The amount of students who are applying for housing in University Living and Learning Villages is drawing an increased number of applications every year.
According to Tim Luckadoo, associate vice chancellor for student affairs, the number of students living in the villages has grown since the University started the programs in 2003.
“The students really like the idea behind the villages, which is to bring together students who have similar interests yet maintain the diversity of the campus,” Luckadoo said.
According to Luckadoo, the villages are definitely becoming more popular each year.
“Admissions is now getting lots of questions from prospective students about the villages,” he said.
The University has seven Living and Learning Villages — First Year College, Alexander Global Village, Women In Science Education, Arts Village, Students Advocating for Youth, University Scholars Village and University Honors Village. According to a 2007 Living and Learning Task Force update, about 26 percent of students live in the Villages.
Luckadoo said Housing is looking into the possibility of creating a village partnership with the College of Management and possibly one that deals with sustainability and environmental issues.
Keersten Ricks, a sophomore in chemistry who lives in the Scholars Village and is a Scholars Village assistant, agreed that the Villages seem appealing to incoming students.
“The Village lifestyle is the type of experience that helps students find their place in college,” Ricks said. “It’s great to know that you have friends and resources right beside you in the Village.”
According to Susan Grant, director of University Housing, each Living and Learning Village is a sponsorship between University Housing and colleges or departments within the University.
“Our villages make N.C. State more personal and comfortable for the students who live in them,” Grant said. “They help build a positive transition into college life and give students other people that are committed to their interests.”
Ricks agreed.
“Living in a village is a great experience,” Ricks said. “If you want to have a discussion, you can have a discussion. If you want to just hang out, you can just hang out. You have people you can talk to 24/7, whether it’s about personal problems or just school issues.”
Luckadoo said when WISE started it had about 70 residents. Today, it has around 250 residents. He also said that the Arts Village, which was created this year, has become very popular.
“During the fifth anniversary Village program last year, we held a meeting of the Living and Learning Task Force to see where the Villages had come,” Luckadoo said. “It was amazing to hear from students how living in the Village had impacted them. They helped to confirm that the Village program is headed in the right direction.”
Sean Cassidy, associate director of the University Scholars Village, said there are 450 scholars living in the Scholars Village. Tthe Scholars Village has always had a strong residential component and the Village is a great way to raise awareness of opportunities in the University, according to Cassidy.
Elizabeth Davis, a freshman in accounting, said she felt that the Scholars Village united all the residents that had a common goal.
“I wanted to live in the Scholars Village because it was a good opportunity for me to meet people and experience things in college other than academics,” Davis said.
