Joshua DeWar, the new director of Residence Life and Housing, said he has improvements planned to keep students involved on campus.
DeWar’s first day as director was May 24, and he has been particularly busy since move-in day. He said the lodges are currently full, and his biggest challenge so far has been getting to know all the students. He said he wants to be a part of the students’ experience in the lodges.
Erin Carlisle, music performance junior and campus adviser for Orchard Lodge, said Dewar has been involved with the students and advisors.
“He lets us know he’s here to help,” she said.
DeWar has experience working in Residence Life. He worked as the assistant director of Residence Life and Greek Affairs at Tiffin University in Ohio.
He previously worked as the director of Residence Life at Ripon College in Wisconsin, where he received his undergraduate degrees in French and elementary education.
As a student at Ripon, DeWar worked as a Resident Adviser, the equivalent to the IUS Community Adviser. He later received his doctorate in educational administration and leadership from Marian University.
DeWar also has a background in advising. He worked as an adviser for a literary magazine, a sorority and a multicultural organization at Ripon College.
DeWar promised to get more students involved in the dorms. He said one of his long-term goals is to have student housing more focused on academics.
In the next few years, he wants to create living-learning communities, which will allow students access to more resources in the lodges. For example, DeWar said he plans to have one day each month for the writing and math labs to be stationed in the Great Rooms, the main areas in the student lodges. This would allow students to get help with tutoring on-site, where they will be doing their homework.
DeWar said he wants to make sure this program will be used.
“Living-learning communities will create a shared interest [in the lodges],” he said.
By BRITTANY POWELL
Staff
bripowel@umail.iu.edu