A boon to campus and community

PSU’s new strategic direction of integrated clusters and open labs is building momentum and differentiating the University as a competitive leader in higher education.

The residential undergraduate experience at Plymouth State University remains fundamental to the student experience and a core component to our students’ success. Our newest residence hall, Merrill Place Residence Hall and Conference Center, is a seven-story, 95,000-square-foot building that will allow PSU to further integrate our academic cluster model into the living-learning experience while positively impacting students in a number of ways, including higher GPAs and retention rates.

Currently, 56 percent of our students live on campus. Research consistently demonstrates that students who live on campus are more involved and connected to their peers and faculty. As a residential campus, Plymouth State seeks to house more than 60 percent of its students on-campus. Merrill Place, offering 288 beds, will assist Plymouth State in achieving that goal while promoting year-round programming and increased revenue streams through the multi-use conference space.

The residential, community-oriented location is an attraction for students, summer visitors and group events. Merrill Place is slated to open this fall with a goal of creating a tourism infrastructure and positive economic impact in three to five years.
■ Tamara Cocchiarella ’11, P’19, Events and Conference Planner, (603) 535-3868