Unit One currently offers about 45 courses per semester as well as a lively series of student programs highlighted by an outstanding guests-in-residence program. Unit One has both an academic director and a program director who are continually redefining and reorganizing its educational role in light of the stated needs of its current student population.
General information
This is Allen Hall, located at 1005 Gregory Drive, which was built in the early 1950s as a women's residence hall. Today it houses approximately 650 men and women undergraduate students. Allen Hall has large and small spaces for classes, meetings, and social gatherings. It also has a library, computer lab, and kitchen for student use.
Allen Hall
The front desk is, for most, the first stop in Allen. It is the information hub of the hall, with the offices of the Resident Director, Area Coordinator, Hall Secretary, and Desk Clerks. Mail distribution, space reservations, and sports and cooking equipment check-out are also handled here.
The main lounge is a large multi-purpose room on the first floor of Allen Hall. It is equipped with a film screen, sound system, and a large-screen TV, all of which are accessible to Allen students. Specific uses of the room include activities like Fall Orientation, dance and aerobics classes, film showings, special hall-wide events, student group activities and other large group functions. When the room isn't in use by student groups, residents often gather there to work on class projects or to watch sporting events on the large screen TV.
The South Recreation Room is used mainly for classes, although hall group meetings and large assemblies also use this large space. The South Rec Room also houses our ping-pong table and connects to one of our outdoor courtyards.
Walless Lounge is a smaller lounge situated in the heart of Unit One. It is used for some Unit One class meetings and Unit One staff meetings, but mostly it is used by students for group study and social interaction.
Unit One has eight rooms in Allen Hall that are used as classrooms. Most of them resemble the type of classroom you are well familiar with. Some of the classes do meet, when appropriate, in other spaces such as the Main or Walless Lounge.
Allen Hall also has a library housing reference materials, text books, best sellers, periodicals and the University Online Catalog. Students use this space to catch up on reading or study for their classes. The library is another unique feature of campus residence halls. Read more about the residence hall library system.
The Computer Lab is located next to the library in Allen Hall. It has both PC and Macintosh computers and is open twenty four hours a day. Students at Allen can also use their own computers. Ethernet connections to the campus network are available in every room. Read more about Computing Services for University Housing residents.
Here are some examples of resident rooms.
Read what residents think about Allen Hall and Unit One.
Unit One
Living and Learning are key words at Allen Hall. Unit One is a primary component in the learning process for many Allen Students. Classes offered at Unit One range from general studies requirements such as Rhetoric, Philosophy, Economics and Calculus to Ceramics, Drawing, Photography, Video and Music Composition.
The arts are at the core of the curriculum in order to teach students to approach all coursework in a creative and disciplined manner. Unit One has a dedicated Arts faculty and a number of studios. Students have access to a ceramics studio, darkroom, electronic music lab, and digital editing lab.
Ceramics classes are an introduction to the design and production of ceramics. Students study hand building and wheel throwing methods, as well as, decorating, glazing and firing techniques.
Students at Allen who study photography have access to a darkroom used for black and white developing and or printing. There are two photography classes offered each semester. Darkrooms are also available to students who can demonstrate proficiency in use of the equipment. Unit One also offers a seminar in Video production. In the course, students use Camcorders and Video editing equipment to produce class projects. This equipment is only available to students in the course.
Students at Allen may also study music for credit and personal enjoyment. Each semester, free music lessons are offered to approximately 150 Allen Hall students. Piano, Guitar, and Voice are the three most popular requests, though staff try to fill just about any instrument request.
Students may also study Electronic Music. These courses are offered in the fall and spring respectively and are developed for non-majors, though music majors do often take them. Students study techniques of musical composition and analysis, MIDI software/hardware and digital sound editing.