Niche.com Inc. has ranked Friends University’s residence halls No. 1 in the state of Kansas, based on student satisfaction.
Offering six unique, on-campus residence halls, Friends University provides on-campus students with a variety of amenities, options and services.
For example, Green Residence Hall, built in 2004 and housing mostly first-year college students, features fully furnished, three-bedroom suites for up to six students. Among the features in each suite are cable and Internet, a functional kitchen with a refrigerator and microwave, two bathrooms with showers and sink vanities, and a lounge area. Students also have access to free laundry facilities, free campus parking and a card-scanning entry system.
After their freshman year, students may choose among five other residence halls, including Falcon Glenn (a 24-unit apartment complex) and Friends Village (with one- or two-bedroom apartments).
“In fall of 2016, Residence Life will allow students to add additional roommates to certain apartments in order to reduce costs,” said Kelley Martin, director of Residence Life. “Our goal is to make on-campus living accessible to all students, and we continue to look for creative ways to do that.”
Living on campus benefits students in several ways. Research has shown that students who live on campus have a higher chance of graduating within four years than those who live off campus.
Residence Life offers its residents programming that aligns with the “Wellness Model” to ensure the residential education meets the holistic needs of students, and residence halls provide an extension of classroom learning.
“Friends University is also committed to building community, developing tradition, and having fun by offering annual events such as the Variety Show, Falcon King and Spring Carnival,” Martin said.
Niche’s rankings were based 70 percent on student satisfaction, 10 percent on average housing cost, 10 percent on housing capacity and 10 percent on student housing crime rate.
Friends University, a Christian University of Quaker heritage, equips students to honor God and serve others by integrating their intellectual, spiritual and professional lives.