The Iowa State Department of Residence, as a division of Student Affairs, has taken on the task of developing its own strategic plan in accordance with the university’s.

The university’s strategic plan was approved by the state Board of Regents and will be in effect until the year 2000.

“Our strategic plan is geared from here on out into the future,” said Virginia Arthur, Towers and Richardson Court director. Arthur said she has seen many new programs surface this year.

“One of the goals is to strive to find new and better ways for student involvement,” added Gary Schwartz, Union Drive director.

These new programs have focused on retention of first-year students and “blurring the line between living and education” in the residence halls, said Dan Rice, South Helser hall director.

One such program is the integration of the Women in Science program into Helser Hall. Two female floors, Sadler and Rowe, were designated to house program participants, but there was an overflow into other houses.

In Towers, the Biology Education Success Teams program (BEST) has found a home. In one male and one female floor in Knapp Hall, half of the residents are first-year biology students. They are scheduled in the same orientation classes and meet every other week with mentors.

“We have focused our efforts on first-year experience programs,” Arthur said.

During the first six weeks of school a “staff table” was held four nights a week in the Towers commons. An academic advisor fielded new-student questions. Additionally, a career exploration computer program called, “Discover” was run by peer instructors. Several other programs in the residence halls have undergone rejuvenation, Rice said. The Union Drive Association has reinitiated house presidents’ meetings and started a newsletter.

A security consultant was also hired to investigate and bring to light security concerns on campus and in the residence halls. A complete facilities audit is also in the works to evaluate residence hall structures and to ensure compliance with the American Disabilities Act.