This fall, students living in Rhoads Hall have been without access to the first floor lounge area and mezzanine while witnessing a curious construction project, one that is now almost complete as the new home to the ISU Honors Program and the Office of General Education.
"I am excited to see the downstairs area become available to students," said Greg Bierly, director of the University Honors Program and an associate geography professor. "We also hope that this will simply make [students'] lives more enjoyable and less complicated."
As well as offices being moved into Rhoads Hall, students now have access to study areas.
The Honors Program and the General Education department have access to the classrooms. The classrooms and study areas, on the first floor of Rhoads Hall, are now open for use between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m.
"The atmosphere in the lounge is fantastic: open and relaxing," said Linda Maule, coordinator of general education and associate professor of political science and women's studies.
"There is plenty of room to hold study sessions and play games." Once a week Maule plans to eat lunch in the Sycamore Dining Hall to give students the ability to sit and confer with her about the general education program and their part in it.
Because the programs are now just a few floors below their personal living space, students should be able to form a more cohesive relationship with the program they are involved in.
"It's beneficial to the students living there," said Chris Adams, a sophomore history major in the honors program. "It will also help commuter students connect with the students living in the dorms by giving them a common place to meet."
As well as convenience, one of the purposes for the move is for students and staff to become more acquainted with the learning community in which they are a part.
This will give students the opportunity to become more involved, as well as give them a better understanding about being an honors student, Adams said.
Student/faculty relationships and communication within the program is also a facet of the integration into the honors residence hall.
This goal to bring the students together is in the beginning stages.
Both Maule and Bierly said there have been some students come through the office already, but the move is in the last phases of completion.
The move has been very successful with surprisingly few hang-ups, other than some confusion with mail delivery and the occasional lost stapler, they said.
The General Education department will be working not only with the students in Rhoads Hall, but also those in Cromwell, Mills and Blumberg halls.
Floor programs will also be available in all four towers where students can meet with their coordinator in the general education program, Maule said.
"The exciting thing is that we'll be able to work with Res Life to offer services to the students," Maule said.
( Pete Rosene is a freshman political science major. He can be reached at sascamed@isugw.indstate.edu.)
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