This study examined personalization of college dormitory rooms. Results of the study indicated that most people decorated early in the quarter, decorating increased over time, and students differentially personalized their rooms. (RH)

Suggests ways residence halls can complement formal classroom teaching. (IR)

A new dormitory at Massachusetts Institute of Technology was constructed using a joint venture contract with safeguards and incentives that brought university, architect, and building contractor into a closer and more productive relationship than under conventional contract arrangements. (Author/MLF)

An AIA Honor Award was given for the Pembroke Dormitories at Brown University. The dormitories, said the jury, are an "outstanding example of weaving an institution into the urban fabric." (Author/MLF)

Describes the design of Simmons Hall, an undergraduate dormitory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, including the educational context and design goals. Includes information on the architects, as well as floor plans and photographs. (EV)

Describes how colleges are exploring new Web-based strategies for successful roommate pairings. (EV)

Examined whether self-selected roommates showed higher rapport and fewer midyear roommate changes than did randomly assigned roommates. Results from 147 residential college students seemed to indicate that self-selected incoming freshmen roommate pairs were more likely to stay together than were their randomly assigned counterparts. Such…

College freshmen (N=428) completed University Residence Environment Scales. Subjects perceived residence hall environment as reasonably harmonious with their views of ideal. Relationship between student-environment fit and sense of competence suggests that higher sense of competence was associated with perceptions that residence life should…

Describes the housing issues that are a frequent point of contention between universities in New England and communities. New England colleges are experiencing a boom in dorm building, but many students, as the experiences of several cities show, prefer to live off campus, sometimes creating tensions between the college and the town. (SLD)

Describes the critical housing shortage and soaring rents in Boston, Massachusetts, that are exacerbated by the housing policies of the city's institutions of higher education. Boston colleges have accelerated their construction of dormitories, but nearly 107,000 students still live off campus. The issue is not one of student behavior, but of the…

Illustrates how the University of Toronto combined the modernist architectural typologies of perimeter block and the skip- stop plan to create a dormitory that served as a gateway to its campus. Photos and a floor plan are included. (GR)

Describes efforts toward improved fire safety measures and regulations by individual institutions of higher education, states, national associations, and Congress after three students were killed in a dormitory fire at Seton Hall University (New Jersey) last fall. Emphasis is on the need for sprinklers in all dormitory rooms. (DB)

Discusses resident hall furniture design that meets student needs as well as the needs of administrators and parents. Furniture design issues examined include the higher expectations of students in their living environment, the need for greater flexibility in space utilization, and adaptability to technology. (GR)

Explores how one university saved money and avoided wasted time when buying computer desks for dorm rooms. Buying considerations discussed include how the desks were to be used, the space required, desk durability, cable friendly features, and accessory necessity. (GR)

The expansion of higher education has become a significant trend in the East Asia region, and Taiwan has proven no exception. The driving forces of higher education expansion in Taiwan include enhancing national competitiveness and human capital, responding to social and industrial needs, and reducing educational inequalities among social groups.…