.

The addition of Hawthorn Suites and Hemlock Suites comprised Phase 1 of a plan to update aging university housing, says Tobin. The project will continue with construction of two additional suite-style residence halls scheduled to open in fall of 2014.

For more information about residential life and housing options at East Stroudsburg University, visit www.esu.edu/reslife or contact Robert Moses, director of residence life and housing, bmoses@esu.edu or 570-422-3732.

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