Last year only 68 percent, or 798, of the 1168 students who requested to live in all-freshman dorms were accommodated. This new approach is expected to give 1017 freshmen who request to live with their fellow frosh the opportunity to do so. Another significant change the implementation group made to the housing system is to convert Toyon House, which in recent years has been a predominately freshman and sophomore residence, into a sophomore-focused residence. Toyon will feature academic and social programs designed to better meet the advising needs of second-year students. This change is based largely on the success of the three-year old Sophomore College program, a residential summer program for incoming sophomores.
Sophomore year is when students are making crucial decisions about their majors.
Lori White, assistant vice provost and director of undergraduate advising, said that the new configurations acknowledge the different experiences of freshmen and sophomores. Advising sophomores is challenging because their needs are very different from freshmen. Having an opportunity to structure advising specifically for sophomores helps us meet their unique needs. White added that her office is working on enhancing the freshman advising program as well. Other adjustments to housing configurations include decreasing the number of freshmen in Roble from 90 this year to 70 next year.