Over the years the college experience, as a whole, has remarkably changed for students here at Iowa State.

The days when most dorm rooms had air-conditioning and everyone had to eat the same old dining center food are gone, and more comfortable, accommodating options are taking their place. And instead of throwing every freshman head-first into the huge responsibilities and complications of college life alone, the university is providing mentors and peer groups for much-needed support in their first months and years away from home.

Before, when students wanted to have their own bedroom and bathroom, when they wanted cheaper or more convenient meal options, or when they simply desired more space, they felt that moving off-campus was the only way to go.

Now, as part of a multi-million dollar, multi-year plan to attract more students to stick with on-campus living, the university is beginning to provide them with better on-campus living options.

Eaton Hall, Iowa State’s newest residence hall and the prototype for all future student housing plans, opened in Fall 2002 with exclusively suite-style accommodations which include larger rooms and bathrooms shared by only four students.

This type of housing is something students have been waiting for for years. The positive response is obvious: Of 1,200 freshman housing contracts received by the end of February alone, 30 percent, or 360 students, had requested a room in Eaton Hall for the 2003—04 school year, according to the February 28 edition of Inside Iowa State. Eaton Hall only houses 320 students.

Eaton Hall is also part of the Fresh Start program the university implemented in 1999, which encourages freshmen to become involved in co-curricular activities. Fresh Start offers students a myriad of helpful services including learning communities, faculty and peer mentorship and community-based support services.

For students just entering college, juggling a multi-faceted schedule packed with work, classes and friends can be rough.

Many students become overwhelmed in their first semester of life on their own, so programs like Fresh Start that provide structure somewhat like students would have received while still at home could be just the thing to transition freshmen smoothly into college life.

To an incoming freshman, getting assigned to a Towers room or in a temporary space in a study lounge was almost like a death sentence for their college careers. Having no structured support system was just as awful.

But now Iowa State has started adapting to changing student needs. It would be wonderful if the university could keep courting its students in this manner to keep them interested in attending Iowa State and improve student retention.