Getting Involved

Residence Hall Life

Residence hall living at Emporia State University is an integral part of your educational experience. The purpose of your residence hall is to provide opportunities and services beneficial to your overall educational development. The decisions you make are yours, therefore, we expect students to be responsible and involved citizens in their residential community.

Through your experience on campus, you will gain a better understanding of lifestyles, cultures, and your own preferences and abilities. You will develop a variety of skills including personal and group communication, assertiveness, leadership and personal initiative. The on-campus environment provides the "lab" for a challenging yet supportive transition period. To facilitate this development, the university requires all freshmen to live on-campus during their first year. Exceptions are made for students who are: 1) 19 years old or older on the first day of fall semester classes; 2) married; 3) a parent or guardian of a dependent child; or 4) living with their parents, grandparents, brother or sister, aunt or uncle in the Emporia community. The Department of Residential Life must approve exceptions, in writing. (Contact our office for a freshman waiver form.)

Complex Government

Students are encouraged to become involved in their complex government. Each complex has its own government system (The Morse Voice and the Towers Complex Government – TCG). Like any other concentration of people in a given space, the residence halls function best when positions of leadership and representation are established.

There is a positive correlation between academic success and campus involvement. Research has shown that student leaders not only do better academically, but also have more success in the job market upon graduation. The residence halls provide just such an opportunity for community involvement.

Floor Leadership

Opportunities for involvement are available on the floor level in every hall. Each floor may elect a president, vice-president, and secretary/treasurer. Each floor may choose to elect other officers as well.

One of the major components of a successful residence hall community is participation; residents can make or break the government. Attending regular meetings, selecting quality officers, and taking an active interest in programs will better acquaint you with the other residents in your community. Overall, the quality of life on a floor can be significantly enhanced by participation.

Residence Hall Community

Concern, mutual respect, and maturity are basic to the development of a community that can assist a student in their personal endeavors and achievements. It is expected that students will make a contribution to the building of this community. In turn, students may then expect to reap the benefits of this unique learning experience.

Last Updated May 28, 2008