Southern's campus is full of energy, and living on campus puts you at the center of it all -- footsteps away from events, sports games, our theater, academic buildings, the student center, campus dining, and so much more.
Most first-year Southern students choose to live on campus. Residential students come from across the state, country, and world, and when you live on campus, you make friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. The Residence Hall staff hosts more than 300 social, cultural, and educational programs each year, and involvement opportunities include field trips, theatrical and musical performances, workshops, guest speakers, sports, and impromptu gatherings.
Studies show that college students who live on campus are more likely to graduate, have higher GPAs, and be more satisfied with their college experience than students who live off-campus. They also:
- Are more satisfied with their living environments
- Persist and graduate with greater frequency
- Meet more diverse people and experience a wide range of ideas and cultures
- Have increased contact with faculty, staff, and peers
- Are more likely to develop healthy self-esteem
- Develop strong interpersonal skills
- Are more likely to enter graduate school
Advantages of Living on Campus
Affordability
Room and board rates include heat, electricity, water, Internet connection, cable television, microfridge combination unit, access to common room lounges featuring recreation equipment, and much more. On-site laundry is also available to you at minimal cost. Sleep in and save money on car expenses!
Convenient Location
Don’t waste your time at traffic lights and finding parking spots in the morning. Living on campus places you within walking distance of classes, labs, the library, theater, and dining and athletic facilities.
Greater Academic Success
Residential students typically earn higher GPAs than commuter students. Living on campus supports your academic success because you:
- Live among people of common interests and majors
- Benefit from high-speed Internet connections in your room
- Have access to residence hall computer labs
- Experience nightly quiet hours within your residence hall
- Participate in educational programs and one-on-one academic success meetings with residence hall staff
Leadership Opportunities
Residential students have more leadership opportunities available to them:
- Residence Hall Councils: student-run governing body within each residence hall that helps plan educational and social activities, recommend improvements, and advise staff members on policy issues
- Residence Hall Association (RHA): student-run governing body for all residence halls that helps unite students from the nine residence halls, plan campus activities, and develop further leadership skills
- Resident Advisor position: peer leaders who serve as direct mentors for students living on each floor of a residence hall