The success of collegiums at Trinity Western University has grown over the past few years. It is the hope of Glenn Hansen, assistant director of community life for graduate and commuter programs, that it continues—especially for upperclassmen collegium membership.
In order to encourage membership growth, students can enter a contest to win one of five free collegium memberships and a free parking pass by attending the Collegium View Week from April 12th to 16th, taking place in the Marlie Snider collegium.
Hansen said the collegium’s population increase was due to a 2007 survey, which showed that membership had dropped because of the annual cost of $150. In the following school year the fee was lower by 40 per cent to $90 a year—leading to increased membership. However, Hansen also said that numbers are not as high as they were in the past, when there were waiting lists to get into collegiums, which he thought might be attributable to a decrease in the intake of students.
Change was also in the air at the start of the fall 2009 semester. “Instead of the West Coast collegium being first year and fourth year students we made it first and second year,” said Hansen.
Consequently the shift meant that the Marlie Snider collegium became home to third and fourth year students. An effect, Hansen said, is that the West Coast collegium has a higher membership, including over 200 members, while the Marlie Snider has around
100 members.
“There is still room for growth in the upperclassmen collegiums,” said Hansen, whose goal is to encourage commuters to apply for membership early just as students would do for courses.
Reuben Moes, a fifth year business student and comunity life assistant, agrees with Hansen that there was a change in the atmosphere in both collegiums. Moes said that the Marlie Snider is more studious and quiet. “The first and second year [students] tend to be more rowdy,” said Moes, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing—unless you’re trying to study, of course.
In addition to collegium membership growth, there has been a reduction in theft from the honour bars—a system which allows commuters to purchase food stocked by Sodexo. Hansen noted that a few years ago there was a substantial amount of money stolen from the honour bar, but now that is not the case. He hopes if members witness theft, there will be a mutual accountability that will
encourage honesty.
Overall, it has been a successful year in the collegiums, making it a home to Hansen and commuter students.
