To better reach students, Residential Life has decided to split up residence halls into small communities.
Starting July 1, students living in a residence hall will belong to a specific neighborhood - north, south or central.
"Based on the campus geography, this is a better way to manage our facilities, programs and services," Residential Life Director Michael Coakley said in an e-mail. "We anticipate this will enhance the academic success and personal growth of the students in each neighborhood."
Manzanita Hall, San Pablo Hall and Palo Verde East, West and Main will be classified as the north neighborhood; Sonora Hall, Hassayampa Academic Village and Ocotillo Hall will make up the south neighborhood; and Best Hall, Hayden Hall, Irish Hall and McClintock Hall will compose the central neighborhood.
"[Doing this] makes them much more community oriented, allowing us to make a smaller campus feel within the context of a large university," Coakley said.
Each neighborhood will have a management team composed of different representatives from various campus departments in order to focus their services to a smaller population, Coakley said.
The new team will include representatives from Student Judicial Affairs, Learning Support Services, Counseling and Consultation, Facilities and Services, Wellness and Health Promotions, ASU Police and Student Involvement.
The staff members will develop and implement programs, services and facilities, Coakley said.
Residential Life and ASU Police already started a phase of this project by putting police offices in Hassayampa Academic Village and Hayden Hall, which are located in the south neighborhood and the central neighborhood, respectively.
Offices are already in place, and the officers will start using them within the next three weeks.
"[They are] designed to meet the needs of the student population in the neighborhood," Coakley added.
Political science freshman Cameron Degurski, who lives in Palo Verde West, said that Residential Life could do more to help students acclimate to ASU.
"A lot of activities are not catered toward [students] in the halls," he said.
But Degurski said he thinks the new program might help students get to know one another.
"It might give students a sense of community," he said. "They might get to know people who end up being in their class, and then they can study together."
Political science freshman Alison Marciniak, who lives in Palo Verde East, said she doesn't participate in programs or activities related to the halls because she doesn't feel they are directed at her.
"If it was more personal, then I would probably do it," Marciniak said.
Coakley said the goal is to increase student satisfaction.
"[The program]...will respond to student needs and expectations in a more timely manner, increase academic success and retention and give a greater sense of affiliation by residents toward ASU," he said.
Reach the reporter at: mailto:heather.cutler@asu.edu.
