The Residential Nexus: A Focus on Student Learning. Setting New Directions by Making New Connections. In-Class Instruction/Out-of-Class Learning.

This paper considers the importance of student housing to the goal of student learning, and suggests ways in which campus residential programs can become strategic partners in student learning. It proposes partnerships between campus housing professionals and faculty colleagues and presents a number of models for consideration: residential colleges; living-learning centers, specialized residential programs directly connected to specific academic programs; theme housing, which allows students with special interests to live together; academic residential programs, which provide academic support services and programs within the residential setting; residential learning centers, in which students who live together also attend class together; freshman year experience, which offers specialized housing configurations to maximize academic services to first-year students; and use of technology such as residential computer labs, in-room networks, and in-house cable televisions channels. Also considered is the contribution of architectural and interior design to the learning process. (CH)