Hawthorn Court, the university-owned apartment complex north of campus, has been renamed to honor a long-time residence director.

The change took the 2,000 students who live there by surprise.

The state Board of Regents approved the name change from Hawthorn to Charles F. Frederiksen Court Wednesday night, but residence officials said the idea has been in the works for a year.

“The recommendation has been around for some time,” said Randy Alexander, current residence director.

But it was news to most Hawthorn residents.

“I had no idea that they were changing the name,” said Nick McColley, junior in biology. “Why are they doing that?”

Nomination plans were not made public until approved, Alexander said, and they were waiting for the court to be completed before renaming it. The final building was completed over a month ago, he said.

Although students will have to make the change on their envelopes, the new name didn’t seem to bother residents a day after the switch was made.

“I wasn’t aware of it, and it doesn’t matter to me,” said Luke Holst, senior in biology.

Charles Frederiksen was the third director of the department, who was at the helm from 1967 to 1996. He was preceded by J.C. Schilleter, for whom Schilleter Village is named.

Renaming a facility is a long process, Alexander said. Soon after Frederiksen retired, plans were formed to name a building in his honor. At the time, Alexander said, ISU policy prohibited facilities from being named until the nominee had been gone for five years.

The rules have since been changed, which is why the Martin C. Jischke Honors Building already has been named for the former university president.

After nomination, the proposal must be reviewed by a committee, Alexander said. It is then approved by the president of the university, and finally it is voted on by the Board of Regents.

It will be relatively inexpensive to change the name of the apartment complex, Alexander said. The signs currently marked “Hawthorn Court” are temporary, in anticipation of this change. Kate Bruns, residence hall communications director, said the Hawthorn Market and Caf‚ will keep its current name.

The only thing that will change for students, Alexander said, is that mail will be addressed to Frederiksen Court instead of Hawthorn Court.

The department works closely with the post office, he said, and mail addressed to Hawthorn will still arrive correctly.

Frederiksen said the honor is “frosting on the cake.”

“The meaningfulness for me is that it has been my life,” said Frederiksen, who still lives in Ames.

“My entire life has been spent with students and housing.”