Hall Life at UWI St Augustine
Deciding where to live during your university years can be an overwhelming decision. Concerns about safety, comfort, affordability and location are on students’ minds when considering their housing options. It’s not as daunting as it seems.
“I have stayed on hall for my entire university life and my experience has been nothing more than laughter and smiles,” says Shaquana Osorio, a third year Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship student from St Vincent and the Grenadines currently residing on Sir Arthur Lewis Hall (SAL).
Shaquana is one of many students at UWI St Augustine that have had an enjoyable and enriching experience living on campus. Staying at a hall of residence has many advantages – personal, social, and professional – that enhance university life.
There are five halls of residence – SAL, Canada Hall, Freedom Hall, Joyce Gibson-Inniss Hall and Trinity Hall. They offer students safe, clean, affordable and comfortable living options. But many hall residents see the benefits as much deeper.“Hall life has been part of one of the most eye-opening life experiences.... For the last two years, I have been able to explore aspects of my personality while undergoing extreme personal growth as I move towards completing my degree,” says undergraduate Psychology student Akarshini Singh.
Akarshini, a native of Guyana residing on Freedom Hall, now calls her hall mates “family”, and says the bonds they formed helped her to “not only survive, but thrive” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Several regional students stayed on hall during the lockdown period and campus closure. While it was challenging, they credit the hall management and other campus student services staff with supporting them.
“I must say that the hall did its best to ensure that our stay was comfortable regardless of the unfortunate circumstances we were facing,” says Civil Engineering student Edward Martindal. “I absolutely cannot complain. The hall even provided hampers for students to ensure that we were well equipped and had food to eat.”
Two members of staff moved into halls and an open-door policy was maintained to reassure students of their safety. Additionally, arrangements were made for students to be taken for groceries and other supplies, and merchants were engaged to provide discounted items for them. A free pantry was also set up for students who were low on day-to-day items, and recreational activities were organised to encourage students and break the monotony of the lockdown.
Stanley Louis, a third year Geomatics student from Dominica says the “accommodation was fine as we were offered upgraded rooms, an in-house shopping facility and use of their computer room”.
As the campus thaws with the gradual lifting of lockdown restrictions, the approaching summer semester and then academic year 2020/2021, UWI St Augustine’s halls of residence will once more become hubs of student life. Whether students are transitioning to university living, acclimatising to a different culture, seeking to become a mentor or to be mentored, have an interest in regionalism, in need of community support or a safe and affordable living option, on-campus housing is one of the best opportunities available to them.
As Akarshini says of her time on hall during the lockdown, “I have been lucky to experience individuals who put the students’ needs before their own in order to make this period bearable and I am aware that many of these opportunities would not have been available to me if I had not registered to live on a hall... the experiences over the last few months has allowed me the benefits of living comfortably while transitioning to online schooling and I will forever be thankful for them.”
For more information about halls of residence or on-campus residence life contact the Student Accommodation Office, Division of Student Services and Development at UWIHalls@sta.uwi.edu.
