A record number of freshmen living on campus this semester led ASU’s housing department to seek alternatives to traditional freshman housing.
Pathways at Vista Del Sol is a pilot program providing freshmen with apartment-style instead of dorm-style housing at an off-campus location, said Eliza Robinson, a Residential Life marketing specialist.
The program was developed in order to satisfy the housing needs of this year’s large freshman class, while still allowing first-year students a secure and satisfactory transition into college life, Robinson said.
Pathways houses a community of 140 freshmen living in apartments ranging from $6,700 to $7,400 for the academic year, Robinson said.
In order to provide Pathways residents the freshman experience, the building is designated a First Year Residential Experience community, which is designed to engage students in the campus around them.
A collaborative effort between the University and ASU Police has provided academic and social support with an emphasis on student safety, she said.
Concerns of safety and compliance, which can arise from placing freshmen in an upper-division housing community, are secured by police reinforcement, and the interaction between Pathways and Sonora Hall has created a more inclusive community of first-time residents, Robinson said.
According to ASU Police Cmdr. James Hardina, an officer has been assigned to live in Pathways to assure 24/7 security, but he said it is important for freshmen to remain cautious while living in the apartment-style setting off-campus.
“There are obvious risks when considering the situation the freshmen are putting themselves in,” he said.
While the risks of living in an apartment may alarm some individuals, others welcome the challenges and can handle the responsibilities.
These risks include underage drinking, as well as other safety issues — like cooking — that come along with apartment-style living, Hardina said.
Business management freshman Samantha Duchak said the setting allows for easy adjustment to college life.
“I’m from Chicago, but I feel at home in the apartment-style living,” Duchak said. “I get to be involved in campus activities but also get to interact with upperclassmen. The pool brings together a lot of different people.”
Pathways provides more real-world experience and a more comfortable environment for learning and growth, sociology freshman Jordan Schencker said.
“Pathways is definitely more homely and it’s nice to have ‘family’ time with my roommates,” Schencker said. “We make dinner and sit down to enjoy our preparation and each other. The atmosphere provides stability and support for a more adaptive experience.”
Student engagement efforts for the semester will help engage and encourage campus involvement in order to fully welcome the Pathways residents to the Tempe campus and the ASU community, Robinson said.
Reach the reporter at asjohn10@asu.edu