New residence halls available next year

The new residence halls will house FIGs and learning communities.

By Krissy Tripp

Published Feb. 2, 2009

Progress on the Residential Life Master Plan will many changes for students living on campus next year.

Five new residence halls will be available at the beginning of the year. The residence halls add a combined 834 beds for students, but by spring 2010, MU will close Gillett Hall and Rollins dining hall for renovations. Not only will 455 students need to find new housing that semester, but one of the nearest dining halls to the new residence halls will be closing as well.

Campus Dining Services Marketing Director Andrew Lough said Rollins is closing because there is no entrance into the building. A dining plan pizza service will continue in a different location, likely out of the Eva J's dining hall.

"There are some updates that will be taking place," Lough said. "The extent is unknown because the construction bids haven't come back yet."

When it reopens, the updated Rollins will have its own entrance so students don't have to walk through the residence hall to enter. A freestanding entrance will allow for greater security and more independence since it won't rely on the residence halls being open.

The projects are considered to be phases two and three of the master plan, which is a five-phase project that began in 2001 and is due to finish in 2017. Phase three will finish in 2011 with the renovations to Gillett and Rollins. The entire construction project is estimated to cost $360 million, which comes from students living in the halls, Residential Life Director Frankie Minor said. No money from the state or university pays for the construction. New or renovated residence halls have rates increased by 15 to 20 percent.

"Almost 92 percent of revenue comes from charging students to live there," Minor said.

Recently renovated Defoe and Graham residence halls will house a total of 300 students. It will also be home to eight Freshman Interest Groups and three learning communities.

The buildings are both more than 60 years old. In addition to general updates, a link building was constructed to connect the once separated halls. The link, along with Pershing Commons, will hold the Residential Life offices.

The new Mid-Campus housing project, which consists of three entirely new residence halls, is nearing completion and will be available for next semester as well. Galena residence hall will likely be completed this month followed by Hawthorn residence hall in late April and Dogwood residence hall in May. Students voted on those temporary names through a survey sent out by the Residence Halls Association.

"We had a subcommittee coming up with as many names as possible and put them to a vote via survey," RHA President Robert Wood said. "I think the most popular was Truman, but it didn't fit in any other categories."

Dogwood, Galena and Hawthorn will have mostly the same amenities, offering doubles, singles and suites. Rooms will remain open over breaks.

The cost to live in the Mid-Campus residence halls will include a $200 surcharge for the hall to be open over breaks. Other newly constructed residence halls that aren't open over break don't have the charge.

Dogwood will be home to four freshman interest groups and a learning community.

Galena will house the nursing learning community as well as two nursing FIGs.

Hawthorn won't have any FIGs or laundry facilities, unlike Dogwood or Galena, but it will be home to multiple study, meeting and multipurpose rooms, as well as the reception area for the three residence halls. Hawthorn residents will have to go to Galena for the nearest laundry facilities.