tudies show that students who live on campus during their first year outperform students who choose to live off campus. For example, a study conducted at Indiana University-Purdue showed an increased grade-point average of three-tenths to nine-tenths over those students who lived off campus. Similarly, a study at Kent State found that first-year students living on campus had a three-tenths increase in GPA. Dorms provide a living environment that complements classroom learning. Students are encouraged to participate in learning communities and have more informal dialogue with faculty. Study groups and computer labs are also readily accessible.