Davenport University students enjoy housing options
As the winter semester begins, Davenport University’s students refer to the school’s living accommodations as “top tier.”
In January, Davenport University released a report on its student housing units. The university appears to take great pride in what it describes as “homey apartment-style units,” which are nestled into the W.A. Lettinga Grand Rapids Campus, boasting modern and spacious living areas as well as their proximity to other amenities.
Sydney Babbit, a fourth-year marketing major at Davenport, was highlighted in the school’s article. She says that she chose to live on campus so as not to miss out on the traditional college experience, and as such, has spent three years living on the university’s campus. She called Davenport’s housing options “top tier” compared to what she had seen at other universities.
Babbit spoke highly of what Davenport University has to offer. She is quoted as saying, “The residence halls at Davenport are amazing, and I love the sense of community that forms when you get to know the other students in the dorms. My closest friends at DU were my roommates last year. We met on move-in day, my freshman year at South Hall, and we quickly became inseparable. They graduated last year, but we remain close.”
She also noted that her previous living situation was such that she would have been able to commute to class every day; however, the experience of living on campus shaped her into a new person. She said, “I grew personally, learned so many life lessons, met amazing people, and became more mature and more responsible. I’m grateful for the opportunity to live on campus because it helped mold me into the person I am today and changed me for the better.”
The director of Residence Life at Davenport University, Andrea Prins, noted that students who choose to live on the university’s campus enjoy affordable housing that is also safe and has access to anything they may need, saying that this is by design: “Davenport strives to provide students with the best experience, and our Resident Advisors (RAs) play a vital role in making that happen.”
Wyatt Ledford is a senior and Resident Advisor at Davenport University, and is something of an expert when it comes to campus life at the school. Ledford is a computer science major and has lived on campus for four years now. He has served as an RA for the past two and a half years.
He noted that for many students, the prospect of college can be quite intimidating, but that living on campus can help in three different ways: he believes it is easier to make personal connections with staff and faculty as well as taking advantage of leadership opportunities presented to students, which can be useful even after graduation; he lauded the ability of on campus events to keep students engaged in the campus community; and living in residence halls provides students with proximity to other students, allowing them to make connections with each other much easier.
He summed up his thoughts by stating, “The most obvious benefit for me living on campus is that I didn’t have to commute to class, but one of the most impactful advantages is the community of people I was able to connect with.”
Students who live on Davenport’s campus benefit from the social experience of being in community with people who are in a similar point in their life. This serves to create a sense of belonging among students and makes making long term friendships easier.
Being a resident of campus housing also provides a closeness to sporting events, campus life events, and student life events.
Davenport University’s campus is designed so that everything is located close to each other. Students can comfortably walk from their housing units to class, on-campus dining, the Wellness Center, the Students Activity Center, the Center for Learning and Engagement, and more, in around five minutes.
On campus restaurants include the main dining hall which is in the South Hall, The Den, and The Hub. Recently Davenport was named among the top 10 colleges with the best dining options in Michigan by Niche.com.
Prins also noted that living on campus has allowed students to grow in ways beyond academic accomplishment. She said, “Moving from home and onto a college campus is a time of blossoming independence. It’s a time when students live life on their own terms, make their own decisions and their own mistakes. Important life skills are developed, like responsibility and time management. The lessons learned from these experiences will carry students through college, to graduation, to the first day of their new careers and beyond.”
On campus students also have the chance to work on their leadership skills by taking advantage of various groups that focus on developing those skills. The university has found that students who live on campus are more likely to become involved in these as well as other groups.
For many college students, living on campus will be the first time they have lived on their own. Living on campus means having access to Davenport University’s Resident Advisors who are able to help first year students more comfortably transition to living on their own, while also helping older students with a range of other issues. RAs are available to answer student’s questions and address their concerns. Students at Davenport also have the ability to visit the university’s Wellness Center either online or in person, where they can take advantage of free health and counseling services.
Davenport University’s Department of Public Safety is also available on call, and has units patrolling the Grand Rapids Campus at all hours. Any student with a safety issue has access to this department by phone or text.
Students who wish to live on campus can choose between five different options, all of which come fully furnished with either semi-private or private bedrooms.
More information about Davenport University in general can be found on the school’s website.