Residence eases transition, makes connections

By Paul Mayne
August 25, 2005

With a first-year student population of almost 6,000 and a campus-wide student population of more than 30,000, it can be daunting to find others with similar interests.
For those living in residence at Western, the exercise of making connections is much easier with focused-interest floors based on faculties of study or general interest.

Faculty-based floors provide new students with an opportunity for them to enhance their academic experience as they benefit from the friendship and support of being in daily contact with other first-year students who share the same classes, academic interests and course load.

Current faculty-based themes include Arts and Humanities, Social Science, Health Science, Science, Music, Kinesiology, Education, Engineering and Information and Media Studies.

Focused-interest floors for general interests include the healthy lifestyle floor, global village floor, visual and performing arts floor, languages floor, volunteer and service learning floor, leadership and development floor, scholar's electives floor, single gender floor, upper-year student floor and quieter floors.

"We are very proud of the residence facilities at Western," says Susan Grindrod, Associate Vice-President, Housing and Ancillary Services. "Opportunities for involvement are among the best advantages of on-campus living. Residence halls bustle with student activities geared toward helping students get acquainted with university life and developing their academic, personal and professional potential."

Study skills programs, intramural sports, cultural events, movies and impromptu gatherings are just a few of the many activities waiting for students at Western. Over the years, the surveys of our residents overwhelmingly confirm the many positive benefits derived from life in residence.

"Most residents reflect upon the unique opportunity for such a diverse mix of people to get to know one another and to develop life-long friendships," adds Grindrod. "The many other advantages include being a vital member of a strong community, having the support of fellow residents and staff, and becoming informed of university happenings while living in the heart of campus."

Grindrod says the university has made a number of changes to help accommodate the needs of the older student. As an upper-year student, needs begin to centre on comfort, opportunities for involvement, a sense of security, and convenience.

"We also recognize that as an experienced student, they already have a good understanding of what being at university is like," he says. "The choice to live in residence in their later years of study helps add a mature and experienced influence throughout our buildings."

Being an upper-year student in residence has its advantages as well, such as:
 enjoying a single room in a traditional- or suite-style residence
 getting placed among their top-three building choices
 choosing their suite-mates
 applying to live on the university's new upper-year student floor and relax with an experienced staff member who recognizes their needs
 a more flexible guest policy for upper-year students
 choosing a later move-in date
 not having to sign a 12-month lease

A note for first-year students who may choose to continue living in residence beyond their first year. A new upper-year residence is scheduled to open in September 2006. Located next to Essex Hall, this building will be for third- and fourth-year students and offer two- and three-bedroom suites with double beds, single-room placement, an optional meal plan, placement with choice of roommate(s) and a residence life program geared to upper-level needs.

For more information, please visit www.uwo.ca/hfs/housing/residence or stop by Room 102 in Elgin Hall.