“Keene State has helped me see my potential to be a useful instrument in the world. The classes are small, the professors are dedicated, and the overall atmosphere is one committed to social change and service.”
– Annelies Spykman 2009 , Sociology
A Great Place to Live.
When the Keene State campus is your home, you have a great place to live. Not only is there access to a wealth of educational, entertainment, and dining opportunities on campus or within a few minutes’ walk, but you also become a member of a close and vital community, to which you can make an immediate contribution. Research shows us that, on average, first-year students who live on campus earn higher grades, are more likely to use academic and health support services, and form friendships among a wider group of students.
Diversity Advocates
We value diversity and are actively developing it in our campus community. The Diversity Commission hosts biweekly Multicultural Luncheon Seminars, celebrates Black History Month with campus-wide activities, and sponsors other events. The Disability Services Office provides services to students with disabilities to ensure that all activities and programs are accessible. And KSC Pride, a student organization, provides a safe, relaxed, social atmosphere for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and others, providing a forum for discussion of topics and concerns.
Residential Life
Residence halls at Keene State house about 60 percent of the student population.
One of the advantages to living on campus is that the residential life professional staff will help you both academically and socially. Residence halls support academic achievement and offer programming to help you learn more efficient ways to study and prepare for tests. They also provide opportunities for you to develop your social and leadership skills. Each residence hall elects a governing council and sponsors community service projects and special events.
Keene State offers living/learning communities in Pondside III, where groups of students with shared interests choose to live together and have extra time to focus on their passions. Living/learning communities in 2009-10 include:
- Buddhist Minds
- Collaboration of the Arts
- Community Service
- Education in Art
- GLBT Educators and Advocates
- Going Green
- Honors
- Leadership Community
- Literature Appreciation
- Music Community
- Resources for Educators
- Seeing Things Whole
- Social Justice
- Strictly Ballroom
- The Science Community
- Through the Lens: KSC Film Studies Community
- Wellness Living
First-Year Parliaments are Living/Learning Communities designed especially for first-year students. Currently, Parliaments are available for:
- Community Service
- Leadership
- Music
- Outdoor Adventure
- Quiet Study
- StrengthsQuest
- Undecided Major
- Wellness
- Women’s Issues
Other housing options include traditional residence halls, apartment-style townhouses, and suite-style living.
All residence halls at Keene State are smoke-free. You may also sign up to live in alcohol-free environments, on floors with extended quiet hours, or in other special living situations. Trained staff live on every floor and are available 24 hours a day to answer your questions, offer a word of advice, and help create a harmonious community.
One Butler Court and Pondside III, Keene State’s newest
residence halls, are built with sustainable living and suite-style living in mind. Pondside III received a LEED Green Building Silver Certification.
And the old is new again: Fiske Hall, KSC’s first residence hall, was completely renovated in 2007.
Rights and Responsibilities
Members of the KSC community – students, faculty, staff, and administrators – agree to work as a team, assisting each other in achieving intellectual and personal growth in an environment that honors the College’s mission, values, and traditions.
Safety
The College is in a relatively low-crime area, and we intend to keep it that way. Safety is paramount. Residence hall doors are locked 24 hours a day and have courtesy phones installed outside for guests to use.
Safety phones with push-button alarms that ring directly to the Campus Safety Office are installed at 40 sites throughout campus. They are easily identified by their overhead blue lights.
The College has an active Emergency Operations Plan and upgraded systems for communicating quickly and
accurately with all students and staff.
In addition, Campus Safety offers:
- safety escorts
- shuttle service to parking lots
- educational programming about personal safety
