University News

New Housing Opportunities for WIU Freshmen

January 8, 2019

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MACOMB, IL – To better accommodate new freshmen at Western Illinois University, new student housing will be moved from Bayliss and Henninger halls, also known as the North Quad, to Thompson and Lincoln-Washington halls beginning this fall.

According to Joe Roselieb, director of residential and auxiliary facilities, incoming freshmen will have the opportunity to live on floors designated for first-year students in Thompson and Lincoln-Washington halls, which also house sophomores, juniors and seniors. New students will still take part in the First Year Experience (FYE) program and will have the option to select the single rooms, optional super-single rooms in both Lincoln and Washington halls and the traditional double rooms. In addition, living-learning communities (LLC) will be relocated to these two areas of campus, with two new communities, Business Studies and Agriculture Studies, beginning this fall.

"The feedback we often hear from prospective students and families is that they want their own room, updated accommodations and dining options within the hall, or in close proximity," Roselieb added. "Moving new students to these halls meets these student needs, and provides additional benefits and opportunities for incoming freshmen."

An added benefit of the upcoming changes is the opportunity for peer mentoring and guidance from upper-class students, said Ron Williams, vice president for student services.

"While freshmen will be housed together on floors designated for first-year students, they'll have the opportunity to get to know students who have the lay of the land, so to speak," Williams said. "Rather than having our new students separated from those students who have been here a year or three years, they have the opportunity to live and learn among those who have experienced the institution."

Taking Tanner, Bayliss and Henninger halls offline will reduce maintenance and utility costs. Resident assistants and building service workers will be shifted to other halls as needed. There are no plans at this time to raze the North Quad halls.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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