St. Cloud State joins other schools with new residency requirement

St. Cloud Times

Students, their families and belongings line the curb during the first residential move-in day in August 2018 at St. Cloud State University.

ST. CLOUD — Move-in day will be a little busier on the St. Cloud State University campus this year as a new residence policy takes effect.

Like students at nearby St. John's University and the College of St. Benedict, St. Cloud State freshmen will soon be required to live on campus.

The change could increase the residency rate by 10% to 20%, said Jennifer Sell Matzke, associate dean of students and executive director of residential life.

About 70% of first-year students chose to live on campus in the past, she said. St. Cloud State has typically housed about 1,900 students.

"It creates a foundation of success and support for students," Sell Matzke said. "We know that students who have a stronger sense of belonging at an institution tend to do better."

The policy includes several exceptions, including for veterans, students already live within 35 miles and those who are married or have children.

St. Cloud State has already granted 300 exemptions from the new rule, and most of those — 70% — were for students living within 35 miles of campus, Sell Matzke said last week.

The policy won't fill the school's dorms, and filling housing stock wasn't a factor in deciding the new rule, Sell Matzke said. But it is intended to help the school by retaining students and boosting their academic performances.

"It's really important for students to be able to graduate in a timely fashion," she said. They'll have closer access to student services as an on-campus resident.

Flags from many nations greet students and their families to Lawrence Hall during the first residential move-in day in August 2018 at St. Cloud State University.

Who else requires students live on campus?

Other schools cite similar reasons for their residency requirements.

College of St. Benedict requires all full-time students to live on campus for four years, with a few exceptions, such as for married students or parents, according to an email from Jody Terhaar, CSB's dean of students. The policy started with 2010 enollees when the school added townhome-style housing and renovated its apartments.

Living on campus is part of the student experience, tied to social and leadership development, Terhaar wrote. "The housing experience at CSB is a cohort model and there is an intentional residential curriculum that addresses the needs of each cohort over their four-year residential experience."

At St. John's University, at least 85% of students live on campus or are studying abroad, according to its website. It launched the residency requirement with the 2008 freshman class. Juniors and seniors can apply to live off campus.

The University of Minnesota doesn't require students to live on campus, but it's encouraged, said Lacey Nygard, assistant director of public relations in an email.

"We've found that students who live on campus their first year have better retention and graduation rates than students who do not," Nygard said. "We've also found that graduation and retention increases for those who live on campus a second year."

In the Minnesota State system, schools can develop their own policies, according to spokesman Doug Anderson.

Minnesota State University-Moorhead has required first-years to live on campus since 2015, according to the school's website. Bemidji State University freshman who are fresh out of high school must live on campus as well, according to the university's residency policy.

Southwest Minnesota State University requires all students under 21 to live on campus their first year, according to the policy posted online.

What's it cost to live, eat on campus?

St. Cloud State first-year students must live on campus for two semesters, if they don't meet the exemption requirements.

As campus residents, those first-years also must get a meal plan, Sell Matzke said.

The meal plans range from $750 to $1,650, she wrote in a follow-up email. And the offerings range from allergen-free food to premium suppers with steak or lobster tail.

St. Cloud State dorm living has a range of prices too, including $2,763 per semester for a traditional double room.

"Students are able to select their own room on our housing portal," Sell Matzke wrote by email. "They 'shop' from the rooms that are available."

Incoming freshmen have known about the new residency requirement since they were admitted, and the information has been shared online, Sell Matzke said.

Move-in days will be Aug. 22 through 25.