Every year, the Department of University Housing & Conference Services surveys our residential students to understand the successes and areas for improvement in our program. We assess our department’s services along with those of various campus partners, comparing them to other colleges and universities across the country. We use the industry-standard Benchworks by Elentra service to manage survey administration and data collection. We are proud to have previously received an Assessment and Impact Award for Housing & Residence Life success among the 200+ institutions nationwide that use this assessment.

In addition to the various quantitative items assessed, we asked our residents a few open-ended questions concerning their feelings about their sense of belonging, academic success, and skills & competencies developed as a result of living on campus. These questions allowed us to gather more personal and detailed feedback, providing deeper insights into the student experience. The responses highlighted positive aspects of our residential life program and the impact it has on students’ personal and academic growth. Below, we share some of the key themes and representative quotes from our students’ feedback.

Reflecting on your time living on campus, how do you think it has contributed to your sense of belonging and community at Millersville University? 

• I think it has helped me get used to being at college and being more independent. I also have a close group of friends I can see easily since they’re also on campus, which has helped me find belonging.
• It contributes in the sense that I am on campus and can get to classes/extracurriculars easily and go out with friends while being able to just walk home to South Village.
• It helped me become a more individual and responsible member of Millersville’s campus.
• It has helped me relate to people around me and learn new information.
• I was able to make some friends in my hall.
• I am able to get around well.
• I like living on campus because it’s easier to spend time with friends and participate in campus activities this way.
• It has been there for me with a sense of involvement and I came here to be close to home and make new friends
  met a lot of people.
• It has helped me be more available to on campus things and be closer to my classes.
• Very well. I love the MU campus!!!
• It has allowed me to create life-long friendships as well as teaching me many life lessons about living with others.
• I met friends.
• It has made it a lot easier to go to class.
• Basically all of my friends are in the Honors College, so being in the living-learning community definitely contributed to my sense of belonging.
  being near friends and all buildings allows for better access to either.
• It has connected me to students around me.
• I definitely feel like a college student.
• Having more groups and a specific study field allowed me to start finding a community of people that have the same interests as me.
• Living on campus allows me to easily hang out with my friends that I made during class.
• Makes it easier to be available to participate in the activities.
• It allowed me to make some of my closest friends at Millersville.
• Allowed me to be able to be more present on the campus.
• I think it has because I have friends that are a short walk away.
• Put me closer to classes.
• More time to hang out with friends or work on group projects
• I was able to attend the involvement fair which allowed me to join various clubs.
• Being able to go out everyday and see the same people made it a lot easier to transition from high school to college and make friends.
• It has helped me to meet some new people and make some new friends.
• I mean I know where everything is now so that’s cool
• I definitely feel more involved by living on campus. I do feel like I belong.
• It has helped a good bit.
• I enjoy being able to walk my community and easily attend events.
• Being able to spend a lot of time out on the quad and seeing all the other “college kids” made me feel like i was really a part of Millersville University.
• It provided me easy access to the places and people within this community.
• I feel more connected to the campus and the people.
• Closer to events and better ability to impulsively hang out with friends.
• I think living on campus at Millersville has helped me meet new people and become part of a group or community to help give me a sense of belonging.
• I think it allowed me to meet more people outside of class. I got to be in more clubs, since I’m not commuting too.
• Living on campus has allowed me to meet new people.
• I think living on campus has made my friend group closer and allowed for more outings with everyone.
• See friends around often
• Have more opportunities to make a lot of friends and talk to a lot of people.
• Its easier to make friends while living on campus.
• Feeling closer to the events, people, classes, and professors has helped me feel much more included in ‘Ville activities.
• It definitely helped me adjust to life on campus and helped me make more friends here.
• I have met a lot more people living here and will often recognize people as I am out and about. It’s a good feeling seeing familiar faces every day and makes me feel like less of a stranger.
• Living on Campus provides time and the ability to connect with students outside of the classroom setting.
• Living on campus as contributed to my sense of belonging by helping me engage with other people that are in similar situations as I am and helped me make more connections to people within the dorms that I live in.
• I think that I have found multiple groups of people that I have been able to connect with, and I don’t know if I would have gotten the chance to meet these people if I hadn’t lived on campus.
• Yes! Living on campus has helped me with connecting with other students.
• Living on campus means there are more opportunities to interact and engage with peers and staff.
• The after-class life makes me feel more like I belong.
• It’s easier to meet with other students.
• I feel more connected to the atmosphere and lightheartedness of others.
• It helped me to feel more included from living on campus and being able to hangout with others that also live on campus.
• By being able to do things with other students
• It has made it a better experience since I am constantly surrounded by people like me.
• I’m on campus more.
• Means I actually meet people instead of just taking my classes and leaving.
• I think that I truly liked it, and it made me feel like I belong.
• Has let me talk and bond with others in my major.
• It was easier to make friends.
• I’m on campus for almost everything and can go almost anywhere
• It has made me more involved on campus.
• I think it was good for me to be living on campus because I was able to do my work and connect with other students who are in my classes.
• I think having campus as my home, I was able to become closer to other students and join clubs and activities with others.
• I feel comfortable living on campus and I have met a lot of good friends here.
• I got to be closer with my friends by being able to access them everyday.
• By making me more involved in campus organizations.
• Allowed me to meet more people and hang out with them.
• Feel very involved. Feel like I am in the middle of campus. Very nice.
• I am able to be more active on campus (clubs, sports) as I live super close.
• It made me feel like I belong.
• It had contributed to it by allowing me to go to places with my roommate on campus. I have been able to go to different clubs that my roommate is a part of and found people there. Doing these different clubs definitely helps.
• I am close to everything and have made friends with others who live in the residence halls. I am also close enough to get to hang out with my friends often and walk to clubs and campus events.

How has your experience in the residence halls contributed to your academic success and persistence at Millersville University?

• I don’t have to worry about going to and from home, especially since I live two hours away. I am easily able to study in the residence halls since it’s not too loud.
• It has helped me to stay focused on my work this semester.
• The study lounges are really nice and useful when you are able to snag it before anyone else.
• It is very convenient to study in my room.
• Staying in the residence halls allows me more time to get ready for class and greater access to my professors so I can stay on top of my classwork.
• Ease of communication amongst friends in class
• It’s given me another place to study and allowed me to take a break from my work and recharge when needed.
• Been easier for me to learn how to live on my own. Also help me to prepare for the future
• Being able to access my classrooms and labs because of my proximity has been huge. It really benefits my academic success as I can reach any of my professors and/or classrooms in a matter of minutes.
• It has allowed me the privacy to study as well as visit any professors in person. I also really enjoy being able to be self-sufficient in regards to food and what time I do things.
• It’s quiet and I can focus.
• Being on campus has forced me to work on work if I was at home or associated my room as “home” I probably wouldn’t be able to do as much work as I can. Plus having a room mate study while I study makes it so I am more likely to study.
• I felt more likely to study in my room, or at times going to a different area to study.
• Closer to classes and can go get food when I want to.
• I am able to go to the library to study and use computer lab on first floor if needed.
• The study rooms provided in the dorms are very nice when reviewing for finals or when studying with a group.
• Made it easy to study and be close to my classes.
• It gives me easy access to my classes, professors, office hours, etc.
• It also allows me to return to my room between classes so I have a quiet place to study and work, rather than needing to use public areas like a commuter.
• I study and do work by myself.
• I have been able to find people to study with.
• Allowed me to be accountable for my classes and being there on time/completing the work.
• Ease of studying
• More time to focus on studying and keeping up with classwork
  easy access to library/other quiet seating areas
• Since my current roommate is rarely in the room, I am comfortable with the space I have to study without distractions
  I think it made it easier for me to be motivated to go out to study rooms and the library and study outside of my room here.
• It has helped me to perform better in a sense because me and my roommate push each other to do better and to get all of our stuff done.
• I have access to places where I can easily get into study mode.
• The residence halls has given me a nice and quiet place for me to study and do my school work.
• I feel like I definitely was able to plan out my day and get things done accordingly.
• Has helped a decent amount.
• I enjoy having quick access to the library and faculty.
• Having my own personal space to study and practice speeches and presentations
• It allowed me space from familial issues and a reliable safe place for me to stay and study.
• I feel more equipped with the resources I need to succeed.
• I feel like the room that was given to me has been a huge contributor to my academic success and helped me get all my assignments done to the best of my ability and in a timely manner.
• It just makes it easier to walk to class.
• Since I’m on campus, I go to the library a lot and feel like I have more options to get help.
• Living on campus has given me quicker and easier access to my professors and other study resources.
• Convenience. I live an hour away. It would be very hard to have enough money for gas like that, and it would be [difficult] to try and figure out a schedule like that.
• Make my experience a lot better
• I have my own space to study.
• Having a constant place to study and hang out has eased my anxiety.
• Many of my professors have early office hours, so being on campus allows me to attend all of the necessary office hours.
• This was my first year living in a single suite and I believe because of this I have found the most academic success this year.
• Having my privacy and being able to go to bed on my own accord has made major improvements for me compared to previous years.
• While I know this is a fun place where my friends are right next door, I know that if I get my work done on time I will have more time to be with them.
• I think it promotes a strong learning environment.
• I can go anywhere to study.
• It has allowed me to get to classes in a timely manner.
• My academic success has been maintained while living in the dorms by providing areas to study in, as well as being so close to people who I study with that it is easier to work together and engage in academic topics with each other.
• I do not have to worry about losing time on commuting when I could be doing work.
• It has helped me get back on track because now I have the library and other study spaces open to me 24/7. I have also found it easier to find time to meet with my professors outside of class.
• Living on campus allows me to have a place that is quiet and comfortable to study and do work in without needing to drive, or go somewhere else to do work.
• It was calming and helped me focus.
• Yes because I have easy access to my building and being able to go there anything.
• It makes me more intact with class.
• It has helped since I have options for studying.
• It is easier to focus there than at home.
• It made me focus more on schoolwork.
• The halls give me a space where I can collaborate with others on homework or assignments.
• Close to classes/buildings
• I have often used the study lounges to complete homework and study.
• Positively
• I am able to devote more time to my studies when I live at school.
• My academic success has been good. I’m able to study in the quiet.
• More time to study in the dorms.
• I have multiple places to study in the residence hall.
• By having a convenient space to study.
• Highly.
• I get to class at a decent time, no rushing due to commuting.
• Using the study room has supported me when studying for finals and tests.

In what ways has living on campus helped you develop skills or competencies that you believe will contribute to your success after graduation?

• I’ve learned how to be more independent and how to take care of myself without my parents around.
• Living on my own
• It has helped me understand different perspectives and personalities.
• I know how to live with other people and respect their space along with learning how I like to keep my own space.
  problem solving
• Forcing you to go out to get help from others.
• Helped me with independence and problem solving
• Communication, independence, and responsibility.
• Time management
• It has helped me live on my own.
• Living on campus has allowed me to develop my skills as an adult like budgeting and I’m now able to get an apartment off campus.
• Opening up more to people.
• Communication with RAs and the RAD. It just gives me more experience in problem solving and communication with others.
• Living with roommates is important.
• Helped me learn how to become an assistant teacher.
• Living with other people has helped me to become more considerate.
• Understanding that people live very differently has allowed me to recognize that everyone is different and I sometimes need to take a step back and see that we don’t know everything going on in each other’s lives.
• Allowed me to be independent and solve my own problems
• It has given me the opportunity to live with someone who isn’t family.
• Having to live with somebody else and work around her schedule was highly inconvenient. However, it helped me with skills in communication and tolerance.
• New social skills are learned here everyday.
• I have been able to start my develop my experiencing living on my own.
• Trying to teach me to be able to manage my time / work.
• Being able to have a room to myself, with a roommate, allowed me to start growing ideas of living away from my house, and having others alongside me to help with any problems.
• I have adapted in many ways to living on my own and supporting myself.
• Living by myself
• I have learned how to talk to people better.
• Talking to others.
• Making connections with people who are different from me, and being able to live together/get along.
• It has given me some experience living on my own and having to budget my food and drinks. Living on your own means you are responsible for keeping your living space clean, which is good to be familiar with.
• Learning some responsibilities that you don’t think about before you come to college (cleaning bathrooms, laundry, dishes, etc).
• Just learning to live on my own and be independent in getting the things I need without help all the time.
• Communication skills
• It has given skills I would need to live on my own.
• It has helped me get over certain fears such as talking and meeting new people.
• Being able to live by myself
• Helped me learn to live on my own and not depend on someone like my parents to watch over me.
• Networking and punctuality
• It helped me prepare for the real world by cleaning and taking care of my room.
• Connection to other students.
• Time management.
• Communicating with others to resolve problems
• Organization
• By living near others who are different from me I have learned myself better, I know what works for me in studying and routine.
  living with another person learning to respect that persons schedule and likes/dislikes.
• It allowed me to manage my life and needs without disruption or negativity from others.
• I feel the best skills that I have developed living on campus that will help me in the future are my communication skills and being able to talk to the other students and professors around me.
• Communication and cleanliness skills
• I have learned how to communicate better with my roommate
• I just think conflict resolution and becoming more mature and responsible because I’m off in my own, away from parents.
• Living on campus has helped me learn how to handle conflicts between roommates and people that I will have to continue seeing after the conflict.
• Knowing how to coexist with someone who has completely different beliefs than me.
• Living on campus has helped me to realize that I may need company in the future if I were to live alone.
• Helped build skills with being independent
• I learn to deal with my own problems and manage my time, living space, etc.
• Having the ability to adjust and coexist with people I’ve never met is very helpful.
• I have learned how to be a respectful roommate and how to successfully live with someone for an extended amount of time.
• Being able to form connections and have a conversation with those you may not know.
• It has taught me to be more patient when dealing with people.
• Living on campus has prepared me for living by myself in the future and maintaining a clean and orderly living space, as well as resolving conflicts and personal relationships that will be useful to me in my education career field.
• Learning to share spaces with someone new and be self-sufficient.
• Living on campus allows me to have certain outlets with people that have similar interests and views as I do.
• Living on campus puts me in an environment that betters my ability to obtain useful information and or knowledge to help contribute to my success for after graduation.
• I can better navigate disagreements, speak my mind, and tolerate others.
• I have definitely developed patience.
• Learn to tolerate others more.
• It helped me to confront others and how to go about it in a way, as I had a difficult time with my roommate this year.
• I’ve learned how to live well amongst neighbors.
• Probably talking to people
• I’ve become more social
• It has helped me with my independence skills.
• It has helped me to learn to organize my time and priorities.
• If I was bored or looking for something to do there was normally at least one activity I would be interested in. My only issue is I don’t like to go alone and my friends tend to be busy. I believe this has helped me become more independent and willing to go do things on my own and meet new people.
• I think it has helped me be more independent and outgoing.
• Problem solving
• Better time management.
• Tidiness/overall cleanliness.
• It has made me more responsible for my space.
• Being able to work and boundaries with others
• Living on campus has helped me learn how to live with a bunch of different kinds of people on my floor and communicate with them.
• I think problem solving skills and living by myself was something I learned today.
• Living on campus has greatly helped me to learn how to live on my own as an adult.
• Cleaning and working with roomates
• Resilience and flexibility.
• Increasing my social network.
• I get to be more social
• I think the biggest one is learning how to work with someone who is different than me. A lot of the time I have to navigate someone who has different beliefs from me. By learning how to interact I can have a meaningful conservation. I have learned how to also live with another person.
• It has helped me problem solve and be cleanly.

The feedback from our residential students underscores the importance of living on campus for fostering a sense of belonging, academic success, and personal development. These responses reflect the significant impact that our residential life program has on creating a supportive and enriching environment. By providing easy access to academic resources, opportunities for social interaction, and a safe space for personal growth, living on campus contributes significantly to the overall student experience at Millersville University.

We are committed to continuously improving our services and programs based on the valuable insights shared by our students. The positive outcomes highlighted in this survey reinforce our dedication to enhancing the quality of life for our residents and ensuring their success both during their time at Millersville and beyond. We look forward to building on these successes and addressing areas for improvement to create an even more vibrant and supportive campus community in the future.