Davenport University stands out among other colleges and universities for a number of reasons, one of which is hard to deny: its housing units.

Davenport’s residence halls are a far cry from traditional, cold, generic dorms. Its homey apartment-style units, located on the beautiful W.A. Lettinga Grand Rapids Campus, are modern and spacious and within walking distance to everything that makes Davenport an exciting home away from home.

Fourth-year marketing major Sydney Babbitt didn’t want to miss out on the traditional college experience and everything Davenport has to offer, so she elected to live on campus. She has lived on campus for four years and said compared to what she’s seen at other universities, Davenport’s housing accommodations are “top tier.”

“The residence halls at Davenport are amazing, and I love the sense of community that forms when you get to know the other students in the dorms,” said Babbitt. “My closest friends at DU were my roommates last year. We met on move-in day, my freshman year at South Hall, and we quickly became inseparable. They graduated last year, but we remain close.”

Babbitt said she could have commuted to class each day, but living on campus helped shape her in ways she couldn’t have imagined. “I grew personally, learned so many life lessons, met amazing people, and became more mature and more responsible,” she said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to live on campus because it helped mold me into the person I am today and changed me for the better.”

According to Andrea Prins, director of Residence Life, students who live on campus at Davenport enjoy safe and affordable housing with easy access to everything they need. “Davenport strives to provide students with the best experience, and our Resident Advisors (RAs) play a vital role in making that happen,” she said.

Resident Advisor and senior Wyatt Ledford knows just about everything there is to know about campus life at Davenport. This is the computer science major’s fourth year living on campus, and he has served as an RA for two-and-a-half years.

Wyatt said college can be intimidating for many students, but he thinks it is great for students to live on campus for three reasons:

• The residence halls provide students with the opportunity to create meaningful friendships.
• On-campus events keep students engaged, especially when feelings of loneliness kick in.
• It is easier to make connections with faculty and staff and take advantage of leadership opportunities, both of which can be very valuable, especially after graduation.

“The most obvious benefit for me living on campus is that I didn’t have to commute to class, but one of the most impactful advantages is the community of people I was able to connect with,” he said.

Reasons students choose to live on Davenport’s campus

Social benefits

When students live on campus, they are welcomed by an entire community, which fosters a sense of belonging and makes it easier to meet people and make lifelong friendships.

Living on campus also makes it easier to attend sporting events with friends, join student organizations and participate in fun events hosted by Campus Life and Student Life.

Convenience

At Davenport, everything is centrally located. In five minutes or less, students can walk from most housing units to class, on-campus dining, the Center for Learning and Engagement, the Student Activity Center, the Wellness Center and more.

Additional conveniences of living on campus include:

• Employment: There are numerous on-campus employment opportunities available
• Easy access to the Panther Resource Closet
• Shuttle service from the W.A. Lettinga Campus
• The athletic complex is just minutes away, which is convenient for athletes and those who want to attend sporting events
• Students can take advantage of the Student Activity Center
• It’s easier to collaborate with peers on assignments, group projects and study sessions 

Dining options

Students will be excited by the dining options at Davenport. They can choose from The Hub, The Den, and the main dining hall, which is located in South Hall. Niche.com even ranked Davenport’s dining as number eight on its list of the top 10 colleges with the best dining options in Michigan.

Personal growth

According to Prins, students expect to grow academically in college, but they also grow in ways they may not expect. “Moving from home and onto a college campus is a time of blossoming independence. It’s a time when students live life on their own terms, make their own decisions and their own mistakes. Important life skills are developed, like responsibility and time management. The lessons learned from these experiences will carry students through college, to graduation, to the first day of their new careers and beyond,” she said. 

This is also a time when leadership skills are discovered or enhanced. Davenport offers numerous opportunities to become involved with groups that focus on building leadership skills. Those who live on campus are more apt to become engaged with these groups and reap the rewards.

Support and safety

Living on one’s own, especially for the first time, can be scary, so parents and students can take comfort in knowing that Davenport’s Resident Advisors (RAs) are available to help first-year students transition to living on campus and assist upper-class students with a wide variety of issues.  Contacting an RA is a great place to start for questions or concerns, but those seeking support from a professional counselor will find it at Davenport’s Wellness Center, which offers virtual and in-person counseling and health services free of charge to all students.

Providing students with a safe campus environment is of the utmost importance to Davenport’s Department of Public Safety, which is on call and patrolling the Grand Rapids Campus 24/7. If an emergent issue should arise, they are just a phone call or text away. 

Hassle-free housing

Davenport offers five great housing options, all fully furnished with private and semi-private bedrooms. No matter which housing option students choose, it is sure to feel like home.

Click here to learn more about Davenport’s five housing options and click here for a guided virtual tour of Davenport’s Grand Rapids Campus.