As the new director for the Department of Residence, Pete Englin said his first responsibility is to listen. And he said he has heard the sound of construction for new apartments around Ames and has seen the effect this has had on university housing.

Ginny Arthur, associate director for the Department of Residence, said they have met their recruitment goals for this fall. Despite having met these goals, occupancy is still lower for all of the residence halls when compared to fall of last year. This year, the Department of Residence has nearly 600 fewer contracts than it had at the same time last year.

Englin, however, is still confident in the Department of Residence’s ability to attract students.

“Students vote with their feet, and if you are listening and you are communicating and you are doing good work and you are serving their needs, they will stay,” he said. “I am confident in the partnerships that started to get developed with students last spring with the hall directors and the student leaders and the leadership of the Department of Residence.”

Upper Friley has one of the highest return rates, and Hall Director Sarah Rockwell said this is because they “have a strong sense of identity.” She said traditions such as open houses, exhibitions and social gatherings have encouraged people to come back.

Englin said he hopes by focusing on trying to help students succeed, they will be convinced to live in on-campus housing.

“If we are contributing to their success, both academic and personal success, and they understand that we have their best interest at heart, they will continue to stay with us,” Englin said.

This belief is reflected in what he said is his most important goal as director of the Department of Residence — graduating students.

“We want to graduate every student who lives with us,” he said. “So our staffing and our programs and the way in which we hope to work with students are ultimately designed to help them graduate from Iowa State.”

Englin said students would live in university housing as long as it remains a good place for them to meet their goals. This, he said, would enable the Department of Residence to meet its financial obligations, which includes building better facilities for students. Wallace and Wilson won’t be part of any rebuilding plans in the near future, though, and will not be used to house students.

“We need to keep Wallace, Wilson and Helser to serve conference groups,” Englin said. “We generate somewhere around $1.5 million a summer hosting groups.”

Englin said filling Towers and other dorms is not their main goal.

“I think it is imperative that we keep building relationships with students, learn what they want in their living environment, provide the services to help them to be successful,” he said. “And they would say, ‘Why should I want to live anywhere else?'”

Englin also acknowledged that off-campus living is a valuable experience for some students.