December 15, 2009
Although academics are the focus, college isn’t just about time spent in the classroom. Today's students expect a certain standard when it comes to their living environment. With the opening this fall of Little Run Lodge and the West Campus Community Center, York College has made significant strides toward meeting the varied needs of its residential students, who now represent half of the full-time population.
Housing
When 2,300 students moved into campus housing this fall, their wants and needs varied – from the location to the type of room, to the interests of the students who lived on their floor.
While providing everything for everyone can be a challenge, York College is making strides at better meeting students' needs. The College now offers choices in housing based on shared interests, lifestyles and even career goals.
"We know that today's students expect these options when they come to campus," said Kevin Feil '99, '00M, director of residence life. "It is our job to get as close as we possibly can to giving them what they want."
The College's newest residence hall, Little Run Lodge, completed West Campus and its residential community, which includes Country Club Manor Apartments and the residential "quad" of Richland Hall, Spring Garden Apartments and Brockie Commons. According to Feil, Little Run Lodge is a great example of how York College is adapting to meet the needs of students.
"Today's students are accustomed to having privacy at home," he said. "We wanted students to have the option to have privacy without the added responsibilities of having their own apartment."
Little Run Lodge is a modern, air-conditioned residence hall of suites that feature student rooms, a common area and a private bathroom. There are 107 units with a total of 364 beds (214 single rooms and 75 double rooms).
"Living in the first York College residence hall that's air-conditioned has its advantages," said Little Run Lodge resident Kristina Somerville '13 (Bernville, Pa.), "especially on warm days."
Somerville believes that her suite, which includes a kitchenette with a refrigerator and a microwave, has everything she and her roommates could possibly need to live on campus. Because the suites don't have a full kitchen like the apartments on campus, the students have a full meal plan.
"Having a full meal plan eliminates the hassle of wondering what to make for dinner, a decision many students living in apartments need to make each day," said Feil.
While Little Run Lodge residents are sophomores, juniors and seniors, York's newest students live in traditional residence halls designed to promote interaction and community development. These include Beard Hall, Penn Hall, Manor North, Manor South and Manor Northeast.
"Shared community space - including bathrooms, hallways and lounges - within traditional residence halls gives first-year students a chance to interact with a diverse group of people as they make their transition to college life," said Feil.
Once the students have completed their freshman year, they can apply to live in Little Run Lodge or any other non-freshman residence hall of their choice.
"It is important to experience different styles of living on campus," said Feil. "Upperclassmen can choose to live in apartments that allow them to experience what it will be like to live on their own, while having the convenience and safety of living on campus."
A new option for upperclassmen is the College's Independent Living program at Country Club Manor Apartments.
The program has several communities, including one that allows the responsible use of alcohol by those of legal age.
"The goal of this community is to provide a safe, on-campus living arrangement for legal-age students where they may responsibly consume alcoholic beverages," said Feil.
James Malone '10 (Lutherville, Md.) chose this option because he feels safe knowing that campus safety officers are always around. He also believes living at Country Club appropriately tests his ability to drink responsibly, because he is living on campus and must follow the rules of the community.
"It's teaching me to be more responsible with my drinking habits," Malone said.
Clinton Gilbert, West Campus area coordinator, is responsible for monitoring students like Malone who self-select to live within this community.
"So far we have had few issues with the 24 Independent Living apartments in the community," said Gilbert. "Students are aware of our policies and are educated about the consequences of not acting responsibly."
Another community within the Independent Living program allows students to live in coed apartments. According to Gilbert, men or women with close friends of the opposite sex may live together.
"I chose to take advantage of the coed community for a couple of reasons," said James Sweet '10 (West Babylon, N.Y.). "The first was that it was much easier for me and my other roommate to find a female to live with than it would have been to find another male. The second was that I wanted to see what it was like living with someone of the opposite sex."
Coed living is currently available in up to 25 percent of the apartments in Country Club Manor.
"Right now there are only two coed apartments," said Gilbert. "Once the word gets out, I expect that number to increase."
Residence life staff also expect an increase in the number of students choosing to live in Themed Living Communities, another new option that allows students to self-select to live on residence hall floors with students with the same interests.
"Each community is built around an area of interest and structured for students to encourage a high degree of involvement with each other, the campus and the York community," said Sally Bacon, assistant director of residence life.
York College currently offers the following communities: Community Service in Beard Hall, Leadership in Manor North, Environmental Sustainability in Penn Hall, and Wellness in Manor Northeast and Manor South.
"Once we are comfortable with the basics of these communities, we will expand to communities that reflect other students' interests," said Bacon. "Themed Living Communties like these have been known to increase new student retention at other colleges. That's a great reason for us to build these communities."
Dining
Giving students choices in dining on campus is almost as important as options in housing, according to Feil. "It goes hand in hand," he said.
The newest recreational and dining facility on campus is the West Campus Community Center (WCCC), located in Little Run Lodge. The second floor features the Commissary, an all-you-care-to-eat dining hall that seats 350 with soft and hard seating arrangements.
"The Commissary is attached to Little Run Lodge, which makes it a quick and convenient place to grab a bite to eat," said Somerville. "The food is great, and there is always a wide variety to choose from."
Chartwells Dining Service, the College's food service company, planned its food selection based on students' responses to surveys. For more than 30 years, Chartwells has been compiling feedback from other campus dining options such as Johnson Dining Hall, Spart’s Den Food Court, Campbell Hall Coffee Cart and Pure Vida Café (which opened in 2007 in the Humanities Center).
"Most of the food in the Commissary is made to order in front of you on grills, woks and in stir-fry pans," said Cliff Alexander, Chartwells director of dining services. "That ensures that every meal is fresh no matter what time you come to eat."
Another way Chartwells is giving students exactly what they want in the WCCC is its use of biodegradable cups and napkins made from corn products. In addition, the dining hall's plates, made from melamine, can be washed and reused.
"Students have felt strongly about going green, so we are doing what we can to make that happen," said Alexander. "When we opened Pura Vida Café, we chose to carry coffee that is 100 percent certified Fair Trade, organic, shade-grown coffee. The Commissary takes that environmental initiative to the next level."
The Commissary also includes "Balanced Choices," vegetarian and healthy food options similar to those available in Johnson Dining Hall. "We can accommodate any dietary needs that a student may have," he said.
In addition to the state-of-the-art dining facility, the WCCC has a convenience store called the West Campus Shoppe and a common area on the first floor with pool tables, flat-screen televisions, comfortable seating and two fireplaces.
"It is almost like having a second Student Union on West Campus," said Feil. "Students from all over campus, including commuters, can relax between classes or stop over in the evening to hang out."
Why I became an RA
Although residence halls have changed dramatically throughout the years, the role of the resident assistant (RA) has remained the same: to help foster a residential community that is built on respect, community, honesty and academic excellence. Some alumni who were RAs recently shared why they became an RA and how the experience has helped shape their lives.
I became an RA with the hope of earning a little extra money and getting more involved on campus. It ended up becoming my career. After graduation I went on to earn a master's degree in student affairs in higher education. Today I'm the director of residence life and dining services at The University of Memphis. Becoming an RA at York changed my career path, and it laid a solid foundation for who I would become. I thank Joseph Merkle (the current dean of student affairs) and his staff for the opportunity they provided. I like to tell my RAs that working the desk, enforcing rules and doing rounds are all part of being a good RA, but it's not what being an RA is all about. To be a truly successful RA you have to form a one-on-one relationship with every single resident. It's not enough to know their names. You have to know who they are, and in doing so, you will learn how to help each one succeed.
Peter Groenendyk '92 (Memphis, Tenn.)
Director of Residence Life and Dining Services
The University of Memphis
I was in a sorority and REALLY wanted to live in a house with other sisters off campus, but that just wasn't an option for me. Originally, I just wanted to make sure I had my own room, and figured "how hard could being an RA be?" The process to get into the program ended up being much harder than I expected, but I wound up loving every minute of it, and at that point, couldn't wait to get in. I was accepted into a position in Beard Hall, then Penn Hall. I really enjoyed the planned functions with my residents, and being their "mom away from home," so-to-speak. I met some really great girls/residents and made a bunch of friends who I stay in close touch with to this day – especially with the help of Facebook. One resident, in particular, is one of my best friends today. I have more close relationships with some of my RA coworkers than even sorority sisters at this point, and I am so thankful that I made the choices I did. I'm not sure my college life would've been as good had it not been for the resident directors, other RAs and residents I lived and worked with. If I could do it all over again, I would have applied for a position sooner.
Jessica Ashley Dehart '96 (Abingdon, Md.)
Senior Marine Biologist National Aquarium in Baltimore (1996-2007)
Homemaker (2007-present)
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