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While no new construction has been yet planned, many buildings, the Heights included, will go through “aesthetic and safety renovations” over the next several years, Klein said.

The Heights, along with the rest of the residence halls, have already made the change to keyless card access. This cuts down on the time and money spent keying the hall if one goes missing.

“These key cards rock, man,” first-year Matt Sindelar said upon entering Peterson. “It makes it easier to get into my dorm if I have my hands full,” first-year Maggie Korder said.

The entire renovation project is an attempt to answer some of the tougher questions that the past few years have raised.
Among the hard questions is “What do we want or need our on-campus population size to be?” Klein said. She also said that this difficult task required finding the necessary housing for each different type of student.

“An 18 year-old just off to college has much different needs than a married person living in the Hamline apartments,” Klein said.

With this framework in mind, the Strategic Planning committee, which is in the process of appointing a chair, has their eyes set on improving the university in the short term through campus-wide renovations and other improvements.

“As we saw with the recent renovation of Sorin dining hall and the adding of keyless card access system, the changes make Hamline a more beautiful and safe community,” Klein said.

Klein added that she and the Residential Life staff encourage student involvement in the process. “Joining [Hamline Inter-Residence Council] or residence hall committees is a great sounding board for the voice of students in the halls.”