Bermuda College has plans to give students the option of living on campus.

Vice-president of the college's Academic and Student Affairs Donald Peters yesterday told The Royal Gazette that providing a residence programme was part of the college's five year strategic plan to become a four-year college.

Dr. Peters estimated that the venture would cost the college some $10 million.

But he stressed that such a programme would create more well-rounded students.

"Student social development and growth are important as part of academic growth,'' Dr. Peters said.

"A good college community has a well organised college housing programme.'' He explained that such a programme allowed students to learn "a responsible behaviour pattern that would enhance one's ability to cope after graduation''.

He referred to a study conducted by the University of Kansas. This proved a higher percentage of university students who spent one to two years in residence graduated compared to those who lived off campus the whole time.

Dr. Peters also said it had been proven that students living in on-campus residences got better grades than students who lived off campus.

He pointed out that the facility would not simply be a convenient housing accommodation, but rather a residence programme that would be part of college life.

The college was originally designed with a residence building of 146 rooms, but officials decided against it.

But Dr. Peters said he believed that on-campus residence was essential for the college to become competitive with other schools such as the University of the West Indies.

He said with the increase in college tuition across the globe, the college would offer an affordable option for Bermudians to obtain higher education.

Dr. Peters added that this alternative would make the college a lot more appealing to Bermudian students.

"We've put $55 million into this vicinity and people still seek education abroad,'' he explained.

He said this was because students liked "to go'' to college and staying at home to attend the college did not mean going anywhere.

In a focus group of high school students conducted by the college, it was revealed that 90 percent would consider attending the college if on-campus housing was an option.

He said students expressed their desire to move out of their parents' homes and meet other international students through this experience.

Presently, three percent of the college's students are international students, although Dr. Peters said he believed 20 percent would be a better balance.

A residence programme would boost international student enrolment further, he added.

Students to live on campus However, he stressed that the college residence programme would be "primarily for Bermudian students''.

"In all our research we have found that a college residence programme will develop a strong sense of college spirit, increase the college's revenue, provide leadership opportunities for students, create jobs, and allow Bermuda College to be competitive with other residential colleges,'' he said. Dr.

Peters explained that the reasons for introducing on-campus housing to the college were so numerous that it was unbelievable it had not happened already.

His recommendation of such a programme to the Board of Governors was "well received''.

"Now we have to find the location and the funds,'' Dr. Peters said. The initial plan was to have the facility on a hill beside the Gilbert Institute, near the college's campus.

The building would house 200 people in suites holding up to four people. There would also be private bathrooms.