{"id":1355,"date":"2022-11-04T07:30:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-04T11:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/framework\/?p=1355"},"modified":"2026-02-25T11:54:22","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T16:54:22","slug":"improve-student-housing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/inspired\/2022\/11\/04\/improve-student-housing\/","title":{"rendered":"Improve Student Housing and Gathering Spaces"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When students live on campus, they want their residence hall to feel like home, and to be surrounded by people who feel like family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"residence<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Living on campus is an important part of the college experience, especially for undergraduates. The friends they make in the residence halls often become their links to the broader campus \u2014 and, once they graduate, part of their Clark story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To keep students engaged in campus life, and to ensure their success at Clark, we need to offer them a high-quality living experience on campus. We need to make \u201cdorm life\u201d so inviting and attractive that students want to stay at Clark \u2014 and perhaps even live in the residential halls \u2014 all four years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although updated periodically, Clark\u2019s historic residence halls have not seen the extensive renovations that would turn them into spaces where students want to spend a lot of time hanging out with their besties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Clark housing, students aren\u2019t looking for a place just to sleep and do their laundry; they want beautiful common spaces where they can connect with their friends, whether it\u2019s to watch a movie, play a game, study together, or cook a meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, students who are affirming their identities seek to meet others who are, too. Higher education calls these \u201caffinity groups\u201d and the areas where affiliated students gather, \u201caffinity spaces.\u201d In these spaces, students can find their spot in the community and gain a sense of belonging. They can develop networks of support to tap into during college and after graduation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Dana<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"volunteers<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Multiple Projects to Create High-Quality Housing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As part of our institutional goals to offer students an enhanced campus experience, and to achieve greater diversity, equity, and inclusion, we aim to provide consistently high-quality housing, student spaces, and affinity spaces across campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To do so, we will invest significantly in impactful renovations: modernizing our existing, historic residence halls and developing new and improved living spaces and buildings. Our enhancements also will ensure that Clark\u2019s residential spaces meet sustainability and accessibility standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our overarching Campus Design Initiative, which aligns with our Strategic Framework and institutional goals, includes multiple student housing projects over the next coming years:<\/p>\n\n\n\n