EDITOR’S NOTE: Student Orientation begins Wednesday, Sept. 23, at the University of Oregon and classes start on Monday, Sept. 28. Projected fall 1998 enrollment is 17,100 students. In fall of 1997, UO enrollment was 17,200 students.

EUGENE–When the University of Oregon residence halls open at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23, students will be greeted with more and new dining choices and easy access to new classes offered at convenient times right in their own or nearby residence halls.

"Our emphasis continues to be on customer service," says Mike Eyster, UO housing director. "In the area of food service, we’re offering more options for when meals are offered and the way that they’re offered."

New food service options include:

• Hamilton "Grab ‘N’ Go" opens in what was the Hamilton Dining Center. Started in 1997 and expanded due to its tremendous popularity, the concept is designed to accommodate students’ busy schedules with a selection of "to go" items including main entrees, quick meals, organic and vegetarian fare.

• Expanded hours for meals will be offered from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The move away from food service offered only at traditional meal times to continuous food service offered 14 hours a day will let students eat as their study and work schedules allow. Students may use their meal cards daily as often as they like, up to 19 meals per week.

Also in the "what’s new" category, the housing office and the College of Arts and Sciences are collaborating on a new Faculty-in-Residence program. Participating faculty will teach special academic programs in designated residence halls, as well as "how to" seminars on topics ranging from writing composition to communicating with faculty.

Other in-residence offerings include the fall leadership program which UO housing plans to expand this year. Top administrators and faculty will teach this one-credit course. The course is designed to help students make new friends, "feel part of the university community and learn some leadership skills, while setting a tone which says you can have fun and do well academically," says Eyster. And this year, faculty from the Honors College will offer in-residence programs for students in the Honors Hall.

The UO offers a number of special-interest residence halls in an effort to bring students together who have common interests. In addition to the Honors Hall, these include the International House, the Music, the Academic and Outdoor Pursuits halls, the Health and Fitness Hall, the Cross Cultural Hall and the Substance Free Hall.

More than 2,800 students will be living in campus housing this fall; campus housing opened with 3,000 students in the fall of 1997.

"The good news for students is that there are now so many choices for student housing both through the university and the local rental market, and students are obviously taking advantage of all of their options," says Eyster, who expects to be signing more students up for housing as the start of classes approaches.

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