Monday, May 15, 2006
Living on campus is of academic and social benefit
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If you have any doubt that living on campus is of academic benefit, take the example of Lindsey McGowan, USI’s 2006 President’s Medal recipient, who lived on campus throughout her college career. While it’s doubtless that McGowan, who graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education, would have excelled academically in any situation, she says that Residence Life was an asset to her success. “I absolutely would recommend anyone to live on campus,” she said. “The environment campus housing provides for academic and social development is unbeatable.” A native of Plainfield, Indiana, McGowan lived in the Honors Living-Learning Community her freshman year, and in campus apartments her sophomore through senior years, when she served as a resident assistant. “While living on the Honors floor, I connected with the students who attended class with me, and we were able to meet for our seminar course inside the residence hall. The academic and social worlds came together living on the Honors floor. It was a close, caring environment, and I would strongly encourage anyone to participate in it.” As a Residence Life staff member, she was trained to help students cope with changes they were going through, and to act as a resource for campus events, speakers, and opportunities for involvement. “Living in campus housing opens the door for other forms of involvement and opportunity at USI,” she said. In addition to serving as a resident assistant, McGowan’s involvement included Student Housing Association, Student Government Association, student ambassadors, AMIGOs, Kappa Delta Pi education honorary, women’s choir, and the Student Education Association. As a freshman living in housing, McGowan said she had better access to campus, greater opportunities to meet with her professors, and fewer distractions from collegiate life. “My academic growth was absolutely supported by my living in housing,” she said. “The facilities provided computer labs and group study rooms and lounges. The knowledgeable staff in the residence hall is another resource." Living in housing also provides instant emotional support for freshmen experiencing their first year in college. “Living in the residence halls allows freshmen to meet others going through similar situations, and experiencing the same emotions and anxieties,” she said. “The opportunity to meet people by living in campus housing is unbeatable.” “I would encourage everyone to live in campus housing. By living in housing, a student has a much better opportunity for academic success and the social relationships that are so imperative to having the college experience we all dream about.” |
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