News — SALISBURY, MD---Students ranked Salisbury University No. 1 in the nation for campus housing quality when compared to cost, according to results of a recent Educational Benchmarking, Inc. survey.
The survey asked thousands of students at 282 colleges and universities throughout the United States, including more than 1,600 at SU, to rate their campus housing experiences in 87 areas. SU ranked in the top 10 in eight 鈥淟iving on campus enhanced your ability to 鈥︹�� categories, including:
鈥� Manage your time more effectively (No. 2);
鈥� Solve your own problems (No. 2);
鈥� Understand the consequences of drug abuse (No. 2);
鈥� Study more effectively (No. 3);
鈥� Improve your communication skills (No. 4);
鈥� Resolve conflict (No. 5);
鈥� Understand the consequences of alcohol use and abuse (No. 5); and
鈥� Improve interpersonal relationships (No. 9).
In addition, SU ranked No. 2 in the 鈥淪atisfaction with variety of meal plan鈥� and 鈥淪atisfaction with value of dining plan鈥� categories. Salisbury was No. 7 in 鈥淟iving on campus fulfilled your expectations鈥� and 鈥淏enefitted from interactions with residents who are different than you.鈥� The University also ranked No. 9 in 鈥淟iving on campus enhanced your ability to improve interpersonal relationships.鈥�
鈥淲e are excited that SU placed in the top 10 in 14 out of the 87 survey categories,鈥� said Dane Foust, interim vice president of student affairs. 鈥淭his is valuable student feedback that we will use in planning for the future, and we are delighted that students recognize the excellence that can be found in the housing and food programs.鈥�
SU also ranked high in categories including 鈥淭o what degree have you interacted with residents who are different than you?鈥� and 鈥淎re you satisfied with your overall experience on this campus?鈥� among others.
The survey was taken at a time when SU housing has seen tremendous change and growth. Recently, three of the University鈥檚 鈥淨uad鈥� residence halls, the oldest on campus still used for student housing today, underwent major renovations. Those halls now contain cutting-edge security, classroom and sustainability features, including geothermal heating and cooling in two of the three. Renovations on the final 鈥淨uad鈥� residence hall, Nanticoke, are expected to be completed this summer.
Rebecca Edwards, a junior English major with a secondary education track from Baltimore, said she chose campus housing for several reasons: 鈥淚t鈥檚 very convenient to be five minutes away from everything at SU. I feel very safe on campus.鈥�
Her experiences in St. Martin Hall last academic year encouraged her to remain on campus this fall, when she will move into Chester Hall. 鈥淐ommunity development is very important,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n St. Martin, you鈥檙e able to feel connected, but still have your own space. It offers a combination of privacy and community.鈥�
In August, SU opens the largest residence hall in campus history, the 230,000-square-foot Sea Gull Square residence-retail complex. Student rooms in the 605-bed building are already at 100 percent occupancy for its first year.
鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted to live in a place like University Park [an SU-affiliated apartment complex], but that鈥檚 further away from the main campus,鈥� said Patrisha Campbell, a senior social work major from Takoma Park, MD who plans to be among Sea Gull Square鈥檚 first residents. 鈥淭his, being on the main campus, is much more convenient.鈥�
At the same time, Campbell hopes to get renting experience she can use once she graduates: 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 very important in college to experience the leasing process so when you鈥檙e out on your own, you have an idea what you鈥檙e doing. Having it on campus gives you a little bit of a safety net.鈥�
Founded in 1994, Educational Benchmarking, Inc. is the industry leader in providing comprehensive, comparative assessment instruments and analysis to support quality improvement efforts at colleges and universities.
For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU Web site at .
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