College On-Campus Housing Provides Positive Academic and Social Support as Well as a Good Deal

Brunswick, GA – Living on campus in the residence hall, Lakeside Village, is a better deal than commuting for most Coastal Georgia students, according to Dr. Michael Butcher, Director of Residence Life and Housing. With 77% of the residential space already reserved for the fall 2012 term, students will need to act soon to take advantage of living on campus and its academically and socially supportive environment.
 
“A large number of last year’s residents are returning, which speaks to how positively they felt about the on-campus experience,” Dr. Butcher says. “A significant percentage of the current reservations are incoming freshmen.  We believe our first year live-on requirement benefits our freshmen students as they transition to the College. However, residents will also include out-of-area students transferring to Coastal Georgia from other colleges, current Coastal Georgia students, student-athletes, and nine student Resident Assistants who live and work in Lakeside Village.”
 
Butcher notes that residents have the opportunity to participate in learning communities in Lakeside Village, including the African-American Male Initiative, the Women Engaged in Leadership and Learning (WELL) program, and the Leadership Learning Community. These communities center on leadership, engagement, and service-learning
 
In addition, Butcher estimates a commuting student spends an average of $3,700/semester in vehicle and commuting expenses travelling between campus and home, plus $1,200 more on meals. Over the course of an academic year, he contends, students can save an average of $3,000 by living and eating on campus. Butcher also references studies that demonstrate living on campus improves a student’s grade point average and progression to graduation.
 
“Before Lakeside Village was built, students who lived in the surrounding counties had no choice but to commute, and for some, that amounted to two hours or more driving round trip to the College. That’s not a productive use of time for a student,” he emphasizes. “Commuting makes campus involvement challenging and can negatively impact student participation in many of the extracurricular programs that are an important part of the college experience. They miss out on the camaraderie, self-sufficiency, and personal development campus life adds. In addition, commuting takes time away from focusing on academics.”
 
“Living on campus is a good deal,” he concludes, “but only another 100 students will get to take advantage of it.”

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