Community. It’s a concept discussed often at St. Edward’s University. Faculty and students talk about the role of the individual or a country in the world community. And there are the campus community, the local community and the university’s learning community. This fall’s opening of Jacques Dujarié Hall has broadened the discussion to include the residential community. Dujarié Hall is located just east of Basil Moreau Hall, a student residence that opened in 2003. “Looking at Dujarié and Moreau halls, you get the sense of a village,” said Dave Dickson, vice president of Financial Affairs, who oversees all campus construction projects. “That is intentional. The residence halls, which were designed together, are connected by outdoor courtyards and pedestrian paths. They’re also located in close proximity to the core of the university’s teaching and learning activities.” The two halls are complementary in many ways. Both feature a range of on-site amenities, such as computer labs, resident mailboxes, recreation rooms and roomy common kitchens. Both are surrounded by Casitas, which provide house-style living for students. And both honor the university’s Holy Cross heritage. The new hall is named for Father Jacques-François Dujarié, founder of two religious orders including the Brothers of St. Joseph, which merged with Father Basil Moreau’s auxiliary priests in 1837 to form the Congregation of Holy Cross. “Residence halls at St. Edward’s are more than a place to live,” said Jennifer Casey, director of Residence Life. “The Residence Life staff lives the Holy Cross mission by helping residents become well-rounded adults who graduate from St. Edward’s with more than a diploma. Our residents develop a sense of self and a sense of how to be an active member of a community.”
“As with all of our facility development, student representatives will participate in the planning stages,” said Dickson. “Right now, we’re examining options for a retail-style restaurant and coffee shop so we can offer a dining environment that appeals to the current generation of students.” And because on-campus living has become more popular than ever at St. Edward’s, the university will begin construction this fall of larger house-style residences, called Casas, for the Moreau/ Dujarié community. They will open in Fall 2006.
photos by lori najvar, MLA ’05
This residential community concept will be expanded in the coming years and is a key element of the university’s master plan. In fact, preparations are already underway for yet another residential community for more than 300 students that will feature a dining facility open to the entire campus.
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