In the wake of ASU West receiving tentative approval to build their first residence hall, requests are being developed for prospective builders.
ASU West conducted a survey in November of recent students and more than two-thirds of the respondents expressed interest in on-campus housing.
"We have a considerable number of students who would like to stay on campus and have at least one year of residential experience," said Elaine Maimon, provost of ASU West.
Research-based studies show the educational value of having on-campus housing, said Gebe Ejigu, ASU West vice provost.
Ejigu said he's unsure if the plan for the campus's first dorm will open doors for additional on-campus housing.
"The campus is going to remain a predominantly commuting campus. We are still serving transfer students from different colleges," Ejigu said.
Student regent Matthew Meaker said the proposal for requests is an evolutionary change from being a commuter campus. Meaker said on-campus housing is a good idea for ASU West and is a necessity for freshmen students.
"This will allow the campus to grow into a stronger community. Whenever there is on-campus housing at a university, students feel more part of the university community," Meaker said.
Some regents said that having dorms at ASU West could cause rapid growth and the campus would become an independent institution too quickly.
Meaker said it is a good idea for ASU West to take everything in steps.
"First they (ASU West) took the step to have the new freshmen class and now they are taking the step to have dorms. It is a big step, but I believe it was a wise decision for the board to authorize requests for proposal, " Meaker said.
The proposal will include what ASU West seeks in prospective housing developers. The residential housing request will be sent to different developers in student housing. After about a month, the university committee will evaluate the proposals.
Once a development company is chosen, ASU West will recommend the plan to the Arizona Board of Regents. This proposal request process will be finished no earlier than June 2002.
The dorm will house approximately 300 students and is to be built on the south side of Thunderbird Road between 49th and 51st avenues.
Reach the reporter at kristin.roberts@asu.edu.
