Imagine waking up at 9:35 a.m. and walking down the stairs of a nine-bedroom townhouse to grab a cup of coffee before class. Waiting in the next room are eight other students — roommates actually — and a teacher ready for the 9:40 a.m. upper division architecture design studio course to begin.
This is only Phase I of what The Department of Residence Life and Dining Services has in store for The University of Memphis over the next seven years.
This summer The U of M broke ground just west of Carpenter Complex to begin construction on four new buildings, which will accommodate 72 of U of M’s “best and brightest” in what Residence Life calls Living Learning Communities.
The Living Learning Communities, which have been in discussion for over two years, will consist of eight residential units with nine bedrooms in the new buildings and eight bedrooms in renovated Carpenter Complex townhouses. They will also include three bathrooms, a large kitchen, common area or studio tailored to the residents’ specific major or interest and 750 sq. ft. of activity or classroom space.
According to Daniel Armitage, associate dean of students for Residence Life and Dining Services, the Living Learning Communities will bring together students with similar majors and interests under one roof to live with and learn from each other.
“Learning takes place in many different ways, not just in a classroom,” said Armitage.
According to Armitage, the units will resemble the townhouses already on U of M campus, but the units will be very different conceptually.
“This is pretty cutting edge,” Armitage said. “These Living Learning Communities will be small groups, have all the amenities that students need to live and learn and will financially work.”
Residence Life anticipates the new non-coed facilities to cost as much as it would to live in Carpenter Complex, but students will have to wait until the building is near completion for exact cost. The U of M decided on the grand master housing plan, which will be completed on the 100th year anniversary of the school in 2012, after several loans from Richardson Towers and other units were paid off recently. Residence Life agreed to use the money that would have gone toward loans and build new dormitories for the rising on-campus student population.
Presently the new buildings, which have been projected to be completed in April and ready for the fall of 2006, are of the most interest to sororities, the foreign language department and architecture department. After the decision about which majors will live in the Living Learning Communities is final, students wishing to reside in the Living Learning Communities will have to go through an application process and will be selected by faculty from the selected departments to live in the community.
International Housing Committee Chair Nele Hempel said the Living Learning Communities are a great opportunity for foreign language students.
“The Living Learning Communities will introduce our students to different countries in a very authentic environment,” said Hempel.
“Some students have never been outside the United States. This will give students the opportunity to live with foreign exchange students and help prepare them for abroad programs.”
According to Michael Hagge, head of the architecture program at U of M, in addition to students interacting with others within the same major, students can help and even inspire each other in the Living Learning Communities.
“New students and older students will be living in the same house. The older students can help the younger ones, and the younger students can help the older students see projects with fresh eyes.”
According to Cassie Qualls, journalism advertising major and president of Phi Mu, The U of M sororities are also interested in the new housing units.
“We haven’t had a real place to dwell in before this,” Qualls. “It will be nice to have our own space for meetings, and it will bring us closer together.”
