‘A Home Away from Home’: Cardinals flock to residence halls, ranked No. 3 in state

As the fall semester approaches, students will be flocking back to the nest to have a unique college experience of living on campus in Cardinal Village, which was recently ranked No. 3 of the top college dorms by Niche among four-year public universities in Texas. The No. 3 ranking comes on the heels of a two-year, multi-million-dollar renovation project in Cardinal Village that began in the summer of 2021.

Niche calculates the ranking based on a set of percentages, with 70% accounted for by student surveys on campus housing and average housing cost, housing capacity and student housing crime accounting for 10% each. 

According to Peter Gatto, director of Housing and Residence Life, the designation speaks to the residence halls and operations at Lamar University.

“I believe the students truly appreciate the physical layout of our suites in all of our residence halls,” Gatto said, adding that students are offered a private bedroom within their own two-person suite, which also includes their own bathroom. “We are fortunate to offer students a high level of privacy that allows them to focus on their academics.”

Christopher Hazelton, assistant director of Housing and Residence Life, said that students have the opportunity to choose who they would like to live with or they can complete an online questionnaire in our housing portal that will pair them with a compatible suitemate.

An inventory or questionnaire asks questions about students that they use to compare students with similar interests like wakeup times, he said, adding that there are two important things students need to know about living in the residence halls.

The first is that it’s a big adjustment for some students.

“You are going to have to take care of your own space,” Hazelton said. “Be ready to take some accountability and responsibility for your own space.”

The second thing to know about living in the residence halls is simple — you get what you put into it.

“Our RAs have programs that are not mandatory, but the more you engage, the more you interact, the more you’re going to get out of that experience, where you’re going to feel like you’re part of the community,” he said.

One of the main reasons students are attracted to the residence halls of Cardinal Village, Gatto noted, is convenience.

“When you are living on campus, there is a convenience factor that allows quick access to your classes, professors, dining options and several other campus resources,” he said, explaining the benefits of Resident Assistants that provide guidance and support to students. “Living in the halls is a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience where you are surrounded by your peers that are attending similar classes and events together.”

Resident Assistants also foster a sense of community, according to Hazelton.

“RAs and the programs that they put on is probably the best way to get involved with the community. We really push our RAs to get their students out to get to know each other,” Hazelton said. “You can choose to live in the halls for years and not really get to know anyone outside of the four walls you’re living in, but if we have the impact that we want to, you’re going to walk out of here with a lot of people around you with similar interests and backgrounds; however, it’s a great way to meet people from different backgrounds with different interests. We really want (residents) to interact and get to know each other, so we do as much as we can to get them out, get them together and get them interacting through something fun.”

Kennedy Bivins, RA and junior majoring in public health in healthcare administration, said her favorite thing about the residence halls is how Cardinal Village “becomes your home away from home.”

“As someone who lives five hours away from my hometown, I often develop homesickness,” Bivins said. “Outside of the loving community of your peers and the supportive Resident Assistants, you have the opportunity to decorate your living space to you and your roommates liking. Under safe precautions, you have the opportunity to decorate your room that will best make you comfortable while attending Lamar University.”

Students also can rest safely in Cardinal Village. Gatto cited safety and security as another reason Cardinals are eager to live in the residence halls.

“Safety and security are our number one priorities, as well as keeping students comfortable so that they can focus on their academics and make the most of their college experience,” he said. “The residence halls are extremely secured with keycard access into the building and a 24/7 security guard in each hall. There is also professional staff on call 24/7 in case of any emergencies.”

Lamar University is dedicated to constantly improving the college experience, including life for students living in the residence halls. Cardinal Village is currently undergoing a major renovation. The projects are estimated to be completed by the start of the fall semester and include roof replacements, air conditioning, room furniture replacements and more.

Gatto said that among the many renovations, he is most excited about the overhaul in Campbell Hall.

“It will be a completely renovated building, providing students with all new suites,” he said, citing new furniture, new lighting and some new countertops among the changes. Bathrooms also will receive new tubs and there will be new bathroom fans with automatic humidity sensors.

As renovations wrap up, everyone in Housing and Residence Life is looking forward to the coming semester.

“I am excited to meet the new freshmen class,” Gatto said. “During the summer, we put forth a lot of preparation and staff training to make sure that we create a safe and welcoming environment in the halls for the students so that they can maximize their experience while at Lamar University.”

RA Iris Carrasco, a senior majoring in American Sign Language agreed, saying she was looking forward to meeting new people.

Carrasco said, “My favorite thing about Cardinal Village is you get to meet so many amazing people that make it feel like a home away from home!”

The process to apply to live in Cardinal Village is simple. Students can apply online by logging in with their LEA username and password.

For more information about Cardinal Village, visit the Housing and Residence Life website.