"Individuality is valued at The College of New Rochelle and this is clear from the fact that CNR’s community is rich in diversity. At CNR, diversity and individual differences are appreciated." Meghan Toomey Assistant Director of Student Development School of Arts & Sciences The College of New Rochelle

Meghan, what is your educational background?

 
How long have you been at The College of New Rochelle?

I started working at CNR as the Residence Director of Maura Hall in June 2003.

 
What is your position like today at CNR?

 I am the Assistant Director of Student Development, responsible for residence life and housing operations. In this position I supervise residence life staff such as Resident Assistants and oversee the management of housing tasks, such as Room Selection, First Year Student placement and Special Interest Communities.  I am also the judicial coordinator and am responsible for publishing and upholding the residence hall community standards.

 
What percentage of students live on campus?

Between 60 and 70 percent of the traditional-aged students in the Schools of Arts & Sciences and Nursing live on campus.

How many residence halls are there on campus?

There are four residence halls on campus: Angela, Brescia, Maura, and Ursula. Members of any class year can live in Brescia, Maura or Ursula. Angela is specifically designed for seniors and students who are over the age of 23. We have several special interest communities within the residence halls, including the Women in Nursing Wing in Brescia and the Quiet Wing in Maura. Beginning in the 2007-2008 academic year, all freshman students will be placed together in First Year Experience (FYE) Wings. There are FYE Wings in Brescia, Maura and Ursula.  

How are students assigned rooms?

Only new students are assigned to their rooms. On the application for housing students are given the opportunity to indicate their preferred residence hall to live in, and we try to place students in one of their first choice rooms. In addition to this, students are asked several questions about their personal preferences so that they can be paired up with a compatible roommate. All returning residents have the opportunity to select which room they want to live in during Room Selection.

Can they select their own roommate(s) or live alone?

All returning students select their own roommate. Incoming freshman can also request a specific roommate. However, if no roommate request is made, students will be placed with each other based on compatibility. Single rooms are open to any returning resident or transfer student, based on availability. Freshmen are encouraged to live in double rooms for their first year.  

Do graduate students also live in the residence halls?

While we do not have a specific housing program geared toward graduate students, we do have a small number of graduate students who live in Angela Hall. Angela Hall is a special interest community designed for seniors and students over the age of 23. Graduate students can apply for housing and will be placed in Angela based on availability. We also have international students who live in the residence halls and call CNR home.

What do you think makes The College of New Rochelle a special College?

What draws me to CNR overall is our mission statement. Not only does CNR make a commitment to provide access to higher education to all people, but also, the College is dedicated to educational excellence that includes investigation of the self and investment in the individual. Individuality is valued at The College of New Rochelle and this is clear from the fact that CNR’s community is rich in diversity. At CNR, diversity and individual differences are appreciated.

"The School of Arts & Sciences of The College of New Rochelle is particularly empowering to young women. Here, women are encouraged to grow as individuals and are given the opportunity to gain leadership experience. All of the leadership positions at CNR are held by women who are working everyday to not only increase their knowledge in the classroom, but also to gain new skills which are transferable to their future professions."

What sort of student is successful here at CNR?

All types of students are successful at The College of New Rochelle and this is one of the reasons CNR is special. The most successful students are the young women and men who take advantage of the many leadership opportunities offered at the College. Students who accentuate their classroom learning with involvement in Student Services’ programs, committees, and organizations develop professional and social skills which are essential to becoming well rounded individuals.  

What is the best way for a student to learn about CNR? A visit? Weekend stay?

I think that the best way to learn about CNR is to spend time talking with the students who live here, and with the people who work at the College. Students often tell me that they picked CNR because they fell in love with the beautiful campus, but I also think it is the welcoming and warm and friendly attitude of the community that attracts students to CNR.

What do students do ‘off-campus’ during the school year? How do they spend their weekends?

Due to the diversity of our residential population, students participate in a variety of off-campus activities. The Office of Student Development sponsors an off-campus trip once a month to several different events such as a Broadway play or a professional sports game. Students take advantage of the school’s proximity to Manhattan and spend a lot of time downtown in the Big Apple.

Why would you recommend The College of New Rochelle to a young woman?

The School of Arts & Sciences of The College of New Rochelle is particularly empowering to young women. Here, women are encouraged to grow as individuals and are given the opportunity to gain leadership experience. All of the leadership positions at CNR are held by women who are working everyday to not only increase their knowledge in the classroom, but also to gain new skills which are transferable to their future professions. It’s a great place to go to college, and for me, a great place to start my career working in higher education.