Several changes have recently been implemented regarding residence life at Hood College. Student Government Association (SGA) organized an open forum in Coblentz Seminar Room where students had the opportunity to discuss these changes.
SGA President Katie Bailey opened the discussion and the panel proceeded to explain the changes that will go into effect.
The director of residence life, Matt Troutman, verified that the near-identical buildings Memorial and Smith Hall are only going to house first year students. This decision was based off of the college’s retention rates.
“Hood College, he explained, currently stands at 84 percent occupancy in its residence halls; the intent behind these changes is to raise the occupancy level to about 96 percent.”
In addition, strategies to implement success, especially for first year students, were examined in making this decision.
Dean White added that this will not be the first time that the college has effectuated first year housing. She assured students that interactions with other freshmen increases retention because they will be clustered into two halls. Additionally, it is hoped that the new system will help with programming for first year students.
The second biggest upcoming change will be the removal of the female-only restriction on Shriner Hall. The top two floors will remain all-female while the remaining floors will be coed.
President Chapdelaine explained that this decision was made in order to maximize occupancy since keeping the building all female was not filling it. Given Hood’s history as a women’s college, some donors appreciated the opportunity for females to continue living in an all-girls residence hall.
Students asked how this change might affect alumni donors. President Chapdelaine has not heard any negative feedback from donors said that most alumni agree with the changes. Shriner’s biggest donor was contacted, as well as other donors, and the concept has been well received. It is unrealistic to think that these changes will automatically increase enrollment. Given the demographics, these changes will not exhibit effectiveness in enrollment for at least three years. As far as renovations go, the master plan calls for only one renovation a year, as they are extremely expensive. These renovations will include improvement in insulation, bathrooms, and more. Meyran is scheduled to be renovated this summer.
Several students at the forum voiced their concern at the lack of gender neutral bathrooms available for transgender students. This will be an issue for upcoming first year students: Smith and Memorial only have one bathroom per floor, which eliminates the possibility of installing gender neutral bathrooms. Dean White explained that a committee now exists which is devoted to creating a better response to such issues.
At a small private liberal arts school, it is expected that students will voice their opinions if they feel their voices are not being heard. In other words, a ruckus was to be expected, and a ruckus indeed occurred, most notably when questions were raised regarding the survey that was sent out to students about the residence life changes.
One student brought up how the survey results revealed that 74 percent of students were against first year housing, others felt it disingenuous that the survey was sent out after executive decisions has already been made.
Troutman admitted to anticipating the unpopularity of the first year housing and President Chapdelaine addressed the matter by explaining that the survey was not sent out with the intent of using the feedback to make the decision, but rather to see what students had to say about the changes. Dean of students, Olivia White, elaborated by explaining that peer institutions and other research were examined to make a favorable decision.
A follow up interview with the discernibly exhausted president was conducted after the forum’s conclusion. She revealed that she was thrilled with the attendance, which she described as a clear indicator of student engagement.
In reference to the student’s opinions, she stated, “I thought the questions were fair ones and people had done their homework.” President Chapdelaine also disclosed a list of changes that need to be taken into consideration having heard the concerns of the students during the forum.
Among these changes was a better, more aggressive plan for gender neutral bathrooms, as well as a plan to work more closely with communication lines in order to improve conveyance of important information to students.
Student voices were heard loud and clear during the forum, where most students shared negative feedback. Regardless, these changes will be put into effect for the next school year.
Be the first to comment