On-Campus Housing Era Begins at Eastern Florida

See more photos of student housing move-in day on EFSC's Flickr

August 11, 2020 - Students from across the Space Coast on Tuesday moved into the new Residence Hall on the Melbourne campus of Eastern Florida State College.

The residence hall is a 24-suite facility with each suite containing four individual bedrooms, two bathrooms a shared kitchen and common living area.

One of the first to move in was Melbourne Beach’s Rylan Prutow who was at the college before 9 a.m. ready to get settled into his new home.

“It’s exciting to get to move into these new dorms,” Prutow said. “I think it is going to be a lot of fun and I am ready to experience living on my own and just doing everything that comes with being a college student.”

Kianna Samlal is going into her sophomore year at Eastern Florida and decided to take classes on the Melbourne campus so she could move into the residence hall.

“It is just really nice to get the full college experience now,” Samlal said. “I went to the Palm Bay Campus and met a lot of people, but am really looking forward to meeting more people, watching the sporting events and just being on campus and enjoying the college life.”

Student athletes began moving into the new housing last week, and after passing a second round of NJCAA required COVID testing will meet with trainers to be cleared to begin working out. Titan Field House will be closed except for practices, meeting with trainers and weight room sessions for the fall season.

“We had the apartments which were amazing, but this is beyond anything we could expect,” men’s basketball player Benjamin Agwu Eme said. “This is great, look at the rooms, the bathroom, the view. A year ago, all this was grass and now it is beautiful. It is like a hotel, a fancy hotel."

For Kayla Byrd it was all about being close to classes she is taking in Crime Scene Technology that start Aug. 17.

“The classes are all here so I just figured why not,” Byrd said. “It is very nice, I am surprised about how nice these rooms are and I am looking forward to enjoying all of the things college life has to offer.”

Safety protocols are in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including a requirement for masks in the facility's elevators, hallways and common areas. Students also have been advised to practice social distancing in their suites, with masks recommended.

More details about the student housing facility are available at easternflorida.edu/go/housing

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