New Housing Policy Will Benefit Students

In an effort to boost student involvement, Limestone College has implemented a new housing policy that will go into effect for the 2016 spring term that begins in January.

The new policy will require students from more than 50 miles away to reside in Limestone College housing.

The program replaces the previous policy that allowed students over the age of 21 the option to live in off-campus housing in the area.

With the new policy, full-time day students may still live with immediate family (parent, step-parent, brother or sister over the age of 21, grandparents, or step-grandparents) within a 50-mile radius of the Limestone College campus.

The change is an attempt to help students access services and promote interactions with their peers and faculty, according to Vice President for Student Services Robert Overton.

“Research shows that students who live in campus housing are more involved in campus life and more likely to take advantage of the academic resources available to help them succeed,” Overton explained. “Limestone has enjoyed significant growth over the past three years and there are now many benefits to being a part of campus housing. We are currently working on a multi-phase process to provide all students an optimal living experience. The goal with our campus housing is to provide our students with an ideal location to live where they are steps from everything on campus – dining, fitness, labs, academic buildings, and entertainment. They will also have more access to their professors.”

Overton noted that national research has found that students who live in campus housing tend to meet more people, make more friends, and have a better overall college experience. That same research indicated that students living in campus housing are also more likely to earn a higher grade point average and obtain a baccalaureate degree in four years. They are also more involved in academic and extracurricular activities.

The new 200-bed Walter W. Brown Residence Hall on the campus of Limestone is currently under construction and is expected to open in the fall of 2016.