The numbers looked strange. In early March, the University of Missouri had received many more campus-housing contracts than it expected. Each year many upperclassmen cancel their agreements after finding an off-campus rental, leaving enough spaces for incoming students. But on March 17, the first day freshmen could select their rooms online, there…

Residence life programs play a key role in recruiting students, helping them make a successful transition to a new institution, and in retaining them, whether students are enrolling for the first time, transferring from another institution, or entering graduate school. Chapters in this book address theories of learning and development, new…

Research on first-year students' perceptions of their learning environments revealed the aspects of their experiences that enhanced and hindered their learning. End of the semester reflection essays from first-year seminars were analyzed to ascertain students' views. Data analysis revealed that students need peers who provide personal and…