dorm

A dormitory, commonly shortened to dorm, is a building or section of a building that provides residential accommodation for students, typically located on or near a college or university campus. Dorms are designed to support undergraduate life and may also house graduate students, visiting scholars, or staff in some institutions.

Typical dorm layouts include corridor-style rooms with shared bathrooms, suite-style arrangements with two to four bedrooms sharing a common living area and a bathroom, and apartment-style housing with self-contained units. Shared facilities commonly include dining halls or meal plans, study rooms, lounges, laundry, and security services. Rooms generally include basic furniture such as beds, desks, and storage.

On-campus housing is usually operated by the institution’s housing office, sometimes with student staff such as resident assistants who coordinate programming and help maintain order. Policies cover access hours, quiet hours, guest regulations, alcohol and smoking rules, and safety procedures. Some dorms offer meal plans, while others provide kitchen facilities for self-catering.

Regional variations exist. In the United States, on-campus housing is widespread and many campuses require first-year students to live in residence halls. In the United Kingdom and parts of Canada, halls of residence are common and may be catered or self-catered; the term dorm is less frequently used in some regions. In other countries, dormitories may be run by universities or by private providers.

Historically, dormitories were developed to accommodate growing enrollments and provide supervised living environments. Modern dorms emphasize safety, accessibility, and community, and increasingly focus on sustainability and inclusive design to accommodate diverse student needs.