Administrators at Michigan State University have announced a change that will require second year students, starting with the entering freshman class in 2021, to live on campus. The change was made based on data that show students are more likely to graduate when they spend their first two years of college on campus, rather than just their first.
Michigan State University has announced plans to require second-year students to live on campus starting with the freshman class of 2021. The move is just one of many strategies the university has implemented over the past few years to improve graduation rates. The recent announcement reverses a decision made in the 1980s to allow second-year students to live off campus. MSU administrators say the decision is based on evidence that shows graduation rates are higher among students who continue to live on campus past their freshman year and is one of many measures taken to improve rates of graduation. Administrators also say that living on campus can help students more easily access support services offered by the university and also fosters a sense of belonging and community.
MSU has already implemented changes meant to improve outcomes for students that have increased the graduation rate over the last five years from 77 percent to 81 percent. One such change is the adoption of the Neighborhood Model, a nationally recognized approach which focuses on creating hubs where students can access a wide array of campus services without having to go to multiple locations. MSU has also promoted a campaign that encourages students to take at least fifteen credits each semester, rather than the minimum twelve. Yet another change is the planned development of Spartan Navigator, a program specifically aimed at sophomores to guide them through what is sometimes called the "sophomore slump," which is generally characterized by feelings of dissatisfaction and uncertainty. Students can often start to feel burnt out and have second thoughts about their choice of major. The Spartan Navigator program will be designed to help second year access resources on campus that can assist them in getting over this slump.
The latest decision was announced December 1, 2020 in a release from the university. The Office of Institutional Research has compiled and analyzed data that demonstrate that second year students living off campus graduate at a rate 2.5 percent lower than students who remain on campus for their sophomore years and that disparity is even greater among students from underserved groups. Because of these findings, administrators decided that the change in residency requirements is the next best step they can take to facilitate student success and increase graduation rates. In the recent announcement, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education and Dean of Undergraduate Studies Mark Largent expressed optimism that the change will go well, "Our partners in REHS (Residence Education and Housing Services) have created a robust educational experience and provided exceptional resources in their spaces for students in their sophomore year. We look forward to working with them on this new policy because we know it will help students succeed."