“These new halls will focus on fostering a sense of belonging and community building as they will host a variety of Living Learning Communities (LLCs) that promote connecting students through their activities, interests, and academics,” said Dean of Students, Denise Tiberio.
At Sacred Heart, residential halls will become more than places where students eat, sleep, or study. Coming this fall, according to the Sacred Heart University website, two three-story residence halls will open on the northern side of Pioneer Village along with a single-story parking deck. They will be called Michael McGivney Hall and Catherine of Siena Hall.
Sacred Heart University
“Not only does it form a community for freshmen coming in so they are around people with similar interests, but it also adds to the aesthetic for students to enjoy the scenery of the campus,” said junior and Residential Success Assistant, Gregory Dort.
Consisting of four-person suites, the new halls are expected to be open for the fall 2024 semester.
“They are designed for freshmen. They are located behind Bowman Hall and have a parking garage adjacent to them,” said Director of Residential Life, Gregory Madrid.
In a statement to the Spectrum in March of 2022, Madrid had different thoughts regarding the purpose of the new dorms.
At the time, Madrid said, “Looking at the basic design, it seems like it would fit sophomores since our goal is to bring sophomores from Pioneer Gardens to campus.”
To fit what the university most needs at this time, Michael McGivney Hall and Catherine of Siena Hall will be housing freshmen when they are officially open for student residential life.
“The halls will house over 450 incoming first-year students and will allow us to offer on-campus housing for all first-year and second-year students,” Tiberio said.
According to Madrid, this means that returning sophomore students will be housed in Bergoglio, Bowman, Cabrini, Christian Witness Commons, Frassati, Mother Teresa, Scholars Commons, and Wiesel Halls.
The construction of these new dorms will also give upperclassmen more options as Pioneer Gardens will now be available for juniors and seniors to choose.
“It’s been a goal for years to get more first-years and sophomores living on campus,” said Emily Grobmyer, Associate Director of Residential Life.
Sacred Heart’s vision statement highlights its ongoing commitment to fostering a campus community known for its caring and creative atmosphere, rooted in the values of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition.
According to the university website, “Your Residence Hall is a living and learning community designed to help you grow in all aspects of your life.”
“The addition of the new halls will continue the great living spaces for our students to enjoy as they navigate the exciting college environment here at Sacred Heart University,” said Madrid.
Residential Halls act as an extension of the classroom and will allow students to form long-lasting relationships while at college.
“I think that living on campus helps you grow as a student at SHU. Living on campus is a good way to get connected. You can build relationships with those around you in your dorm or on your floor. It’s a nice way to wind down from the stress that comes with some classes. To be with people that you can connect with is a huge part of living on campus,” said junior and RSA Ryan Freeman.
The dedication of these two buildings is planned to take place in the fall.
