Seton Hall is upgrading common areas in Aquinas Hall, Boland Hall and Xavier Hall as part of a broader effort to improve students’ residential experiences.
The project is the first stage of a multistage strategy to optimize on-campus housing through renovations that include new furniture, flooring, lighting, pool tables, artwork and SHU branding throughout the three halls.
The renovations coincide with the implementation of the university’s strategic plan, “Inspiring Great Minds to Greater Purpose.” SHU provided updates on the plan’s five strategic priorities during its “Inspiring Great Minds to Greater Purpose: One Year Later” event on Sept. 15, where improvements to residence hall lounges were announced.
Through a collaboration between Facilities and Residence Life, Nicole Giglia, senior associate dean of students, said the improvements are intended to strengthen students’ connections to academic and campus resources.
“These improvements are intended to strengthen students’ sense of belonging and reinforce the value of living on campus, including closer access to classes and campus resources and stronger connections to University life,” Giglia said.
The improvements follow student requests for additional spaces to study and socialize. While the University Center and Walsh Library are common locations for these activities, Giglia said the renovated lounges will provide additional opportunities for students.
“Many of these upgrades are in response to student feedback, and are designed to create welcoming spaces for students to gather, study and build community,” Giglia said.
Residential improvements also come as SHU faces declining revenue from on-campus housing and meal plans. Edward J. Bishof Sr., vice president for finance and chief financial officer, said in the university’s Fiscal Year 2027 (FY2027) budget announcement that housing and meal plan revenue has declined as more students choose to commute or live off campus.
The university approved a $340.7 million unrestricted operating budget for FY2027, a $7.3 million decrease from the previous year. Tuition, fees and room and board rates increased by 3.25% as SHU responds to declining revenue, rising costs, inflation and enrollment challenges.
Giglia added the lounge renovations are intended to reinforce the benefits of living on campus as student living patterns shift. The renovations are expected to be completed by the end of January 2026.
Students living in the residence halls expressed support for the incoming changes while pointing to existing issues with lounge spaces.
Tristen Demetriou, an Aquinas Hall resident, said she has had a positive experience living in the residence halls and believes communal spaces are essential in helping students connect.
“Dorm lounges are integral for community space,” Demetriou said.
Demetriou said she hopes to see updates to televisions and other lounge amenities, noting that improved communal spaces could encourage more students to gather with one another. She said outdated or poorly maintained spaces can discourage students from using them.
Ava Bratchenko, a resident of Boland North, similarly said some lounge spaces are in need of renovations. She described some of the existing furniture, particularly the chairs, as “a little bit musty.” Despite the condition of some of the furniture, Bratchenko said the Boland North lounge’s location near the elevator makes it a natural place for residents to interact.
Beyond updating furniture and amenities, Bratchenko said she hopes the renovations make the residence halls feel more welcoming for students.
“I hope these improvements will make campus more homey and friendly,” Bratchenko said. “I think it’s important to create an environment where people on the floor can be social and get to know each other.”
While students identified social spaces as an important part of residential life, others said the renovations could also address a need for places to study outside of traditional campus facilities.
Jada Palacios, a Xavier Hall resident, said she wants dedicated study spaces in the residence halls as her workload increases. She said these spaces would give students additional places to study after other campus facilities, such as the University Center, close for the night.
“I hope it’ll make [studying] better during past hours on campus when everything closes,” Palacios said.
Palacios has had a positive residential experience overall, but hopes the renovations will include the installation of more vending machines.
At the same time, Palacios said recreational amenities, such as pool tables, could add more personality to the living spaces and give students more opportunities to interact.
“It’s a community space for a lot of people to hang out and make new friends,” Palacios said.
In addition to physical renovations, SHU has expanded its Tutors in Residence program to Xavier Hall, providing additional academic support for upperclassmen, according to Giglia.
Giglia said combining academic resources with renovated community spaces is intended to make residence halls places more supportive environments for students.
Grace Diana is a writer for The Setonian’s News section. She can be reached at grace.diana@student.shu.edu.
