Little Rock (KTHV) - Officials at UALR said new first-time, full-time incoming freshman will now be required to live on campus.
"We've found that we're having 70 to 80 percent of our students retained," said Dr. Logan Hampton, dean of students with UALR.
UALR Freshman Chris Morrison said he would not have chosen any other way.
"Yes, I wanted to stay on campus because I wanted some space from my parents, honestly," said Morrison.
While that is Morrison's reason from living on campus, it is not exactly the motivation prompting the new requirement.
"We're finding students who live on campus have better GPAs, they take more hours," said Dr. Hampton.
Morrison said to truly get the college experience, there is a bond formed while living on campus and said it is crucial to the learning process.
"You meet a lot more people if you're living on campus to form study groups," said Morrison.
UALR officials said the change will take effect fall 2013 and will include housing, a meal plan which will cost students an estimated $7300 annually.
"I'm a lot happier here. Some of my study groups ...are my best friends now and it makes it easier to study since you really like the group that you're with," said Morrison.