Getting an Insight into American Culture:

Living on Campus

Campus Facilities

1. Read the following text about residential facilities at Washburn University, Kansas and fill in the gaps with the words from the box below.

access   amenities  credit hours    double occupancy garbage disposal houses      housing option      mutual selection    residents                              single-gender sororities     study rooms       suites        vending machines

  Living Learning Center (LLC)

This modern facility 1) __________ 400 students. The LLC features 2) __________, four-person suites with two bedrooms, a bathroom and a foyer. The bathroom has a toilet and shower, and the foyer area is equipped with two sinks. The suite door in the foyers opens into a corridor. Each room is furnished for double occupancy and includes two regular twin beds, two desks, two desk chairs, two dressers, window coverings, cable for television.

Each wing of the LLC features a lounge/kitchenette with cable TV, stove, microwave, and tables and chairs. 3) ____________ located at the end of each floor include computers and areas for both personal and group study.

This non-smoking coed facility is part of the Capitol Federal Center for Learning, which also includes a reception desk, a formal reading room and mailboxes for LLC           4) ___________. A classroom, two seminar rooms, laundry facilities, an activity room and vending machines are located here as well.

Kuehne & West Halls

Both of these halls are coed and feature single-gender, eight-person 5) ____________. Each suite consists of four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a large living room. Each bathroom includes a shower/tub, single sink and toilet. The suites feature either a patio or balcony, and private outside entrances open onto outside walkways. Each room is furnished for 6) ____________ and includes two regular twin beds, two desks, two desk chairs, two dressers, window coverings, cable for television, wall-to-wall carpeting. A lounge in both Kuehne and West Halls features laundry facilities, cable TV,                  7) ________________, mailboxes, a microwave, stove/oven and refrigerator.

Washburn Village

Washburn Village allows up to 192 upper-level students (with at least 24 8) ______________ post-high school) to enjoy all the 9) __________________ of living on campus in an apartment-style environment. Each apartment features a living room, kitchenette and bathroom. Floor-plan configurations range from two-person/two-bedroom units to four person/three bedroom units. Each bedroom includes one regular twin bed, one desk, one chair, one dresser. Each living room includes a couch, chair, coffee table and two end tables. The kitchenette offers an apartment-size refrigerator, two-burner cook top, convection microwave, sink with 10) _________________ and countertop area with stools designed for meals and study sessions. Students living in Washburn Village have access to the Commons area, featuring a formal lounge with fireplace, conference/study room, mailboxes, reception room with pool tables, vending machines, outside patio area and reception desk and Assistant Director’ office. Laundry facilities are also located in the Commons and are open 24 hours a day for students with secure electronic card 11) _______________.

Greek Housing

Fraternities and 12) ______________ offer another 13) ________________ for Washburn students. Six of the ten Greek chapters at Washburn offer living facilities. Three of the houses are on the Washburn Campus; the other three houses are nearby. Membership in the Greek system is by 14) __________________. If you wish to join a sorority or fraternity and reside in a Greek house, you must do so before the official opening of the Washburn residence halls.      

2. How is Washburn University campus different from Russian dormitories?

3. What do you think is better – living on campus or living off-campus? Give your reasons.

INTENSIVE READING

Activity I: Orientation

1. Read the following information about the cost of attending college in the USA and calculate the average sum of money you need to pay for college per year. What is the cost of attending university in Russia?

 

The full cost of attending college generally has five components: Tuition and Fees This is the price of education. It may vary based on academic program and the number of credit hours taken each term. · In 2011-12, public four-year colleges charged, on average, $8,244 in tuition and fees for in-state students. The average surcharge for full-time out-of-state students at these institutions was $12,526. · Private nonprofit four-year colleges charged, on average, $28,500 per year in tuition and fees. The most expensive college in 2011-2012 is Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, N.Y. (total cost: $59,170 per year) · Public two-year colleges charged, on average, $2,963 per year in tuition and fees. Room and Board If students live and eat their meals on campus, the college bills them for these expenses. The charges vary depending on the room and meal plan they choose. The average room and board fee across all schools for the 2011-2012 academic year was $9,047. Books and Supplies These expenses cover course materials. The national average at four-year public colleges in 2011-12 was $1,168. Personal Expenses The costs for things such as laundry and cell phone service fall under personal expenses. The national average in 2011-12 for four-year public college students who live on campus was $2,066. Transportation Transportation is a significant expense, whether students are commuting to campus or just occasionally returning home. Four-year public college students who live on campus spent an average of $1,082 on transportation in 2011-12.

(http://www.collegeboard.com/student/pay/add-it-up/4494.html)

2. Look at the pie charts presenting the findings from Sallie Mae’s national study of college students and parents, conducted by Gallup in 2008 and 2011. Compare the pie charts and summarize the main differences between them.

(http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/how-american-families-pay-for-college-1279.php)

How the average American family pays for college (2011)

 

(http://www1.salliemae.com/about/news_info/research/)

Activity II. Reading for Detail

Read the following stories about student debts and fill in the table below.

	Brandon Smith	Brittany Langmeyer	Skyy Calice
How old is he/she?
What is his/her major?
How does he/she pay for college?
How big is his/her debt?
How confident does he/she feel about the future?