on campus
Live and learn
There are many elements that go into making the residential student experience rewarding and educational. By Antonia Maiolo
Living on campus provides the“ ultimate” university experience, Charles Sturt University student Grace Nelson says.
“ You live with people from a range of backgrounds and courses, and you’ re given the opportunity to meet and live with new people every year to make friends for life,” said Nelson, one of the university’ s head residents – a senior student in charge of a particular student residence.
“[ At ] a regional university, campus life has such a close community and helps you with the transition from home and school life into your career and‘ the real world’ by giving you life skills, and teaches you the importance of balancing work and socialising,” she says.
CSU is one of the largest regional providers of student accommodation in Australia and has been acknowledged for the services it provides to students like Nelson. Residence Life, which runs student accommodation at the university, was recognised by the Australasian Association of College and University Housing Officers back in April.
Residence Life director David Griffin says the department focuses specifically on helping students assimilate to life at university and connect with their new on-campus community.
“ Students who relocate to regional locations to study are, in general, moving away from home for the first time,” Griffin says.“ As such, they experience a broad range of emotions as they move away from their home, family and friends.
“ Regional Australia revolves around community and Residence Life places a significant focus on providing opportunities for our students to make positive connections with communities in which we are located.”
Roughly 55 per cent of all CSU students living on campus do not come from inner regional Australia. In 2014, CSU is accommodating 2600 on-campus students, including 246 in Albury-Wodonga, 1124 in Bathurst, 62 in Dubbo, 362 in Orange and 1159 in Wagga Wagga.
Through its LIFE framework – Leadership, Independence, Friendship and Engagement – the CSU facilities incorporate a broad range of support, which aim to provide their occupants with development opportunities that go beyond their classroom learning experiences.
“ Students living on campus at CSU get more than a degree,” Griffin says, explaining that residents also learn coping skills,
Charles Sturt University students in new accommodations in Wagga Wagga. Photo: CSU
resilience, responsibility and how to become leaders. Griffin says Residence Life also works closely with other CSU groups, such as Charles Sturt Campus Services, Student Services and the academic schools and departments, to ensure that students are provided with a safe and comfortable environment. Edwina Ellicot, president of the Australasian Association of College and University Housing Officers, agrees that residential support programs enhance the overall student experience and are a major contributor to a student’ s academic success.
“ Universities should consider a whole range of factors when providing accommodation for students, and the bricks-andmortar component is only the start,” Ellicot says.“ Ensuring that a holistic and supportive environment is provided that complements university study is important.”
She says CSU’ s Residence Life was recognised for its demonstration of excellence across all fields of endeavour, from front office and back of house through to student experience and customer service.
“ Depending on the university, location, student demographic and other factors, university student housing will offer a range of programs to best support their students’ needs,” Ellicot says. This could include social, sporting, cultural and academic support programs.
In order for housing to meet these needs, Ellicot says, food catering, transport, social outlets and technology should be taken into account.
“ For those student residences that provide catering, the diversity of students and their changing needs have to be taken into account,” Ellicot explains.“ Students will have a range of dietary requirements for health, religious and other reasons.
“[ Students also ] require good access to public transport that connects directly to a hub and they want to live in a vibrant community. [ They need ] access to cafes, shops, bars and social outlets.”
Students expect to have everything available 24 / 7 and now prefer to have their own room and ensuite if possible, Ellicot adds.
The ability for universities to guarantee students accommodation in their first year is also helpful in alleviating the stress students experience when searching for housing.
Ellicot says that many other universities – including the University of Wollongong, Australian National University and several others – are offering an accommodation guarantee. ■ campusreview. com. au | 29