Image of Roschel College House. Courtesy of Ashley Witkowksi ’27.
On February 17, 2025, Drew Stelljes, Vice President for Student Affairs, emailed the student body announcing the reimagining, redesigning, and reconfiguration of the housing system to “enhance the student experience at F&M.” The change will eliminate the current house identities, ending the five houses of F&M as students understand them. The goal of this housing system is to respond to students’ requests for equitable housing, prioritize student well-being, and foster community building in one’s first year. A new perk with this remodel is the option to obtain a super single, which automatically includes furniture within the rooms and adds more single options within the overall housing lottery itself.
One of the more drastic and notable changes in the housing system is that the Weis and Roschel house will no longer be considered first-year housing. These houses are transitioning into suite-style residences for upperclassmen. Students can now live with individuals from other college houses within Roschel and Weis. On the other hand, Brooks, Bonchek, and Ware will become exclusively first-year residential communities. For the 2025-2026 academic year, F&M is allowing students currently living in Brooks, Bonchek, or Ware to remain for their second year to ensure a smoother transition, considering the significant changes to the housing system. However, the institution will no longer support upperclassmen to live in either of these houses beyond their first year at F&M, effective the 2026-2027 academic year.
F&M administration believes in emphasizing the goal of prioritizing the enhancement of student experience based on valuable student feedback. Remodeling the housing system claims to prioritize expanding housing options, explaining the addition of “super singles,” particularly for those in their first year. The administration also claims the new system has the added benefit of making the price structure more transparent for students deciding where to live. Another benefit is the expanding care for F&M’s student body by providing new and alternative housing options for students who may be experiencing social, academic, or emotional challenges.
As recognized by Stelljes, the remodeling of the housing system will be a significant change for the F&M community. With Weis and Roschel no longer considered first-year housing, the options for upcoming first-year students will be more focused and centralized on building connections within the Brooks, Bonchek, and Ware communities. Weis and Roschel will provide more housing options for students beyond the first year, hoping to foster a more significant sense of community among sophomores and upper-level students on campus.
Junior Gab Neal is the Managing Editor. Her email is gneal@fandm.edu.