Talking Stick - May/June 2015 - 76

SNAPSHOT

LYNNE DUFF
What's the biggest issue for the students on your campus right now?
Students are under ever increasing pressure to succeed and make sure
that the cost of attending university results in a good degree. Particularly
for international students, the prospect of returning home without the
qualification sought or not at the grade deemed necessary can cause
considerable anxiety. It's our job to encourage our residents to take time
to become part of the community in which they live and to enjoy what
Edinburgh and indeed Scotland have to offer and to help them achieve the
right balance so that they can be successful in their studies.

What's the biggest issue you see facing the profession right now?
Residence life as a concept is quite new in the UK. Although we have a
long tradition of supporting students in residence, the proactive community
building that we do now has changed the structure and role of staff. We
have been through significant change for a number of years as we continue
to grow and adapt our own version of residence life. While exciting, it is
challenging to keep staff on board as we grow and develop residence life in
Edinburgh.

What makes your campus unique?

LYNNE DUFF is the assistant
director for residence
life for accommodation
services. She works in St.
Leonard's Hall, which is
within the Pollock Halls of
Residence at the University
of Edinburgh in Scotland.

We are not a campus university; living and learning take place on a range
of sites across the city. Our oldest accommodation dates back to the 17th
century, and our newest opened this year. We house more than 8,000
students, and there are 2,000 catered students at Pollock Halls, which is the
closest we have to a campus site. With Holyrood Park leading to the Scottish
Parliament and Holyrood Palace on the doorstep, and Arthur's Seat, an
extinct volcano as a backdrop, Pollock is a unique mix of history, a park, and
a purpose-built student accommodation.

What are your favorite campus traditions?
It wouldn't be Scotland without a Ceilidh; all of our residents will have
the chance to enjoy Scottish dancing at some point in the year. We always
have a live band with a caller who gives instructions so that everyone can
participate. As we house students from all over the world, we do our best to
ensure that we celebrate dates and traditions that are important to them.

What is your favorite move-in story?
What are the most unusual
housing or amenity requests
you have received?
We quite often receive requests to
accommodate pets. Our favorite
enquiry involved stabling for the
student's horse.

Arrival weekend or coming up weekend, as we call it, is one of our favorite
times of year. Students arrive with cars full of family, pets, and belongings.
We had to intervene on one occasion when a student arrived with so many
belongings they couldn't physically fit it all in their room. They had boxes
in the hall and the common room. They couldn't bear to be parted from
their belongings, so they hired a storage unit locally to keep their treasured
possessions close at hand.

What do you think will be the most significant change in student housing
in the next five years?
As students pay more for their education, their expectations of what we
deliver continues to grow. The students tell us that they want space to meet
and work with others; they expect their communal space to be comfortable,
inviting, and multifunctional. The communal space we are offering in our
newest development sets what I think will be the bar going forward, with a
range of space including music pods, games area, study/social space, and
even a bookable dining room.

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