Update from the Housing & Residential Experience Center

We are excited to kickoff this next academic year within the next week as our student staff move in on August 6. Here are some summer updates from the Housing & Residential Experience Center (HREC).   

• We’ve hosted many conference groups and residential summer programs, welcoming hundreds of young students to campus. 
• The professional team participated in First Year Welcome Experience sessions, holding Q&A sessions and roommate meet-and-greets for students. 
• Related to facilities improvements, I’m pleased to share with you that the HREC team worked with our Facilities partners to do a full paint refresh in all common areas of Morgan Hall and Riley Hall.  These new colors have brightened the spaces significantly. 
• Additionally, all mattresses have been replaced in Stoddard Complex, Riley Hall, and the campus houses closest to campus. 
• First Year housing selection is complete!  Now that all first-year students have made their housing selections, we have the opportunity to do some renovations and repairs to Trowbridge House and Institute Hall, which will both be closed for this upcoming academic year.  In projecting our needs for the year, we expected to have open spaces, given an increase in first year students commuting from home.  All students who applied for housing have been assigned, and we do not need the additional beds in these two residences for this year.
• The university has also recently announced plans to delay the transition of the Hampton Inn to student housing; both properties will operate as revenue-generating hotels for the time being.  
• The HREC Team continues to refine our general housing strategy and ways we can use campus houses, residence halls, and spaces to best serve current and future student needs. 

Volunteers and Sponsors Needed for Move-In Aug. 17
The Housing and Residential Experience Center invites groups and departments to sponsor residence halls—including two on the Quad that are not yet spoken for!—for Move-In on August 17. Make signs to welcome students, greet families, keep traffic moving, and bring the fun! Or volunteer as an individual. (As always, our Greek life students offer to do most of the heavy lifting.) Contact Catherine Flayhan at cflayhan@wpi.edu for details.