Next fall a select number of incoming freshmen will be given the opportunity to live in what some consider luxury.
As part of a student developmental study, Bradley has extended the opportunity to incoming freshmen to live at Main Street Commons.
Vice President of Student Affairs Alan Galsky said 40 incoming students will be allowed to live at Main Street Commons in a very supervised situation.
“We want to see if we can mimic the residence hall experience in upscale living,” he said. “It will also give us an advantage in a competitive market.”
To determine if Main Street Commons would be a successful living environment for freshmen, Galsky said a lot of data will be collected.
“There will be a satisfaction survey and we will look at grades and the retention rate of the students,” he said. “We want to objectively determine if this is a good place for freshmen to live.”
Students who choose to participate in this opportunity will sign a 12 month lease with Main Street Commons and will still be able to purchase a dining hall meal plan.
All participating students will live on the same, co-ed floor, along with a residence advisor and assistant residence advisor.
“[Students living on the floor] will have the same rules and regulations as there are in the residence halls,” Galsky said. “There will be two students to a suite and same gender roommates.”
Interested students are required to complete two forms before being considered for the study.
One is the application for Main Street Commons and the other is an information form for the study.
“We sent out a notice of this opportunity last week to active admits,” Galsky said. “We have already received 24 applications and we continue accepting them until Monday.”
In order for the study to take place, Galsky said there must be a minimum of 16 students accepted into the program.
“I think this a good idea because living in Main Street Commons is what students are used to,” said marketing and leasing director of Main Street Commons Jennifer Dunbar. “Many students are used to having their own room and bathroom. It is difficult for students to live in dorms cramped in small rooms. The college experience will really
benefit.”
Based on the success of this study, Galsky said they will seriously consider opening the program on a larger scale, allowing more incoming freshmen next year to live a Main Stain Commons.
“I’m excited,” he said. “It’s a really interesting study, and it will buy us some more beds in the residence halls.”