PIERRE-The South Dakota Board of Regents, meeting Friday, January 25, at the Ramkota River Centre in Pierre, reviewed information concerning the public university systems' residence halls.

A task force was formed last June to conduct a system-wide review of the public universities' residence halls. The goal of the task force was to identify the needs of the system as well as student preferences for residence hall improvements.

"The Regents wanted this review because we realize the needs of our students have changed and we want our resident halls to meet their expectations. Ten years ago a student having a personal computer in his or her dorm room was the exception, not the norm. The Regents are trying to respond to the needs and wants of a different generation," said Regents Executive Director Robert T. Tad Perry.

In order to provide a better picture of the overall needs and the conditions of the facilities at each campus the task force completed an inventory of the residence halls. Detailed information was compiled on the buildings' major components, condition of facilities, room features, building capacities, age, debt, value, and maintenance and repair needs.

The second component of the research conducted by the task force was a student survey. In the survey students ranked their preferences for dorm improvements and their willingness to pay for them. More space was at the top of the survey responses along with semi-private bathrooms, better climate control, and increased electrical outlets.

"You would be amazed by what the average student can fit into a resident dorm room. Students don't want to go without the comforts they had at home, including their personal computers, stereos, televisions, VCRs, DVD players, refrigerators, microwaves, and almost anything else electrical," said Perry.

"Additional space and privacy was a common need identified on the survey," said Regents President Harvey C. Jewett. "Most of these kids didn't grow up with two or three children to a bedroom like their parents did. They had a larger degree of privacy and space growing up and we want them to have that at college as well."

The information gathered by the task force will be used by the Regents to decide on replacing, renovating or upgrading the residence facilities to provide students with living accommodations demanded by today's and tomorrow's students.