Housing Archives - ��ý��Ƶ

Ribbon cutting, tour mark opening of first phase of ��ý��Ƶ at Fox Commons

Communications — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 18:29:58 +0000

��ý��Ƶ at Fox Commons made its much-anticipated debut on Thursday as a ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the opening of the first phase of this exciting partnership—23 apartments that will house 86 ��ý��Ƶ students beginning this weekend.

President Laurie A. Carter, Vice President for Student Life Chris Clarke, and ��ý��Ƶ senior Mattigan Haller spoke to members of the media, ��ý��Ƶ officials, project partners, area dignitaries, and students who gathered in the second-floor atrium and toured one of the student apartments.

“This is truly a wonderful day for ��ý��Ƶ, the City of Appleton, the downtown community, and our numerous partners with Fox Commons,” Carter said. “This is the opening of an exciting extension of the ��ý��Ƶ campus into the heart of the downtown.”

President Laurie A. Carter: “The co-curricular spaces will make this so much more than a place for our students to live.”

��ý��Ƶ is a tenant in the ongoing redevelopment of City Center Plaza, known as Fox Commons. The university signed a long-term lease with developer Dark Horse Development. The ��ý��Ƶ spaces will include suite-style apartments for 174 students—86 this year and an additional 88 next year—and adjoining co-curricular spaces to support ��ý��Ƶ academics, career exploration, and community collaborations.

Carter called the co-curricular spaces—a Business and Entrepreneurship Center and a Pre-Health Commons—important “connecting points” for students to engage in collaborative work with professionals in business and health and wellness fields.

“These spaces are being developed to support ��ý��Ƶ’s academics and the important work of our Career Center,” she said.

Thursday’s unveiling of the apartments on the second floor—a mix of three- and four-bedroom units—is step one in the opening of ��ý��Ƶ spaces in the multi-use development. The Business and Entrepreneurship Center, also on the second floor, will open in October. The third floor, featuring 26 apartments and the Pre-Health Commons, will open in summer of 2025.

While the Fox Commons apartments will be an extension of campus, with students still connected to the meal plan and other amenities, this will mark the first time ��ý��Ƶ students will live off the main campus.

Senior Mattigan Haller will be one of the inaugural residents of Fox Commons: “Thank you to ��ý��Ƶ and all the partners who have made this happen.”

“Students at ��ý��Ƶ have been wanting this for a long time,” said Mattigan Haller, a senior from Eau Claire who helped guide the planning as a member of the President’s Advisory Council and will be one of the inaugural residents. “While we love the residence halls on campus, many of us are ready for apartment living by the time we get to be juniors and seniors. Fox Commons offers us the best of both worlds. We’re living in apartments in downtown Appleton while still being closely connected to campus.”

In the apartments, each student will have their own furnished bedroom. They will share a furnished common area and kitchen with their roommates. Each bedroom will have natural light exposure through an exterior window or skylight.

“It’s a special day for us at ��ý��Ƶ when we can open new housing options for students,” Clarke said. “It has been an incredible process that has moved at a quick pace, and all of us across the university are excited for what Fox Commons means to our community and the Appleton community. While still being part of the ��ý��Ƶ campus, our juniors and seniors now have the opportunity to live in these beautiful downtown apartments, giving them more independence and the chance to experience apartment living similar to what awaits after they graduate.”

Clarke called it a “natural progression” of ��ý��Ƶ’s residential philosophy.

“��ý��Ƶ is and remains a residential campus,” he said. “That doesn’t change. But Fox Commons adds new housing flexibility for our upper-year students.”

Students gathered Thursday with ��ý��Ƶ faculty, staff, city officials, and other partners to celebrate the opening of student apartments at Fox Commons.��

Carter said the partnerships built into the Fox Commons project will strengthen both ��ý��Ƶ and downtown Appleton.

“Partnerships are at the center of it all,” she said. “Not only will our students be part of the vibrant and growing residential community in downtown Appleton, they will have opportunities to collaborate with business and health care organizations that are also investing in Fox Commons. We are excited to soon welcome our neighbors and partners—Mosaic Family Health, Prevea Health, and Gener8tor, among others.”

The opportunities for mentoring, collaborative programming, and guest lectures will enhance the experience for students.

“This is ��ý��Ƶ being intentional about building partnerships in the community and exploring ways those partnerships can benefit students as we build paths toward deeper career discernment and career exploration on the way to graduation,” Carter said.

Carter applauded Dark Horse Development and Boldt Holdings for their vision on Fox Commons, and she thanked Findorff Construction for its work in keeping the project on schedule so ��ý��Ƶ students can move in before the start of classes on Monday.

“They have been wonderful, thoughtful partners since this project was launched last summer,” Carter said. “We look forward to more collaboration as we prepare for the opening of the Business and Entrepreneurship Center this October and the third-floor apartments and Pre-Health Commons next summer.”

President Laurie A. Carter and senior Mattigan Haller cut the ribbon as Christyn Abaray and Chris Clarke look on at Fox Commons.

Details of ��ý��Ƶ spaces at Fox Commons:

Business and Entrepreneurship Center

Located on the second floor, adjacent to ��ý��Ƶ apartments.
It will open in late October 2024.
It is designed to support career exploration and mentoring opportunities in business and entrepreneurship.
It includes a large multipurpose room with configurable furniture and stage for lectures, performances, and pitch competitions.
It includes a finance lab equipped with data analysis and finance terminals.
It includes a group study/meeting space for students, faculty, and community collaborations.

Pre-Health Commons

Located on third floor, adjacent to ��ý��Ƶ apartments.
It will open in summer of 2025.
It is designed to support career exploration in health fields, mentoring opportunities, and collaborative public health programming.
It includes training/classroom space.
It includes a demonstration kitchen.

Apartments on second floor

Apartments on the second floor will open in time for students to move in the weekend of Sept. 14-15, 2024. Classes begin Sept. 16.
Includes 23 residential spaces, a mix of three- and four-bedroom apartments.
Will house 86 students. The apartments are at capacity as the academic year begins.

Apartments on third floor

Scheduled to open in the summer of 2025 (in time for the opening of ��ý��Ƶ’s 2025-26 academic year)
Includes 26 residential spaces, a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments.
Will house 88 students.

Apartment details

Each student will have their own furnished bedroom.
Each apartment will have a furnished common area and kitchen and two bathrooms.
Each apartment will have natural light exposure through exterior windows or a skylight.
There will be four laundry rooms between the two floors, with a total of 24 washers and dryers.
Access to residential spaces will be card-access for residents of Fox Commons only.

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Meet the new dean of students: Chris Clarke brings wide range of experiences

Communications — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 14:23:06 +0000

Chris Clarke, ��ý��Ƶ’s new dean of students, feels right at home on a liberal arts campus.

“The seeds were planted long ago,” he said, referring to his undergraduate studies at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York, and his graduate school work at Manhattan College in Riverdale, New York.

“I also worked for a time at a number of smaller liberal arts institutions—The Juilliard School, Manhattan, Wagner College,” Clarke said. “Really, there’s an affinity for that population and that kind of environment.”

Clarke, who began his new duties at ��ý��Ƶ on Feb. 7, said he wants to be an advocate for students.

“I want to make sure that students know that I’m here for them, to help them get the best out of their experience here at ��ý��Ƶ,” he said. “And I want ��ý��Ƶ to know that I’m protecting our student body and our community and making proper decisions to make sure the welfare of all is being taken into consideration.”

Clarke comes to ��ý��Ƶ after spending the past two years as the associate vice president of operations at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. His work there involved leadership in human resources, public safety, and campus facilities, overseeing the university’s COVID response, and for a time serving as interim dean of students.

It’s also a time when he worked with then-Shippensburg President Laurie Carter, who became president of ��ý��Ƶ in July 2021.

“I think highly of her and her leadership style,” Clarke said. “I saw great things in my time working for her, so that was something that made this a very easy decision for me.”

Clarke, who holds a juris doctor degree from Pace University in White Plains, New York, has worked across multiple departments on college campuses over the past couple of decades, including being associate dean of students at SIT Study Abroad (World Learning) in Brattleboro, Vermont, director of residence life at Juilliard, and director of housing and assistant dean for campus life at Wagner. He also spent six years working for a realty group in New York City.

“I think I bring a wealth of experience from a variety of departments within student affairs, from recreation to residence life to risk management to international students to counseling,” he said.

That experience will be especially valuable, Clarke said, as he and his staff work with students who have lived through two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There will be an ongoing focus on the well-being of students,” he said.

Clarke’s first three years of work in higher education were at Ripon College, where he served as a hall director and director of intramural sports. The move to ��ý��Ƶ marks his return to Wisconsin. He said he’ll be joined in Appleton by his partner, Karen, and their three children, ages 2, 7, and 9.

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LaDora Thomas has been honing leadership skills from her earliest days

Communications — Tue, 28 Dec 2021 01:27:53 +0000

When it was time for her first-grade class to form a line, LaDora Thomas always volunteered to be the caboose. From her perch in the back, she could see everything: every side conversation, every step out of line, everything that could potentially disrupt their perfect order. Then, she could move swiftly and correct it—before the line leader even knew what had happened.

“No one understood what a caboose was, no one understood why I needed to lead from the background or why we needed a leader at the end of the line,” Thomas said. “But that was so the person at the front can lead without worry.”

Now a junior at ��ý��Ƶ, Thomas is staying true to her first-grade roots. Although you might not��see��Thomas in her leadership roles on campus, she’s everywhere. From ��ý��Ƶ Community Council (LUCC) to Residential Life to All is One—to name only a few of the positions decorating her long resume—Thomas is all about leading from the background.

So… what exactly is she doing?

Now in her third year as an LUCC member, Thomas has seen ��ý��Ƶ student governance from all sides. Starting as a first-year class representative, Thomas quickly moved to take on the Cabinet-level role of public relations secretary. Now, following a special election at the beginning of November, Thomas will take over as LUCC vice president starting Winter Term.

In all these roles, Thomas has never necessarily been the face of LUCC. Still, she’s participating in key conversations, having her opinion heard in Cabinet, and promoting communication with the student body, largely through email and social media.

As soon as she started as public relations secretary, she had one key goal in mind: to make LUCC more accessible to the student body, breaking down barriers and making sure students are informed about the decisions that impact them. Since she took over running LUCC social media during her freshman year, it has more than doubled, growing from 180 followers to more than 400.

“I get to communicate with the student body in a simpler way, in a different way,” Thomas said. “My leadership there is more of a backseat position, and I really enjoy that—leading from behind. I don’t necessarily always have to be the leading person in a conversation, but I can provide my opinion, and it’s heard in those situations.”

This connection to the student body is fundamental to Thomas’s leadership style, and it carries over to her work as a community advisor (CA) in Residential Life. Especially with first-year students, Thomas is always ready to spark a conversation with one of her residents, doing what she can to help people navigate their first year of college and pass on the wisdom she’s learned through experience.

And now that she’s in the second year of the job, she’s really starting to see the rewards: she loves to watch her residents—some of whom have grown from shy first-years to outgoing CAs themselves—develop as they find their niche on campus.

Of course, her passion for helping others navigate their college experience doesn’t stop with her residents. As the president (or as she calls it, the “CEO”) of “All is One! Empowering Young Women of Color” (AIO), she strives to create a safe space for WOC to fully be themselves while also enabling others to find their path.

Rather than hosting a formal meeting every week, Thomas is taking AIO in a different direction, focusing on “decompression” events to promote community and healing. From “bestie chats” to cookies and coloring, she wants to create time for WOC to unwind without having to put on any performance.

“I think it’s just so important to have time to relax and really just be,” Thomas said. “We have to sometimes conform to the spaces around us to feel accepted and welcomed, and I want a space here where women of color can just come in and be themselves and fully be accepted regardless of all flaws.”

In addition to all that, Thomas has also taken on work with the Philanthropy and Engagement Center, the Communications office, and community service events.

What leadership can look like

The bottom line is simple: Thomas is a leader on campus, and she encourages everyone to find their opportunity to lead.

For Thomas, it’s all about leading from the background and providing whatever support is needed. She analyzes every situation in its entirety and thinks everything through before she acts. That way, she hopes her words and actions can be more impactful.

“Before I step into anything, I definitely analyze what I’m stepping into,” Thomas said. “Just as with this [LUCC] election, I knew exactly what I was signing up for when I applied. Had I not known what I was signing up for, if I were elected, would I be completely equipped? As a student leader, I never want to be inadequate when saying I’m going to help someone in a situation.”

But you don’t need to be LUCC vice president to be a leader, Thomas said. Everyone has their own level of comfort with leadership and their own style, and college is the time to explore that. As we make our way through life, Thomas said, everyone is responsible for being their own leader—designing their life, making their own plans, and influencing the people around them. As far as Thomas is concerned, the conflict resolution and problem-solving skills one develops in a leadership role on campus is critical to life after ��ý��Ƶ.

“You definitely have to find that happy space where you can challenge yourself to take on a little bit more leadership, because it’s so needed,” Thomas said. “Even if it’s just one person walking down College Avenue and you know they’re a first year, and then you give them some advice. That’s a leadership position right there. Even if you don’t have a title, you’re being a leader.”

LaDora Thomas

Class Year: 2023

Major: Government

Activities: LUCC, Residential Life, All Is One

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Get involved! Really. It’s pretty simple. Here’s how from a student who knows

Communications — Mon, 13 Dec 2021 17:34:43 +0000

“Getting involved is the best thing you can do in college!”��

Whether it’s coming from parents, teachers, or alumni, we’ve all heard that advice dozens of times. And yeah, it’s good advice—but honestly, when I was an incoming first-year, I didn’t have a clear idea of what it meant or how to do it. Get involved with what? With whom? To what end?��

I mean, seriously, can you get any more vague?��

But with a couple years of schooling under my belt, I’m finally getting the hang of this whole “get involved” thing. And if you’re looking to join the club—literally—here’s where you should start your search:��

1. Your residence hall is the first stop��

Going to residence hall activities is how I met 75% of my friends during my first year, so it kind of had to top this list. Community Advisors (CAs) put in so much effort to create opportunities for you to bond with your neighbors, and a lot of the time, it works. Game nights, trips to the Appleton Farmers Market, tote bag decorating sessions—I did it all, and it’s one of the best decisions I made, so be on the lookout from invites from your CA throughout the year.��

2. Fun student orgs��are everywhere

SLUG is among the active student organizations on campus.

When I say there’s a student org for everyone, I’m not exaggerating. With dozens and dozens of student organizations to choose from, each dedicated to a specific interest and activity, you’re sure to find a group of people who just����you. From sea shanties to swing dance, from recess club to social justice organizations, you can explore ��ý��Ƶ’s student organizations with the��, or meet potential new friends face-to-face at the annual Involvement Fair, set for 7 p.m. Sept. 17 in Warch.��

3. Also, tap into professional student orgs��

In addition to the many student organizations geared toward student engagement, ��ý��Ƶ is also home to several professional student orgs, which help students prepare for their post-graduation careers and bond with others on a similar path. Aspiring doctors, lawyers, writers, bakers—and the list goes on—can get involved (plus get a pretty major head start) through membership in one of��.��

4. Share your gifts: Volunteer

VITAL is a volunteer program that has ��ý��Ƶ students tutoring Fox Cities students in need of some extra help. It’s organized through the Center for Community Engagement and Social Change (CCE).

Volunteering offers you the chance to connect with classmates, get to know the local community, and give back all at the same time. With six distinct��, each with a variety of programs, you’re sure to find your perfect volunteering niche. Use ��ý��Ƶ’s��page to sign up.��

5. Be active with intramurals��

Sports: the OG team-building exercise. Whether it’s as an official ��ý��Ƶ athlete, representing the Vikings in competition, or as part of a more laid-back, recreational team, playing a sport builds bonds across campus, regardless of academic area or professional interest.��

6. Make a difference in student government��

If you want to contribute to real change on campus, the��ý��Ƶ Community Council��is definitely the way to go. Through the combined work of elected class representatives and appointed��committee��members, LUCC touches virtually all aspects of the university, from finance to student welfare, as it takes its place as a vital part of ��ý��Ƶ’s shared governance.��

7. Make money and friends with student jobs��

Students jobs are available across campus. It’s one more way to make connections and get involved.

Everyone who has worked part-time knows that there is no bond quite like the bond between coworkers. Student employment is no exception, which makes it a key outlet for getting involved with the campus community. There’s no shortage of jobs to choose from, but some of the most popular include food service in the Commons, the circulation desk in the Seeley G. Mudd library, or writing for the Office of Communications! (OK, maybe I’m a little biased toward that last one.) You can use��to find a campus job��that is��right for you.��

8. Trips��and togetherness

There’s nothing like a change of scenery to get to know your fellow Lawrentians in a new light. Day trips to High Cliff State Park, weekend excursions to beautiful��Bjorklunden, even international travel to gain field experience for an academic course—all these trips (and more!) can help you get involved with your studies and classmates in a more hands-on, distinctive setting.��

9. The Lawrentian/WLFM��path

The Great Midwest Trivia Contest has a long, wonderful history.

If you want to get your voice out there, try your hand at cross-campus communications with��The Lawrentian��or WLFM Radio. As the official student newspaper of ��ý��Ƶ,��is a hub for student news, opinions, photography, and more, while also providing a space for you to hone—or learn—journalistic skills. Likewise,��is broadcast-central for all things ��ý��Ƶ, with student hosts leading talk shows, music broadcasts, and, annually, the��.��

10. Cultural resources��and beyond

Although we all share the “Lawrentian” label, our backgrounds and identities are key to shaping who we are as people and deserve to be nurtured in the university setting. Through resources in the��,, and the recently established��, students can connect with classmates and staff who understand their experiences and can offer additional support.��Likewise, the��connects interested students with��options for exploring��faith and spirituality.��

11. Matching interests with housing��

Have a specific interest or passion?��Immerse yourself in��it while connecting with other students who feel the same way��by living in��one of ��ý��Ƶ’s��group houses.��Passion for art? Art house is a staple on the quad. Want to get off the meal plan and make your own healthy food?��SLUG house emphasizes sustainable living and eating.��Looking to share a��safe space for students of marginalized identities? Sankofa house might be the perfect fit.��Live to game? Gaming House could be the place for you.��These are just a few of the��current options,��and even if none of those��are for you, keep an eye out for new affinity housing options��as they shift, or propose your own.��

12. Is Greek life��for you?

Participation in Greek life isn’t as common at ��ý��Ƶ as it is at some other schools, but Greek organizations and members still play a very active role on campus. If you’re looking for a more traditional, social group with a philanthropic orientation, ��ý��Ƶ has you covered with three fraternities and three sororities to choose from. But if that’s not for you,��professional fraternities��offer performance, volunteer, and social opportunities for ��ý��Ƶ musicians, and Beta Psi Nu is a social sorority aimed at empowering women of color. Formal recruitment generally takes place at the beginning of Winter Term, with informal admission��occurring��at various points throughout the year.��

13. Get fit, have fun��

Yoga sessions are available through Wellness Services.

It’s easy to associate wellness services with treadmills and counseling—and the Wellness Center does offer plenty of exercise equipment, mental health services, and health care professionals—but participation in wellness activities can also be a great way to get involved! In addition to��geared toward a particular aspect of health and wellness, Wellness Services hosts weekly activities that can be done with a group, including yoga,��meditation, and volleyball.��

14. Student Life is all about involvement��

I know, I know, this one’s a bit obvious, but it’s true! Student Life events are literally designed for the sole purpose of getting students involved, and the Student Life staff knows what they’re doing. I’ve made tie blankets and listened to comedians at the various weekly��(Student Organization for University Programming) events, and that doesn’t even mention the many beloved ��ý��Ƶ events that are held annually, like��,��, and��.��

15. Explore downtown Appleton ��

Even though we love our little campus bubble, we can’t forget that ��ý��Ƶ students are an essential part of the wider Appleton community. With a vibrant art, music, and food scene, Appleton regularly presents a vast array of events that allow students to get involved with the rest of the community. For information on the city and upcoming events, check out Appleton Downtown Inc.’s��or��.��

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Housing Archives - �������ý��Ƶ

Ribbon cutting, tour mark opening of first phase of �������ý��Ƶ at Fox Commons