Many schools offer a specific dorm or hall where students can live with other honors program students. NMU does not currently have a dorm that is exclusive to honors students, but there are two halls that are recommended for honors students.

Breakwater in Payne Hall and American Graffiti in Van Antwerp Hall, are labeled as academic achievement houses on the residence hall application, said Carl Holm, director of housing and residence life.

“Breakwater and American Graffiti have been designated as academic achievement houses for many years,” Holm said.

While Holm has not heard from honors students that they would like their own hall or dorm, he has heard it from one of the program directors.

At the Presidents’ Roundtable, a student organization which consists of all the residence hall presidents and services as our department’s advisory board, creating an honors house was discussed. The board decided to not change the housing, Holm said.

The board also discusses the logistical factors associated with specific housing designation as well, such as the number of students that would need housing and how students would feel if they were required to live in one of the honors dorms.

“It was felt that providing an option for honors students was good, but requiring them to live there took away the valuable opportunity to make their own choice,” Holm said.

The way housing and residence life is handling it now provides a good balance, Holm said.