Housing makes improvements to facilities

He said the Housing Department wants to create an environment students enjoy calling home. He said although not all changes suggested by students have been made, the department has been working with Maintenance staff to implement as many student ideas as possible.

“While we are very proud of what we have been able to accomplish lately, this is only the beginning. We want to continue to provide students with a great place to live and learn,” he said.

Requests have come from Residence Life Association, Student Senate, and Housing staff.

In the category of safety and security, new lighting has been installed in Kent Hall first floor, and peepholes have been added to all rooms in Eagle Ridge, Edna Work Hall, and Edna Work Wing.

Aesthetic improvements include additional privacy in Edna Wing bathrooms. Also, contracts have been secured to install new carpet in the High Rise fourth and fifth floor lobbies in May, according to Osmotherly. Regular wear and tear from moving furniture over the years has been repaired in Kent Hall’s stairwells and they have been painted.

New amenities include pilot testing of coffee bars in some lobby areas. Future plans to continue or expand this offering will be based on assessment of the use and reception of the coffee bars. In addition, water bottle filling stations have been installed in Andrews Hall and Kent Hall. Residents can use these locations for filtered water and reduce the number of plastic bottles used on campus.

Osmotherly also reported that progress is being made toward finding a solution to replace old combination type mailboxes in Edna Hall and Wing.

Comfort and convenience items Housing has been able to provide include additional seating in Edna Wing and Edna Hall. Additionally, larger smart TVs have been added in the Hub, Andrews Hall basement, Edna Hall lounges, and the High Rise lobby.